Retrieving Difficulties

springer man

Well lads/ladies.

Looking for a bit of help here, my 8 month old Labrador who I am doing the basics with at the moment is absolutely flying it. He's doing marked retrieves to hand, 200m memory retrieves, sitting amd staying.

He is bred from FTCH Corrib Warwick and Lucy Lou the third of Lurriga. I have every intention of trialling this dog and at the moment he is on the road. I take him with me absolutely everywhere, I take him in the car/matches/my grandparents house and he is the happiest dog ever.

Now heres the problem.. in the last 2 weeks ive started giving him retrieves on grass (cut grass about 15cm high) and he finds it very difficult to mark on it?? I am using a red dummy so its not like its camouflaged. Can anyone throw any light on this as to why he finds it difficult or is it because its a new area and hes just taking time to adapt?? Thank ye.

PS. if ye are looking for a row please don't comment on this post im only looking for help

hathcock

springer man wrote: »

Well lads/ladies.

Looking for a bit of help here, my 8 month old Labrador who I am doing the basics with at the moment is absolutely flying it. He's doing marked retrieves to hand, 200m memory retrieves, sitting amd staying.

He is bred from FTCH Corrib Warwick and Lucy Lou the third of Lurriga. I have every intention of trialling this dog and at the moment he is on the road. I take him with me absolutely everywhere, I take him in the car/matches/my grandparents house and he is the happiest dog ever.

Now heres the problem.. in the last 2 weeks ive started giving him retrieves on grass (cut grass about 15cm high) and he finds it very difficult to mark on it?? I am using a red dummy so its not like its camouflaged. Can anyone throw any light on this as to why he finds it difficult or is it because its a new area and hes just taking time to adapt?? Thank ye.

PS. if ye are looking for a row please don't comment on this post im only looking for help

I read somewhere that purple is the colour dummy that a dog finds easiest to see,if he is using his eyes only.Give it a try,can't hurt.

springer man

hathcock wrote: »

I read somewhere that purple is the colour dummy that a dog finds easiest to see,if he is using his eyes only.Give it a try,can't hurt.

thanks hathcock, will order 1 later and try!

Deanaudia4

im sure if u get on to Paul he'd b happy to help he is owner of warick I no him as we both work our dogs on local driven shoot look up corrib gun dogs...u hav a wel bred pup dere as I've seen most of Paul's dogs work and they wud nearly fire the gun Aswel for u...best of luck with the training

rebok classic

Try sending him a second or two before the dummy hits the ground until he's going straight to the mark he might also be free hunting

rebok classic

Try sending him a second or two before the dummy hits the ground until he's going straight to the mark he might also be free hunting

Bogwoppit

Deanaudia4 wrote: »

im sure if u get on to Paul he'd b happy to help he is owner of warick I no him as we both work our dogs on local driven shoot look up corrib gun dogs...u hav a wel bred pup dere as I've seen most of Paul's dogs work and they wud nearly fire the gun Aswel for u...best of luck with the training

I'd agree with that, Paul is a great trainer and breeder. I have one of his dogs, she's my first dog and she amazes me with her natural ability.

Double Barrel

springer man wrote: »

Well lads/ladies.

Looking for a bit of help here,
Now heres the problem.. in the last 2 weeks ive started giving him retrieves on grass (cut grass about 15cm high) and he finds it very difficult to mark on it?? I am using a red dummy so its not like its camouflaged. Thank ye.

PS. if ye are looking for a row please don't comment on this post im only looking for help

Springer man,

The way I understand it is dogs’ eyes have receptors for blue and green shades, but not for red shades. As a result, it appears that dogs cannot easily distinguish between yellow, green and red, but they can identify different shades of blue, purple and gray. Time for a new dummy.:)
Brightness, contrast, and especially motion, are extremely important to a dog’s understanding of what it sees.

Good luck.

snipe49

Double Barrel wrote: »

Springer man,

The way I understand it is dogs’ eyes have receptors for blue and green shades, but not for red shades. As a result, it appears that dogs cannot easily distinguish between yellow, green and red, but they can identify different shades of blue, purple and gray. Time for a new dummy.:)
Brightness, contrast, and especially motion, are extremely important to a dog’s understanding of what it sees.

Good luck.

Would the problem here be the dogs nose. !

springer man

snipe49 wrote: »

Would the problem here be the dogs nose. !

maybe, maybe not time will tell. Going by his breeding both of his parents have outstanding noses

270WIN

Spit on the dummy and see if he can scent it easier...i often saw that with young dogs..

Perazzi

Why not ask Paul for some help

snipe49

springer man wrote: »

maybe, maybe not time will tell. Going by his breeding both of his parents have outstanding noses

Try him with blind retrieves drag a sented dummy around the grass not to far at first and walk him into the trail this should make him use his nose to find it not his eyes.

Double Barrel

snipe49 wrote: »

Would the problem here be the dogs nose. !

No.
Snipe49

It is my understanding the OP is seeking advice regarding marked retrieves.

springer man wrote: »

Well lads/ladies.
Now heres the problem.. in the last 2 weeks ive started giving him retrieves on grass (cut grass about 15cm high) and he finds it very difficult to mark on it??

A marked retrieve is one the dog has seen fall.
Remember this is all being done on very short grass, at this stage it is a visual exercise.

If you drop a dummy on a GAA pitch at the halfway line then walk to a goal line, you can still see the dummy but the dog cannot. It will know it's out there for this is a memory but from its height it is unlikely to see it. When you send the dog it will rely partly on its memory but it will also be responding to your cues because it trusts and believes you, it has no reason not to.

When it has ran about halfway out to the dummy that it cannot see, it will then see it and get another easy find and boost its confidence still further.

rebok classic

if the dog can see the fall in such short grass and has already been retrieving then he is more than likely bored with such simple retrieves and wants to hunt for it a bit so he is prob free hunting a bit before he decides to pick the retrieve try making it harder\more challenging for him or start real short and work out from there

Brianmeath

What about a few wings or a rabbit skin around the dummy? Mite make the dog want it more. Dog mite be sick of blank canvas?