Traveling Pointing Dogs

Tur Bo holding a frozen quail

Blaze with a frozen quail

Dolly with the quail in the sock.

In the month of May we have only had a few days when it didn’t rain. It rained last night so everything was wet when I went out this morning. The dogs don’t really care as long as I’m doing something with them.

I heeled Tur Bo down to the retrieving bench with an e-collar around his neck. I petted him after he jumped onto the bench. I have a milk crate on the bench that I put my bumpers in and that’s where I had the frozen quail for him to retrieve. I had to pull his head out of the milk crate to walk him up and down the bench to be petted. He would rather chew on the frozen bird.

I opened his mouth and put a frozen quail in making sure that his lips weren’t over a tooth. He walked up and down the retrieving bench holding the quail. I took hold of the quail and said give. He moved his head off the quail then tried to take it back. I was ready and held the button on the e-collar down on level 3. He quit trying to take the bird from my hand. I opened his mouth and put the frozen quail in his mouth again. We didn’t walk up and down on the bench. I just had him hold it for a few seconds then said give. He moved his mouth off of the quail but as I pulled the quail away he tried to take it back. I hit the e-collar button on level 3 and he stopped trying to get the bird. The next time I started to open his mouth he reached for the quail. I placed it in his mouth and after a few seconds said give. He moved his head off but still tried to get it back. I hit the e-collar button. I worked him on the hold and give several times then had him walk up and down the bench with the frozen quail. Using the e-collar seemed to keep him from trying to get the bird back. I didn’t work him on the ground with the quail. I need to break him from reaching for the bird. I let him run but only straight back to the kennel. His pulled muscle is getting better but I don’t want to over do it.

Blaze jumped onto the retrieving bench next. I petted her as she walked up and down the retrieving bench. I placed 3 frozen birds and the quail in the sock on the other end of the bench. She retrieved all 3 frozen birds and held them real well. I sent her for the quail in a sock. She touched it with her nose and came back. I held the button on the e-collar transmitter down on level 3 and walked down the bench with her. She picked the bird up and I released the button. She brought the bird back down the bench and gave it to me when I said give. I put all of the birds on the other end of the bench then told her to fetch. She retrieved the frozen birds but only touched the quail in a sock with her nose and came back to me. I turned the e-collar up to level 4 and held the button down as we walked down the bench. She grabbed the quail in a sock and we returned to the other end. I put all of the birds on the other end and sent her to retrieve. She brought the 3 frozen birds back. I sent her for the quail in a sock and she picked it up and brought it back. She dropped it in my hand when I said give. Maybe turning the e-collar up a level convinced Blaze to retrieve the quail in a sock.

I set her on the ground, told her whoa and threw a frozen quail for her. I released her and said fetch. She ran out and picked the bird up. She came right back and held it until I said give. I threw the frozen quail for her about 6 or 7 times. She retrieved it each time holding it until I said give. I let her run for a while before returning to the kennel.

Dolly jumped onto the retrieving bench and we went back and forth with me petting her. I put the 3 frozen birds and the quail in a sock on the other end of the bench. Dolly is eager to show me she can retrieve but I made her wait while I petted her some more. She retrieved them all with no problem.

I set her on the ground, said whoa and while holding her collar threw a frozen quail. I released her collar and said fetch. She picked up the bird and came back. She sat right in front of me and I petted her for a while before saying give. When I said give she dropped it in my hand. I threw the frozen quail 7 or 8 times and she retrieved it each time. I let her run for a while before returning to the kennel.

I heeled Luke to the retrieving bench and he jumped onto it. I walked him back and forth petting him. I decided to work with him some on the quail in the sock before having him retrieve. I held the live quail in front of him and said fetch. He grabbed the quail. I said give and he dropped it in my hand. I did this 4 or 5 times. I put the frozen birds and the quail in a sock on the other end of the bench. I sent him to retrieve. He brought the 3 frozen birds right back. He still likes to give before I’m ready but I made him hold. I sent him for the quail in a sock and he touched it with his nose and came back. I held the transmitter button down on level 3 and walked down the bench with him. He picked it up and we went back down the bench. He held it until I said give. I put the birds back on the other end. I sent him to retrieve. He brought all of them back to me.

I set him on the ground, said whoa while I held his collar and threw a frozen quail. I released him and said fetch. He ran out, picked it up but when he got close he released the bird and it went by me. I told him to fetch and when he picked it up I said hold. I had him hold it while I petted him for a few seconds then said give. I threw the quail 7 or 8 times then let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.

I heeled Lucky to the retrieving bench where he jumped on it. We walked back and forth with me petting him every few feet. I put the 3 frozen birds and the quail in a sock on the other end of the bench. When I sent him to retrieve he grabbed each one and brought them back. He retrieved the quail in a sock just like he did the frozen quail.

I set him on the ground and threw a frozen quail. He ran out, grabbed it and brought it back. He held the quail while I petted him then dropped it in my hand. I threw the quail again and he ran out, started to pick it up then returned without it. I held the button on the transmitter down on level 3 and walked out with him. He grabbed the bird and we returned. He held it until I said give. He dropped it in my hand. I threw the quail another 5 or 6 times and he retrieved it every time. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.

When I took the e-collar off of Lucky I tried to turn it off and saw that I had never turned it on. I thought I was using it on Tur Bo, Blaze, Luke and Lucky. Dolly was the only one of the dogs I hadn’t tried to use it on. Well, maybe the next time I will remember to turn the e-collar on.

Luke with the quail in a sock

Lucky with a frozen quail

Blaze with a frozen quail.

Tur Bo walking on the bench with a frozen quail

Blaze on the bench

Luke with a quail on the bench

The last time I worked dogs they did real well so I was expecting them to do well again. I should have known better. Sometimes training dogs is 2 steps forward and 1 step back. The 3 young dogs all took a step back.

I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench and he jumped onto it. I walked him up and down the bench petting him every few feet. I opened his mouth and shoved a frozen quail in it. I said hold. I walked to the other end of the bench and he came with me still holding the frozen quail. I walked back to the start then to the other end. I petted him at the opposite end of the bench then said give. He dropped the quail in my hand. I walked him back and forth, with him carrying the quail, several times and he did it correctly each time.

I set him on the ground and put the piggin’ string around his neck. I opened his mouth and put the frozen quail inside. He laid down and started chewing on it. I popped him with the piggin’ string and got him back on his feet. We started walking and when I slowed he would lie down chewing on the quail. I held my hand under his chin and said give. He dropped it in my hand but then tried to take it back. I opened his mouth and replaced the quail. He laid down and started chewing. I got him on his feet and said give with my hand under his chin. He dropped the quail in my hand then tried to take it back.

I decided to throw the quail to see if he would retrieve it. He’s been a natural retriever. If he sees the bird go down he would retrieve it but I couldn’t send him in a certain direction or get him to hunt dead very well. Usually force breaking will cure this. I tossed the frozen quail about 10 feet in front of him. He ran out, picked it up, came right back then laid down and started chewing on the bird. When I said give he gave it right up but then tried to get it back. I threw the quail 4 or 5 times. He ran to it , picked it up and returned each time but then he wanted to chew on it. This is something new. I may have to go back to bumpers until he quits wanting to chew the frozen birds. I heeled him back to the kennel.

Blaze jumped onto the bench and I walked her back and forth petting her. I put 3 frozen birds and a live quail in a sock on the other end of the retrieving bench. I petted her and sent her to retrieve with a fetch. The last time I worked her she retrieved them all. She retrieved the 3 frozen quail perfectly. When she got to the quail in a sock she turned and came back without picking it up. I held the button on the e-collar down on level 3. She came to me. I walked down the bench and she came with me. Still holding the button down I touched the quail in a sock and she picked it up. We went back to the start and she dropped it in my hand. I put the 3 frozen birds and the quail in a sock on the other end of the bench. She, again, retrieved the 3 frozen birds perfectly. When I sent her for the live quail she touched it with her nose and came back. I held the button on the e-collar down on level 3 and walked to the other end of the bench with her. She picked it up and we returned to the end of the bench. I said give after petting her for a while and she dropped it in my hand.

I wanted her to be successful. I held the live quail in my hand and said fetch. She took it. I said give and she dropped it in my hand. I moved it lower having her hold then give until it was lying on the bench. She picked it up from the bench and dropped it in my hand. I placed the 3 frozen birds and the live quail in a sock on the other end of the bench. She retrieved the 3 frozen quail perfectly. I sent her after the quail in a sock. She touched it with her nose and came back. I held the button on the e-collar down on level 3 and walked with her to the other end of the bench. She picked the quail up and we returned to the other end. She dropped it in my hand when I said give. I held the quail and said fetch and she took it. I placed it about 3 feet away on the bench and said fetch. She picked it up and gave it to me when I said give. I placed it about 5 feet away and said fetch. She retrieved it to me and dropped it in my hand when I said give. I placed the 3 frozen birds and the quail in a sock on the other end of the bench. She retrieved the frozen birds perfectly. I sent her for the quail in a sock and she picked it up and returned to me. I petted her for a while before saying give. What a relief.

I set her on the ground and said whoa. I held her collar and threw a frozen quail. I said fetch and released her. She, happily, retrieved the bird and held it well. I said give and she dropped it in my hand. I threw the quail about 7 or 8 times and she retrieved it each time. She holds it well and drops it each time in my hand. She will learn that she has to retrieve what ever I send her after. After she starts retrieving the quail in a sock I’m going to let her point a bird, flush it, shoot the blank pistol and throw a frozen quail for her to retrieve. That will put the whole thing together for her. I let her run for a while before returning to the kennel.

Luke jumped onto the bench and we went up and down it with me petting him every few feet. I placed the 3 frozen birds and the quail in a sock on the other end of the retrieving bench. Luke ran down the bench, grabbed a frozen quail and returned to me. I had to say hold before he got back or he would throw the bird at me. He retrieved all of the frozen birds. I sent him for the quail in a sock. He ran down the bench then turned and came back without the quail. I held the button on the e-collar down on level 3. He picked up the quail, came back and dropped it in my hand. I replaced all 4 quail on the other end. He retrieved the 3 frozen birds real well. When I sent him after the quail in a sock he went down the bench real fast and came back without it. I held the button on the e-collar down on level 3. He went down the bench, picked the quail in the sock up and dropped it in my hand. I put all 4 quail on the other end of the bench. He retrieved them all even the quail in a sock.

I set him on the ground and said whoa. I held his collar and threw a frozen quail. I released him and said fetch. He grabbed the quail and I said hold before he got back to me. He stopped in front of me holding the bird. He dropped it in my hand when I said give. I threw the quail 7 or 8 times and he retrieved it each time. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.

Lucky jumped onto the bench and we walked up and down with me petting him. I placed the 4 birds on the other end of the retrieving bench. He has been force broke and he retrieved all of them, even the quail in a sock.

I set him on the ground and threw a frozen quail. He retrieved the bird and stood in front of me holding it. I said give and he dropped it in my hand. I threw the frozen bird 7 or 8 times and he retrieved it each time. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.

Dolly jumped onto the retrieving bench and immediately ran to the stack of birds. I got her away and walked her up and down the bench petting her. I placed all 4 birds on the other end and told her fetch. She retrieved all 4 birds even the quail in a sock. She’s also been completely through the force fetch and does a good job.

I set her on the ground and told her whoa. I held her collar and threw a frozen quail. I said fetch and released her. She ran out, picked up the bird and ran back to me. She sat in front of me, wiggling, holding the quail. She dropped it in my hand when I said give. I threw the bird 7 or 8 times for her and she retrieved it each time. I let her run for a while before returning to the kennel.

I don’t know why Tur Bo, Blaze and Luke did worse this time than last but I’m going to keep working them on retrieving until they do it right. I will continue to put them on the bench and have them retrieve the bumpers and quail. Frozen and the quail in a sock. (We have used the quail in a sock two times with 4 dogs each time without harming the quail.) With enough repetitions they will learn this.

Dolly

Lucky with the quail in a sock

This is how a lot of the pictures of Luke turn out.

Tur Bo holding frozen quail

Luke with a frozen quail

Blaze with a frozen quail

I’m still working the dogs on the retrieving bench but this morning I used frozen quail. I also, used a live quail by putting it in a sock to keep it from flying away.

I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench. I walked him back and forth petting him every few feet after he jumped onto the bench. I pried his mouth open and shoved a frozen quail in. He wasn’t too sure about the quail but he held it. I had him hold it for a few seconds then said give. He dropped it in my hand. I opened his mouth and replaced the quail. He held it fine so I had him walk down the bench. As he went down the bench he dropped the quail. I pinched his lip against a tooth and replaced the frozen quail. We continued down the bench then returned to the other end without him dropping the quail. When I said give he dropped it in my hand. I had him carry the quail up and down the bench several times then put him on the ground.

Tur Bo has a pulled muscle so I can’t let him run. I put the piggin’ string on him. I placed the frozen quail in his mouth and heeled him around, by the retrieving bench, on the ground. He dropped the quail. I pinched his lip against a tooth and replaced the frozen quail. I walked him around with the quail in his mouth. I stopped him and he dropped the quail in my hand when I said give. I pried his mouth open, put the frozen quail in and we made a big circle. He held the quail with no problem. I stopped him and he dropped it in my hand when I said give. I walked him a short distance then stopped him to pry his mouth open. As I reached for his head he opened his mouth and took the quail. I tried to not act surprised. I heeled him around in a big circle. He held the quail until I said give. I decided that was a good place to quit. I heeled him back to the kennel.

I heeled Luke down to the bench next and he jumped on it. I walked him up and down petting him every few feet. I had a live quail in an old sock with a knot tied in it and the extra material pulled back over the bird to make a smaller retrieving bundle. I placed 3 frozen quail and the live one on the other end of the bench. When I sent Luke to retrieve he got to the first frozen quail and started to pick it up. He opened his mouth but didn’t take the bird. He returned to me. I held the button on the e-collar down, on level 3, and walked down the bench with him. He picked up the quail and I let off the button. He brought it to me but turned it loose before he got all the way to me. He’s fast enough that is was like he threw it to me. I opened his mouth, put the quail back in and made him hold it until I said give.

I sent him after the second frozen quail and it was a repeat of the first. He went to it, started to pick it up but came back to me. I held the button on the e-collar down, on level 3, and walked down the bench with him. He picked the quail up and we returned to the other end. I made him hold it while I took some pictures. He dropped it in my hand when I said give. I sent him after the third frozen quail and he brought it back. I petted him for a few seconds then said give and he dropped it in my hand.

The only thing left on the bench was the live quail in the sock. I sent him to retrieve and he almost picked it up. He opened his mouth and moved it a little but then came back to me. I held the button on the e-collar down on, level 3, and walked down the bench with him. He picked the live quail up and we went back down the retrieving bench. I petted him for several seconds before having him give. I placed the 3 frozen birds and the live quail back on the other end of the bench. He retrieved all of the frozen birds without a bobble. I sent him after the live quail in the sock. He started to pick it up but turned and came back. I held the button on the e-collar down on, level 3, until he ran down the bench, picked up the quail in the sock and returned to me. I put the 3 frozen quail and the live quail in the sock back down on the other end of the bench. When I sent him to retrieve he brought all of them to me with no problem.

I set him on the ground, told him whoa, held his collar and threw a frozen quail. He wanted to go as soon as I threw it but I held him. I said fetch and released him. He ran out, picked up the bird and returned to me. He threw it at me as he came by. I put it in his mouth and made him hold it for several seconds while I petted him. I held his collar, said whoa and threw the frozen quail. I released him and said fetch. He picked the bird up and before he got to me I told him to hold. He held onto the quail as I petted him. He dropped it in my hand when I said give. I threw the frozen bird about 10 times. The last several times he did the retrieve correctly. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.

Blaze jumped onto the retrieving bench next. When Blaze doesn’t want to retrieve she has trouble getting her mouth to open wide enough to pick up whatever I send her after. I figured I would have trouble with her. After we went through the petting routine I put the 3 frozen quail and the bird in a sock on the other end of the bench. I sent her to retrieve with a fetch command. She slowly moved down the bench, picked up a frozen quail and returned to me. I took pictures then held my hand under the bird and said give. She dropped it in my hand. She retrieved the other 2 frozen birds just fine but couldn’t get her mouth open wide enough to take the live quail in the sock. She stood over the bird trying to get her mouth open. I held the button on the e-collar down on level 3. Her mouth opened up just fine. She picked the quail up and returned to me. I petted her for a while then said give. She dropped it in my hand. I put the frozen birds and the live quail on the end of the bench. She retrieved them all with no problem.

I set her on the ground and said whoa. I held her collar and threw a frozen quail. She wanted to go as soon as I threw it but I held her. I released her and said fetch. She ran out, picked up the bird and brought it to me. I petted her before saying give. She dropped it in my hand. Most of the dogs run out, scoop up the bird or bumper then make a big circle and come back. Blaze goes out, circles the bird, picks it up and returns straight to me. I threw the frozen quail about 10 times for her and she retrieved it, correctly. She’s a lot faster on the ground and has more animation. She acts as though she likes to retrieve when she’s on the ground. I let her run for a while before going back to the kennel.

Lucky was next on the bench. We went through the petting routine. I put the 3 frozen quail and the bird in a sock on the other end of the bench. Lucky has been force broke and he retrieves just fine. I told him to fetch and he brought each one back to me and held them until I said give. When he got to the bird in the sock he smelled it before picking it up but he just put his nose on it then grabbed it and came back.

I set him on the ground and threw a frozen bird. I didn’t try to hold him. He has enough seniority to do it any way he wants. He’s 11 years old and I’m not going to change the way he’s been doing things. I threw the frozen quail about 10 times and he retrieved it just fine. He holds the frozen quail real well when he comes back because he likes the petting. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.

Dolly was last today. Just as she jumped onto the bench my wife, June, called. I had left all 3 frozen quail and the bird in a sock lying on the bench. As I talked to June, Dolly picked up a frozen quail and wiggled all over. As I talked I held my hand under Dolly’s bird. She dropped it in my hand and continued to wiggle. I placed the bird back on the bench and Dolly picked another one up. She wiggled and wiggled. I held my hand out and she dropped the bird in it. I put it back on the bench and she picked up another. She’s so proud and she wiggles to show it. After I got off the phone I took pictures of her holding the bird. Her wiggles don’t show in the pictures but you can see how proud she is.

She, too, has been force broke to retrieve. I placed the 3 frozen birds and the quail in a sock on the other end of the bench. She retrieved them all just fine. She nearly always holds the bird until I say give. I had her do this twice before setting her on the ground.

I held her collar, said whoa and threw the frozen quail. She wanted to go as soon as I threw the bird but I held her. I released her and said fetch. She ran out, picked it up and returned. She sat in front of me wiggling all over. I said give after petting her for a while. She dropped it in my hand. I threw the frozen bird for her about 10 times before letting her run for a while. We returned to the kennel.

Using the frozen quail and the bird in a sock made all of the dogs more receptive to the retrieving drills, I think. I’m going to continue to use frozen birds for a while and make the dogs do the retrieve correctly. I will continue to use the quail in a sock occasionally as well. I used the live bird with 3 dogs and it was still alive and well when I put it back in it’s coop. I fed dogs and birds several hours later and I couldn’t tell which quail I had used.

Lucky with a frozen quail

Dolly with a frozen quail

Dolly with a quail in a sock

Luke

Tur Bo walking with a bumper

Lucky

It’s the middle of May and I put on a jacket to work dogs. My kind of weather. I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench with the e-collar around his neck. I think his pulled muscle is getting better. I haven’t noticed him carrying his leg for the last 3 days. I’m going to wait another 2 weeks before I let him run.

He jumped onto the bench and we walked back and forth with me petting him every few feet. I opened his mouth and placed a bumper behind his canine teeth. I said, “hold” and led him down the bench. When he got to the other end I petted him for a few seconds and said, “give”. He dropped the bumper into my hand. I petted him then we went back to the other end. I placed another bumper in his mouth and walked to the other end of the bench. Tur Bo walked with me holding the bumper. I said, “give” and he dropped it into my hand. I petted him and we returned to the other end. I placed another bumper in his mouth and said, “hold”. I walked to the other end with him coming with me. When he got to the end I turned and went back to the other end. He turned around on the bench and came with me without dropping the bumper. I put another bumper in his mouth and we went down the bench then back. He held the bumper all the way. I spent some time petting him before putting him on the ground.

I set him on the ground and said, “whoa”. I opened his mouth and placed a bumper behind his canines. I said, “hold”. I walked down the side of the bench with Tur Bo beside me. He spit the bumper out. I pinched his lip against a tooth and replaced the bumper. We walked down the bench and when we got to the end we turned around and started back. He spit the bumper out. I pinched his lip against a tooth and replaced the bumper. We walked to the start of the bench and turned walking to the end where we turned and came back to the start. He held the bumper all the way. I spent considerable time petting and telling him what a good boy he is. I worked on heel and whoa on the way back to the kennel.

When I pinch his lip against a tooth I don’t make him yelp. I only make it uncomfortable for him. When the dogs do something right I do a lot of petting. I believe the petting is the most important part. When they do something wrong there must be a consequence for them to learn but it doesn’t have to be really painful. They also need to be recognized when they do something right, so I do a lot of petting.

I put the e-collar on Luke’s neck and heeled him to the bench. He jumped on at my “up”. I walked him back and forth petting him every few feet. I put 4 bumpers at the other end of the retrieving bench. I sent him to retrieve with a “fetch”. He retrieved each one. I’m requiring him to do all parts of the retrieve, correctly. He would rather turn loose of the bumper before getting to me and have me catch it. His way of force breaking me to retrieve. So, I make him hold the bumper for a few seconds before taking it from him.

I set him on the ground and said, “whoa”. He wants to do everything at top speed so I held his collar and threw the bumper. He tried to go but I held him. Finally, I said fetch and he dashed out, picked up the bumper and released it before he got back to me but the bumper came by. I told him “fetch”, holding the button on the e-collar down on level 3 and when he picked it up I said “hold”. When he picked the bumper up I released the button and he held it until I said”give”. I held his collar and threw the bumper. I said “fetch” and he picked it up. He started toward me and I said “hold” just before he got to me. He stood in front of me holding the bumper. I petted him for a few seconds before saying “give”. He is always ready to get rid of the bumper. He dropped it into my hand. I threw the bumper about 10 times making him hold the bumper before giving it to me. He did it right because I wouldn’t accept it any other way and he knew how to do it right. I let him run before returning to the kennel.

I put the e-collar on Lucky and heeled him to the retrieving bench. I said “up” when he jumped on the bench. At 11 years old he still jumps on the bench and loves the attention he gets. He even likes to retrieve on the bench. I put the 4 bumpers at the other end after I spent some time petting him. I sent him to retrieve with a “fetch” and as he came back I stepped a few feet away from the bench and he held the bumpers until I stepped back and said “give”. He did a good job on all 4 bumpers.

I set him on the ground and said “whoa”. I threw the bumper and he retrieved it. I didn’t try to make him stay until I sent him. I didn’t always take the bumper as soon as he came back. Sometimes, I petted him for a while before I said “give”. I threw the bumper about 10 times and he did a good job each time. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.

I heeled Dolly to the retrieving bench with the e-collar around her neck. She jumped on at my “up”. I know the dogs think they have me trained because Dolly sits at several different places on the bench so I will pet her and tell her what a good girl she is. She sits at the start, middle and end going down and back. I put the 4 bumpers on the other end. She brought each one to me when I said “fetch”. She holds them real well.

I set her on the ground and said, “whoa”. I held her collar and threw the bumper. She wanted to go but I held her. I said, “fetch” and released her. She grabbed the bumper and came back. She sat in front of me holding the bumper waiting to be petted. I spent several seconds petting and telling her what a good girl she is before saying, “give”. She dropped it in my hand. I threw the bumper about 10 times and she did a good jog each time. I let her run before going back to the kennel.

Blaze was last this morning. She’s usually second or near the first but this morning she was last. That may teach patience but mostly it makes her hyper. I heeled her to the bench and she jumped on it. I said “up” just as she got ready to jump. I walked up and down petting her. I placed the 4 bumpers at the other end and sent her to retrieve with a “fetch”. Blaze can hardly get her mouth open wide enough to take the first bumper each morning. After the first bumper she’s okay. I think this is her way of saying, “you can make me do this but you can’t make me like it”. She retrieved all 4 and held them just fine.

I set her on the ground and told “whoa”. I held her collar and threw the bumper. I said “fetch” and released her collar. She ran to the bumper and could hardly get her mouth open wide enough to pick it up. Finally, it fit in her mouth and she brought it back. I petted her for a long time then said “give”. She dropped it in my hand. After the first time she had no trouble picking the bumper up. I only threw the bumper 5 or 6 times for her. She needs several sessions where she is successful every time. I think this will give her more confidence. I let her run for a while before going back to the kennel.

This is fun for me and the dogs. I let them run for a little while after the work on retrieving so they don’t get real soft. It also keeps me in a little better shape. What I do may not work for everyone and it definitely wouldn’t work for a pro. I’m too slow but it works for me. And the dogs and I enjoy it.

Dolly holding bumper

Blaze holding bumper

Luke