Keeping the Dogs Focused is the Key to a Successful Day
You’ve done your training all spring and summer, and first season went according to plan. But then a consistent cold front moved in, and the duck and goose migration kicked into high gear. That fired up the ordinarily calm dogs to the point that they whined and broke and ruined the morning’s hunt. All dogs get excited and make mistakes, so here’s how to get them focused without having to return to the training fields.
Robert Milner, the owner of Duckhill Kennels says “the excitement in a blind causes dogs to produce adrenalin, endorphins and other neurochemicals. Those hormones put them in a state of excitement. Fortunately, hormones dissipate faster than they are created. It takes three minutes for these neurochemicals to reduce and for the dog to relax. Behavior improves when they are calm, and that’s when they should be rewarded with a retrieve.
“To get an over-excited dog back on track I make him wait for three minutes before sending him on a retrieve. If he hasn’t calmed down and regained his focus then I’ll give the work to an obedient dog. I’ll repeat that method as often as necessary until the excited dog is calm. It might take five or more repetitions for young dogs and maybe only one or two corrections for experienced dogs. The point is to repeat as many times as necessary.
“I’ll also send dogs that are wound up on long retrieves. The same rush of adrenaline that excited the dog in the first place now motivates him to run and swim hard. Vigorous work on a long retrieve burns off some of those hormones, so when he returns to the blind he’s more calm than when he left. For the next retrieve I’ll build on that foundation. I make him wait for three minutes before sending him to fetch. Rewarding calmness is the foundation of good blind manners, and by pausing before sending a dog on a retrieve you’ll get your dogs back on track very quickly.”
Jeremy Criscoe, the Head Trainer at Whistling Wings Kennels, slightly changes his schedule to accommodate training and drills. “Post-hunt work is a great time to get rowdy dogs back on track. I always have some bumpers in the truck, so if I a dog was difficult in the morning I’ll put him to work when we’re done. I’ll stand outside of the pit or blind, throw some marks outside of the decoys, and run some retrieves.
“A lot of times dogs get worked up and break because of the perceived competition coming from other dogs. Honoring drills help them relax and focus. I’ll run some drills with a buddy and his dog. I’ll get my dogs under control, send his to fetch bumpers, and release mine when he’s calm and well mannered, and steady. I’ll switch up the order of which dog gets to retrieve. I might send his dog three or four times in a row to test my dog’s patience. When my dog behaves properly I’ll send him for the reward of the retrieve. Then I’ll give my dog several retrieves while my buddy waits with his dog.
“I always try to identify issues before they become problems. I know my dogs will be excited when we hunt a new area, so I’ll familiarize them with the spot before the hunt. I’ll arrive at the new location a little early on the day before the hunt. Then, I’ll introduce the dog to the new blinds and terrain. We’ll walk around, get in and out of the blind, and check things out. Throwing some bumpers for retrieves lets the dog get acquainted with running routes. It might only take an hour or two, but that pre-hunt exposure helps dogs get familiar with the new environment. They’re less likely to get ramped up in the morning.”
We’ve worked all year to get to hunting season. Don’t let a few mistakes derail your plan. Midseason corrections get dogs back on track so they can go hard for the rest of the year.
Tom Keer is Stung Magazine’s Upland Editor and an upland enthusiast. He has written literally thousands of features for outdoor publications over the last 30 years earning himself over 50 outdoor writing awards as well a golden reputation among upland hunters, dog trainers, and fly fisherman across the country.
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More About gun dogs:
Pointers and Setters: Where Did They Go?
Bird Dogs: Midseason Corrections
Bret Ference’s Island of Misfit Dogs