Hi, okay this topic has always eluded me, maybe we can start a discussion and hear other trainers' thoughts and opinions.
What are the theories on improving and correcting lines to memory birds.
I really have never had a good handle on how to correct and improve memory. I am admittedly cautious about correcting on memory birds (bad lines to memory birds) because you cannot be sure if the dog is being naughty and purposefully messing up or he just plain old doesn't remember it perfect. I typically end up bailing him out by repeating it as a single. Which is sort of like closing the barn door after the horse has left.
I will say also that I VERY RARELY handle on marks. Like, never ever. So I would NOT want to just handle on a flubbed memory bird. That is totally bailing the dog out and the second you blow the whistle the mark is toast. I would much rather recall and make the dog do it himself from the moment I send him until he gets to the bird.
OR I typically avoid the scenario by doing the memory bird first as a single, correcting if needed, then putting it into a multiple and crossing my fingers. I feel that at least in that scenario if the dog messes up the memory bird you are justified in correcting because he's already been there. But my constant dilemma is, by habitually doing memory birds as singles first, are we allowing the dog to become lazy on memory marking, because it's a crutch, or is it a wise choice to maintain confidence? Ack!?
I guess my fear of correcting on a "cold" memory bird is that it will erode the dog's confidence on memory birds. But maybe I'm overanalyzing it and a few well placed corrections will overall improve performance on memory birds.
I will say I only do multiple setups in training, maybe 15-20% of the time. A majority of are marks are singles. That HAS served me well....Bally is a very good marker, knows the rules (cheating, etc) and overall has good memory. Doing mainly singles has allowed him to become very proficient at taking excellent lines, and we really concentrate on line manners and focus. But let's face it, a dog needs to train enough on hard memory birds to become reliable. And you have to have a training plan in place to correct and improve mistakes.
Thoughts and feelings?
What are the theories on improving and correcting lines to memory birds.
I really have never had a good handle on how to correct and improve memory. I am admittedly cautious about correcting on memory birds (bad lines to memory birds) because you cannot be sure if the dog is being naughty and purposefully messing up or he just plain old doesn't remember it perfect. I typically end up bailing him out by repeating it as a single. Which is sort of like closing the barn door after the horse has left.
I will say also that I VERY RARELY handle on marks. Like, never ever. So I would NOT want to just handle on a flubbed memory bird. That is totally bailing the dog out and the second you blow the whistle the mark is toast. I would much rather recall and make the dog do it himself from the moment I send him until he gets to the bird.
OR I typically avoid the scenario by doing the memory bird first as a single, correcting if needed, then putting it into a multiple and crossing my fingers. I feel that at least in that scenario if the dog messes up the memory bird you are justified in correcting because he's already been there. But my constant dilemma is, by habitually doing memory birds as singles first, are we allowing the dog to become lazy on memory marking, because it's a crutch, or is it a wise choice to maintain confidence? Ack!?
I guess my fear of correcting on a "cold" memory bird is that it will erode the dog's confidence on memory birds. But maybe I'm overanalyzing it and a few well placed corrections will overall improve performance on memory birds.
I will say I only do multiple setups in training, maybe 15-20% of the time. A majority of are marks are singles. That HAS served me well....Bally is a very good marker, knows the rules (cheating, etc) and overall has good memory. Doing mainly singles has allowed him to become very proficient at taking excellent lines, and we really concentrate on line manners and focus. But let's face it, a dog needs to train enough on hard memory birds to become reliable. And you have to have a training plan in place to correct and improve mistakes.
Thoughts and feelings?