Thank you all. This has truly been a journey. I didn't want to send Cruz to a Pro. He's my everything boy. He drinks coffee with me in the morning, we play with obedience and rally. He's just such a nice all around dog. I think he is going to go back in the conformation ring soon, maybe... I've really wanted this SH title. I have worked my butt off. Our biggest issue was water blinds. I needed lots of different ponds to train on, and thankfully I had good friends and good training groups. He's the first dog I've trained and handled myself. You really can't do this alone. I'm also thankful my husband loves dogs too.
New Senior Hunter -Cruz
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Thank you!Yay Cruz!!! I’m so happy for you! I know yall have been working so hard for this!
Thank you!Your story is so inspiring! Gorgeous shot too!
Steady is our issue and so close to throwing the towel and just hiring a pro😭. Any tips?
Steady on marks, or on honor? Biggest tip is don't let them get the reward of the bird or the bumper if they break to get it. That's where having people in the field is so much better then launchers. I'm lucky that I have multiple dogs training so I can honor pretty often. Take every opportunity you can to honor at a training day when you're working on it. I've been known to ask people if they minded if I honored, even when we hadn't just run. It's great for steadiness.
I also play a game with our guys. I line them all three up, throw one bumper, and release them on their name to get it. It helps them all work on steadiness as a game. Cruz has crazy bumper drive, even more so then for a duck, it's the ultimate test for him. When they are puppies I hold them, much like holding a JH dog, and then release them on their name. I think with puppies it also helps build drive when they have to wait their turn. I don't do this as part of our hunt training. It's sort of a game I play to engage all of their brains. My grandfather did it years ago with his labs.
I start obedience really young and love place board training. I think it carries over.
I didn't want to send Cruz to a Pro, but I do have a lot of knowledgeable helpers. I didn't get here on my own. You need training groups.
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