Purpose Dogs don't wake up one morning and know how to pick up birds under any circumstances, respond to whistle and hand signals, and run beautiful blind retrieves. A series of well-defined steps is needed to establish the necessary competencies in a retriever. Most training programs today are modeled on the method popularized by Mike Lardy. Going through the program may seem daunting, and it's not easy without help and advice from experienced trainers. Options in our area are increasingly scarce, so LRCGB is offering Basics and Transition Retriever Training to assist our members on this journey.
As the name implies, the program will cover the Basics and Transition phases in the Lardy approach, from collar conditioning and force fetch to pile work, from double-T to pattern blinds and cold blinds. The focus is on teaching dogs and handlers how to use the electronic collar as an effective and humane training aid and on developing advanced handling skills. As you move beyond the Junior Hunter level, your dog will also have to acquire the ability to run simple double marks or more complicated multiple retrieves. To this end, we encourage you to join the regular Delaney training group.
While I'll be happy to discuss ways to address existing problems, this is not the primary purpose of the class. Format This is not a typical class. Rather, it's one-on-one coaching for you and your dog. Different dogs (and handlers) will proceed at different paces through the program. Certain steps will come naturally to some dogs, others may struggle a bit longer before it “clicks”. To address those natural differences, the format of the class is short sessions with each dog, working on the specific needs of that dog for whatever step it is on in the program. A session may take 10 minutes or 30 minutes, based on the training objective. While continuity is a good thing, it is not expected that participants will come every week. We all have lives that tend to get in the way...
For this program to be successful, handlers must do their homework and work with their dogs in between sessions. Handlers should not come with the expectation that their dog will be able to move through the whole program in one season. They may or may not. A solid foundation and proficiency at each step is more important than speed. Prerequisites
- A dog eager to retrieve and able to do single retrieves successfully, with a solid return to handler
- A handler eager to learn and work with their dog outside of class
- Electronic collar
- Whistle
- 12 to 20 white bumpers, 6 to 12 orange bumpers. Not required immediately but you'll need them at some point.
If you need to buy an electronic collar, a whistle, or bumpers, do not go out and randomly shop! Please contact your instructor for suggestions.
You will benefit from buying a copy of Lardy's Total Retriever Training DVDs or the first volume of his training articles. Available from http://www.totalretriever.com/, but it's not required. Location Delaney Wildlife Management Area, Stow, MA.
Grounds will be shared with the Continuing Retriever Training group and in the spring with the Beginning Retriever Class. Participants in Basics and Transition training are welcome to and encouraged to join the main training group after their 1:1 session—separate registration required.
As the grass gets higher at Delaney, we may use other locations in the area as needed. Dates and Sign-up Slots for one-on-one coaching sessions will be offered on Tuesdays, in two blocks. One is "after the morning training group", which usually wraps up around 1pm or so, but can be sooner or later than that. The other block is from 3:00 pm to 6:30pm. To allow for individual attention we will use an online sign-up method. A reminder will go out each week. When you sign up for a session, please indicate what you'd like to work on and what time you can arrive. The course instructor will then put a schedule together, trying to accommodate all requests, and usually get it out by the end-of-day Monday.
Please be flexible to allow for time overruns and be patient to let other dogs finish their work, even if it takes a bit longer. You’re welcome to come early to watch other dogs work and maybe get started sooner.
Coaching classes will start early April (see the left sidebar or the sign-up form) and end some time in the fall, pending on weather conditions.
This is a totally volunteer-based effort, so please humor your (unpaid) instructor if he dares to take vacation time!
Fees This class is limited to members of LRCGB and graduates of this year’s Beginning Retriever Class. The cost is $50 per dog for a block of six sessions. You're welcome to re-up for additional sessions to continue. Taking a dg through the complete program will take two blocks. Instructor Rainer Fuchs, Sudbury, MA. Long-time trainer, field trial and hunt test competitor. AKC field trial and hunt test judge. Also a top-level competitor in K9 nosework . This is a volunteer-driven, unpaid effort, so please be nice to your instructor! |
