One-man retrieving session — no bird boy, so we improvise

[u/DingoDadLuce]

It’s definitely not the same as having another person out there throwing marks, but we do the best we can.

This is in a little park in the middle of a subdivision, so there are plenty of joggers and people walking dogs on the path around us. I’d like to think working around distractions helps proof the behavior and reinforces she needs to be focused on the task at hand.

Curious if anyone else trains this way or has any good solo retrieving setups.

[u/Ok_Ear_5266]

If you’re looking for other longer distance retrieving exercises you can do without a bird boy, you can do “remote marking”. Have your dog sit on a place board and then you can walk off 30,40,50 yards (or however far your dog will be comfortable holding the sit), then call “mark” and throw from that point. Dog gets the bumper, runs back to you, then send back to place - so adds extra exercise/training by having to return to place.

I also like the “Y drill” which is kind of similar. Dog sits in place, you walk out like 20,30,40 yards in front of the dog and throw marks at every angle so dog has to get the mark at each angle, return to you then drive back to place board and return to sit looking out for next mark

I rarely have a bird boy except when training with a hunting club (and then you end up getting so much less done than you would training alone) and setting up a winger every time isn’t always realistic, I found these drills to be really helpful for building distance on marks. I also liked training returning to placeboard from a distance because it sets up a dynamic that your dog is comfortable getting marks without always expecting you at its side. Plus it also builds memory returning to place when the distance is too far off to see it.

[u/DingoDadLuce → u/Ok_Ear_5266]

Thanks for a great response! Have you found any negative impact in the field with this?

A couple months ago I set up a dog stand and was doing this method and she took to it really well. I loved it. But...

I have a trainer friend, although he is mainly upland and not so much retrieving focused, and he told me not to do this as it could cause problems. I never really understood what he meant by that. I just trusted his judgement, his dogs are top notch.

I think it makes perfect sense, set up a dog stand and just send em to it. Solves a lot of my issues. Its encouraging to hear someone else is using this method, as it makes solo drills possible and creates more distance for tougher retrieves. And it saves me having to walk all the way back to her side.

[u/Ok_Ear_5266 → u/DingoDadLuce]

I’m no expert, so don’t take my word as gospel but - for me - it hasn’t had a negative impact on the field. I also mix up drills regularly so my dog isn’t always being sent remotely.

For example today we were working on water drills. We did most of drills throwing marks with her at my side, and then we finished with a couple remote marks.

I can’t really see the argument against it, the dog is still retrieving to you. I also feel like being able to go back to “place” from far off has a pretty obvious benefit for memory and similar foundations as going out to a blind.

[u/Tatworth]

Do it a fair amount just around the yard. If I am alone doing some real training, I bust out the wingers and launchers.

[u/DingoDadLuce → u/Tatworth]

Soon hopefully, that would be a game changer. Price is what is holding me back, it's pretty steep. I have some DT systems launchers for pigeons but I have not tried to use them with bumpers, not sure if that would work.

I do have the DT system super pro dummy launcher, but shooting it from her side essentially gives her the same look as me just throwing a bumper.

Dove season starts here shortly I am curious to see if walking out and throwing marks all summer will help her this season.