Redbeard wrote:Hey Jim...ya may already realize this but something I've experienced and I'm sure some of these other guys might agree, but try not to get into the habit of training in the same field or same place too often. I'll be the first to say I'm guilty of it, mostly out of laziness. Charlie would get to where he would run a drill to perfection at one field, then the next day struggle with it somewhat at a different field, simply because it was new. Started rotating locations and saw great improvement. Then as the season draws near, I spend a lot of time at some of our actual hunting spots.
You probably already know this, but was just something I thought about while out today with the dogs
There's an old training axiom that a dog hasn't learned something until its demonstrated it in three places. They're situational or compartmentalized learners, which can be both good and bad. Bad if you can't discern or overcome a missing cue Pup is expecting but good in that something like one of the dog's handler's laxness won't seriously affect its performance for a more demanding handler. (IE: play training run amok with the kids will have negligible impact on serious training with a primary handler.)
I use compartmentalization to advantage in training by getting handler oriented training down pat in on set of training areas, where Pup learns I'm the only source of entertainment, while also letting Pup develop independent search and learn what only the field can teach (like using the wind) in another set of areas, where I interfere as little with Pup's explorations as safety allows, before gradually bringing the two together. That way Pup is focused on me when we're doing OB or retriever training as "the only game in town," rather than hoping I'll release him to explore and hunt. And when we're working on independent search and field lessons, Pup's free to focus on those, rather than looking to me for instruction.