JANUARY "DRILLS"

The "runway"

It seems that the temperatures haven't gone above freezing since the first of the year.  Prior to that, we had a period of freezing rain. The result was that the snow developed a "wicked awful" crust that was a problem for dog and man.   So, lacking any green parks, we took the truck and plowed an area of the field behind the house to continue our training and exercise/run a bit.  It looks somewhat like a small landing strip, but it gives a place for the two of us to "work".  We had a smaller one last year.

Lately, we've been working on "retrieving drills".  I saw a tip in the  Yankee Chapter's (NAVHDA)  "Barking Dog Express"  Newsletter  about how to extend your dog's cast on the retrieve.   

[Note:  Besides what's in their newsletters, the Yankee Chapter has good advice and videos on their website (http://www.yankeenavhda.org/) and a few very pertinent instructional videos on YouTube.  They claim that they are  "Not your normal chapter".  I agree.  It's good stuff!]  

The supervisor

So  "supervisor" K-Lee and I plowed a "runway" in the field and started working on extending the retrieve.  An adaptation of Yankee's tip, but their idea just the same.

After only a couple days, there is a marked improvement.  Where K-Lee used to cast for twenty or thirty yards--the distance I could throw a dummy--she now will go well over two hundred feet. Soon, even more.

A fine retrieve

We're also working on "cone" drills to build understanding of casting "over" to left or right, and "back"--like the retriever folks do.

We don't spend "forever" out in the below-freezing weather, just long enough to exercise, get the training idea, have a successful finish and go inside to relax in front of the fireplace.  A couple or perhaps three of these a day seem to fit the bill just right.

Soon, there will be enough firewood consumed that we can start working on the training bench again.  Of course, our first big blizzard may shut down the runway.  We'll see how that works out.  For now, it's the season of short to medium drills, exercise, and reading in front of the fire.

I read books on woodcock, grouse and shooting.  She dreams about the north woods.

                           .... then again, I guess we both do.

Abusing the heck out of  her rubber duck