Sometimes your dog just gets the nearest retrieve. Or picks the one which they most recently saw fall. They don't quite understand how to get THAT one you are pointing towards - and not any other. This skill is called 'lining'.
5 week course (take a look at the table of contents below for details)
A comprehensive programme - from puppy lining using food to advanced lining towards unmarked piles
Detailed video demos of all exercises using a variety of dogs
Presentations on key subjects
Illustrations of all exercises
Unlimited help via on-site messaging
Probably not. It can be quite interesting to watch where dogs are looking, when they are lined. Many are looking at their handler's hand itself(!), or up at their face. They haven't made a connection between the specific direction of the arm and their destination, out in the environment. Even dogs which are focused outwards don't understand the concept of 'get THAT specific one', unless they have been taught this. They will often head to the nearest retrieve or white post. Or to the most recently thrown/retrieved dummy because it's 'hot' in their mind.
Yes. Ideally, you've been following the way we gradually build the components of our blind retrieves. You've taught a confident go-out with the Blind Retrieves course. Your dog has a functional remote stop after the Remote Stop course and understands how to stop on the way to a reinforcer, after the 3HC and T-Drill courses.
You'll need:
5x white fence posts (for the W-drill - for all other drills 3-4 white fence posts will be fine)
White dummies x6-8
Green/orange dummies x4
Whistle
This course is for any gundog which needs to be lined to a specific retrieve when there are multiple retrieves down. If you want a dog which will not simply retrieve the nearest retrieve or the most recent retrieve, but the one you are pointing to - then you will find this course relevant. The material in Weeks 4 and 5 will be very challenging for HPRs and spaniels and these subgroups might elect to focus on the material earlier in the course.
Included in every course is unlimited help via on-site messaging with me. Just click on the speech bubble icon in the bottom right of the screen. Easy!
There are many variables in dog training and a lot of them are outside my control. (For example, your own level of motivation, availability of your time to train and your ability to follow instructions!)
There are also many factors which influence how long it takes for any particular dog to achieve a reliable retrieve. For example, a dog's prior learning history, her food motivation and her experience of training.
So it is not possible to guarantee that you will have perfect lining by the end of the course.
But, after 5 weeks, you will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skill to be able to achieve great lining with your dog, in the future.