Mark Training

[Chad]

Anybody know of any good online articles or resources on mark training? Or perhaps have some good advice?

Brady has no problem with retrieves and can mark easily, including doubles. Where I'd like to do some training is for situation an hour or more into the hunt where she's paying attention to something else (usually chewing on something) and I need to get her focus back out front.

[Ty Stromquist]

Chad id say start teaching her to pay attention at all times. I know its hard especially since she still is pretty young but. Teach them to heel next to you and dont move.

[Keith S.]

It's lack of experience, there is nothing wrong with the dogs marking(that's another issure). Chad how old is your dog, how often do you get to hunt with your dog? If you get out alot with your dog, it will get better as the season progresses, but will most likely forget during the off season. Even if you train alot, you can't train for long boring periods during the day when nothing is happening. As the dog matures and gets experience it will learn to keep one eye on the sky or when it hears you calling to start paying attention. I disagree with Ty, you can't really teach a dog to pay attention, you can work on obedience which will help if your dog is running around not listening to you, but the only way to get it to watch the sky is experience.

[Tripp]

Go now and get yourself one of two books by Richard A. Wolters either Waterdog or Gamedog. Best books there are I guarantee success. I have used these books on all the dogs I have owned , even a ****er spaniel, and have never had a problem. The ****er retrieved grouse to hand the one and only time I took him hunting. Burrs were horrible. Both labs would do both Marks and blinds with hand signals at 18 mo. JUST FOLLOW the book to a T.

Tripp

[Ty Stromquist]

Originally Posted by Keith S.

It's lack of experience, there is nothing wrong with the dogs marking(that's another issure). Chad how old is your dog, how often do you get to hunt with your dog? If you get out alot with your dog, it will get better as the season progresses, but will most likely forget during the off season. Even if you train alot, you can't train for long boring periods during the day when nothing is happening. As the dog matures and gets experience it will learn to keep one eye on the sky or when it hears you calling to start paying attention. I disagree with Ty, you can't really teach a dog to pay attention, you can work on obedience which will help if your dog is running around not listening to you, but the only way to get it to watch the sky is experience.

Keith I was going to PM you to make sure you answer. Thanks for your input. I guess more of what I meant was to not teach it to pay attention but just be more obedient. As in you say heel and that dog doesnt break heel for hours.

Just like Keith's dog.

[Ty Stromquist]

oh yea btw, that is one of the Bailey/Duke puppies from the first litter.

[Catfishsteve]

Originally Posted by Chad

Anybody know of any good online articles or resources on mark training? Or perhaps have some good advice?

where she's paying attention to something else (usually chewing on something) and I need to get her focus back out front.

Why don't you try getting some ducks in and actually hitting them for a change?

[CanoeGuru]

Ducks Unlimited's website has a lot of dog training info, including quite a bit on this subject. Here's a link to the page: http://www.ducksunlimited.org/Huntin...ieverHome.html
Hope this helps.

[muddy river]

Canoeguru, I love your avatar. That picture is hilarious!!!

[CanoeGuru]

I'm the youngest of 5, and I'm the youngest by 6 years. That picture represents my early life shenanigans with my older brothers and sisters pretty well. I thought it suited me. Glad you like it!