Field Training in Colorado

This week we took our training on the road and drove up to Colorado to do some real Toller retriever field training with friends Betty and Jerry and their dogs. Up to this point I have only been able to work my girls on field stuff by myself using a variety of tools and methods. I'd like for Sue, at least, to pass the WC. It would be nice if Ceilidh could as well, but since these things are few and far between I have to concentrate on one dog.

The training took place at a private hunting preserve along the South Platte river in eastern Colorado. We worked dogs both on land, and water retrieves in a nice training pond. I was pleased with the work of both girls, especially since Ceilidh had had problems with gunshyness in the past. Of the two, who are both at the beginning stages of this training, I felt that Sue was steadier and performed slightly better than her mother.

Ceilidh's drive seemed to get in the way of her focus. She got so excited about the work, a good thing, that she was screaming her fool head off, a bad thing, and she failed to make some marks that she should have. I'm very pleased to see her so excited and not afraid of the guns. Now, I just have to figure out how to tone down her drive so she can better focus on the task at hand.

Sue is progressing along steadily as she seems to do in all things. I worked her and then let Jerry work her so that she got used to going into the water for him. That was a problem last year when she tried for her BRT. She worked well for both Jerry and me and I was happy to see that. Maybe this year she will do better at the specialty.