Training Tips

There is no better place to get answers to your questions than right here, from the Keystone Retriever Club members.

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Q1 - What kind of work/drills are you doing with your dogs now that we have shortened daylight, snow on the ground, etc. ? These conditions force us to alter our regular training routine and get more creative. What things are you doing?

A - Lots of short yard work (may not be in your yard based on snow.) 7 lining bumper drill, wagon wheel…8 minimum, walking baseball and split casting drills and Steven Durrance’s Christmas tree drill… followed by short marks from the line… not all in one session. - Vince

A - Due to the time off it will take 1.5 months of work to get the dogs back in shape. I start off slow and with the basics. ABCD Drills (Sat / Sun) to get the marking better while getting them back in share. Blinds through the ABCD drill for scent work. I do a lot of work in the house on basic obedience. SIT Stay – Kato board steadiness. Delivery of Birds. / Healing with bird. Once more day light comes – T / DT / All Levels every year. To get them back handling. Sues’ Drill, CA Drill, Cast off Drill. You can make any of these drills short to start again working on getting the dogs back in shape while reviewing the basics. Reminder you and your dog are not where you were at the end of the season. It’s ok it will come back with time and patience. - Megan

Q2 - Is there a yard drill I can use to teach/reinforce lining, whistle sits, handling for most performance levels?

A - There are probably many out there but there is one that Kevin Cheff showed us in a seminar called the “Scattered Bumper Drill”. You can reference it below.