Wildrose Training: Diversions

The 7 core gundog skills: 

1. OBEDIENCE

2. STEADINESS AND HONORING

3. DELIVERY TO HAND

4. LINING MEMORIES

5. HANDLING

6. HUNTING COVER

7. MARKING

My boy Scout is almost 15 months old and he is a Chocolate Lab. He has been following the Wildrose Way training program. This year will be both of our first hunting season and its been an awesome experience researching and training my boy to be my hunting partner.

Still focusing on the basics, I am engraving the first 4/7 gun dog skills; Obedience, Steadiness & honoring, Delivery to hand, Lining Memories.

Steadiness training: Diversions - Diversions are forms of steadiness, that is, no switching from one downed bird to another. In training and on the hunt, a dog will encounter countless distractions. In each situation, the dog should remain focused on the retrieve at hand, not on the diversion

3 types of diversions:

1. Returning from the retrieve: As youngster returns with the bumper, throw another bumper to simulate a secondary fall. Start by tossing the bumper behind and if the dog tries to switch, cut him off.

2. Long bird/ Short bird: similarly, teach the dog to ignore a short bird and go for a long bird or a memory. After setting a trail memory and aligning the dog for the retrieve, toss out a short diversion almost behind you, point at it and give the de-select words "No" or "Leave."Line the dog for the longer retrieve.

3. Bird falls while going out for the retrieve: This is the most challenging diversion. the dog is driving out and another shot and fall occurs within sight, or perhaps another bird flushes. Begin by throwing the diversion at a rather wide angle from the dog's path. Do not introduce this concept first.

Training session #1: Scout and I went along a fence with 2 tennis balls and I would throw one ball along the fence, of course didn't break until released, and when he was on his way back with the retrieve I tossed the other ball high and over my head where he could see. Scout honored all the retrieves and left the diversions. Always end on a good note. We trained for about 10 minutes.

Note: Diversions are always denials. The trainer always walks over to pick up denials.

Session #2: With Scout walking at heel, and no fence to walk along this time. I waited to throw the diversion until Scout was returning from the retrieve. This time I used Remington training bumpers, Scout's favorite.