Training eye control/marking

[GladHunter]

I have been working with my 4yr old male lab. He isn't registering/remembering where the dummy lands, or isn't marking where it lands. He goes out and scent finds really well, but very often runs right over or past where he just watched the dummy land. Any suggestions for helping him to mark fall locations better?

 

[LCR10A]

Some things to consider are how far away the marks are, how heavy the cover is and which way the wind is blowing. Also, where is the mark being thrown from and how do you get the dog’s attention to look that way? Further is harder, heavy cover is harder, being up wind of the mark is harder. The color of the bumper can be tough too…white bumper with a cloudy sky can be hard to see.
I’d suggest short easy marks in thin cover to build confidence and then make it more difficult from there. When you signal for the mark to be thrown make sure the dog is looking at the correct location while in the heel position before sending him.

 

[Red Ryder]

My boy does that all the time, in training, but shoot a bird and he works it, and retrieves, to hand. He is f**king with ya. Dogs only reward is to get the bird in its mouth.

 

[Gatzby]

How to make a better marking dog, what I or anyone in retriever competitions would pay to know the answer .

Without seeing what's happening in person its pretty tough to tell if its a problem or just enthusiasm.
Make your marks hard to get to but easy to find once they get there. IE Throw the bird so the dog has to cross some heavy cover but once he gets to the area of the fall have the bumper really stick out. A 3" white bumper in 2" grass is hard to miss. In addition try to throw 75% of your marks with the wind so the dog doesn't get rewarded by running at the gunner.

A good drill to work on marking is the Y drill. I could try and explain it but youtube has lots of videos that will do a better job than me. I think Bob Owen's has one of the simpler videos. While I don't think Bob is much of a trainer his Y drill video is pretty good.

Also try to find Hillmans stand alone marks drill, these can be combined so you can throw marks without a helper. My guys get this at least 1 time a week.

 

[LC Smith]

How to make a better marking dog, what I or anyone in retriever competitions would pay to know the answer .

Without seeing what's happening in person its pretty tough to tell if its a problem or just enthusiasm.
Make your marks hard to get to but easy to find once they get there. IE Throw the bird so the dog has to cross some heavy cover but once he gets to the area of the fall have the bumper really stick out. A 3" white bumper in 2" grass is hard to miss. In addition try to throw 75% of your marks with the wind so the dog doesn't get rewarded by running at the gunner.

A good drill to work on marking is the Y drill. I could try and explain it but youtube has lots of videos that will do a better job than me. I think Bob Owen's has one of the simpler videos. While I don't think Bob is much of a trainer his Y drill video is pretty good.

Also try to find Hillmans stand alone marks drill, these can be combined so you can throw marks without a helper. My guys get this at least 1 time a week.

Well said, Gatzby.

I am very fortunate to have a Lab that is a crazed marker. I suggest starting slow and easy. Large white or black/white bumpers in short grass. Nice and short throws. Be very focused on the mark process and do only a few at a time. You might try incorporating a "mark" command in as well, but that only adds complexity. It could be beneficial to have someone else throw for you from different locations/angle. But start slow and small in the back yard or a nicely cut church lot. Consistency is the game here. Everything needs to be the same each time for the dog to process your intention with him and what the expectation is.

Caution with continuous training in a short space is the dog may develop a habit of not running to the mark if it is a really long one on a hunt, etc. They will stop short, about what they are used to in the training environment, and not complete the retrieve. That is where having someone throw for you or having a launcher could help.

Standing Stone Kennels has some good video you might find beneficial.