bumpers

[teul2]

I am just looking to stimulate some conversation, and educate myself as I am really getting back into training.

So lets talk about bumpers. Why do you pick the color and size that you have picked? Do you have a set use for the colors (white for making puppies, orange for adult blinds, etc)? Why a 3in over a 2in bumper?

I have noticed my 1yr old pup being very loose mouthed on returns, dropping the bumper a good bit. Would a 3in bumper help fix that? I know it will take more than just the bumper, but you get where I am going.

Most of my bumpers are white, and I have also noticed he doesn't use his nose as much as I want him to. Would swapping to orange help in that? (side note I am starting to add wings in the mix more, we'll see how that changes him).

[DuckBoat]

I just use the 2" white and what ever brand I can find on sale. Find you a field with some tall thick grass to work your dog in. They will start relying on their nose more then.

[GulfCoast]

If at all possible, use I use ducks for marks. On a "pure water" day I use black/white medium size ATB's, as "how you get there" is usually the lesson verses "can you pick it up." I use bumpers for pile work and blinds. Most of the time I use black/white bumpers/ATB's if I have to throw them for marks, for max visibility against the sky/treeline (since I care about the line), and I just hide my blinds. I do use three different colors of bumpers if I am doing a 3-ring wagon wheel lining drill with a dog in transition or to keep an "old dog" sharp with a quick drill. YMMV.

[teul2]

If at all possible, use I use ducks for marks. On a "pure water" day I use black/white medium size ATB's, as "how you get there" is usually the lesson verses "can you pick it up." I use bumpers for pile work and blinds. Most of the time I use black/white bumpers/ATB's if I have to throw them for marks, for max visibility against the sky/treeline (since I care about the line), and I just hide my blinds. I do use three different colors of bumpers if I am doing a 3-ring wagon wheel lining drill with a dog in transition or to keep an "old dog" sharp with a quick drill. YMMV.

Mark, do you use scent on any of the bumpers / ABTs?

[GulfCoast]

No. They learn the scent of bumpers, too. I just prefer them to get birds whenever possible.

[champcaller]

I like the 3" bumper as soon as they are old enough and when you can't use ducks. You can throw them farther too with less effort. White or black white for marks but a good drill for pin point marking that Alex Washburn showed me using orange bumpers is throw three marks from the same spot. All singles. One angled in, one straight out and the other angled back. I think she called it the Y drill but can remember. Really makes the dog focus on where the mark landed. I'm partial but the Tanglefree bumpers are the best I've used. Has just the right amount of give. A lot of bumpers are too soft imo.

And unless it's drill/yard work I always use orange bumpers for blinds.

[mfalkner]

I like the 3" bumper as soon as they are old enough and when you can't use ducks. You can throw them farther too with less effort. White or black white for marks but a good drill for pin point marking that Alex Washburn showed me using orange bumpers is throw three marks from the same spot. All singles. One angled in, one straight out and the other angled back. I think she called it the Y drill but can remember. Really makes the dog focus on where the mark landed. I'm partial but the Tanglefree bumpers are the best I've used. Has just the right amount of give. A lot of bumpers are too soft imo.

And unless it's drill/yard work I always use orange bumpers for blinds.

Yes, this is called a Y drill. Look at video of Bill Hillman teaching this on youtube. Alex knows a little about good marking dogs.....