Some fun stuff for the board......

[Troy Williams]

Quotes/statements from trainers:

"Do you like a dog that uses his eyes alot in marking? I don't like dogs that use their eyes alot. In the Open the birds usually aren't laying out there where we can see them. I think they find more of the marks with their nose than they do with their eyes....I don't really want a dog to be looking at everything. I want him to pickup the bird if he sees it....don't get me wrong, but I don't like a dog that's running around looking for a bird they can see with their eyes." - Danny Farmer

OR,

"I'm a big believer in throwing a lot of flat marks. Maybe that's because I tend to get more dogs in training that over-run marks. But the reason I throw flat marks is that when a dog is approaching the gunner, I want him to slow down and start thinking bout that mark. I want that dog to start looking, not just relying on his nose." - Bill Eckett

[Troy Williams]

Another one.....

"I like the birds thrown back. I don't like that flat stuff. Their inclination is to drive past the guns and that's where I like them to find the birds. I don't want them running around out there; I want them to hit the bird. But you don't do this forever; just when they're getting started." - Ray Staudinger.

[Bayou Magic]

Troy, do you do "y" drills?

Definitely agree with Eckett's philosophy on the square throw.

fp

[Troy Williams]

Troy, do you do "y" drills?

Definitely agree with Eckett's philosophy on the square throw.

fp

I very much do do Y drills! Got that from Van Engen long ago............

[T-Bone]

Troy, do you do "y" drills?

Definitely agree with Eckett's philosophy on the square throw.

fp

I very much do do Y drills! Got that from Van Engen long ago............

please elaborate for us rookies...t

[CF]

Yeah explain T-roy.....

[Troy Williams]

Marking drill for puppies to young and inexperienced dogs that helps with recognition. I do it with all the dogs. I do it at about 75 yds or so. 60 yds, 100 yds, whatever. Not critical really but I want it to be easy. No real cover, I don't want them to hunt at all if possible. Just watch it, hit it and bring it back. Throw 3 marks from one gunner. One left, flat. Two right; one sharp angle back. One angle in. Making the "Y". I will also do all 3 marks twice an episode. The second left mark will not be flat but a big arching throw. I repeat the Right side angling marks together.

So, 1) left & flat. 2) Right angle back. 3) right angle in. repeat #2, then #3, the repeat #1 with a bigger throw; not flat.

That's how I do it.

Troy

[Mike Perry]

The best markers IMO are the ones that use their eyes to go to where they saw it fall and if they don't front foot it, have the confidence and sense to put that nose down where the bird should be and dig it out.
Confidence and sense are the keys here.
If that bird lands belly down in a clump of grass that is 10 inches high. that dog better be able to use all his resources to find it.
Eyes alone won't get it and one that relies too much on scent can be confused or broken down by old falls and drag back.
Good discussion.
MP

[bustercat64]

When I started training my most recent puppy I was put on to a book by Charles Jurney. I found it really easy to understand and would recommend it to anyone. I followed his advice about throwing all down wind marks. Pup would have to depend on his eye sight and develop that skill, then at a later date train them to use there noise. I don’t know if my training or just luck on getting the right puppy had anything to do with it but she is doing great and a lot better than the other dogs i have trained.

[goosebruce]

Y drill is great. Works on a levee road or even a pond bank too. Showing them similar views but different throws and falls, makes them see the falls for what they are. Do it sometimes with older dogs that are having depth issues as well. travis

[GulfCoast]

I was taught to do it as an "asterisk" but that just adds a couple throws. *

[CF]

Jurney does it with 4 birds I think...anyway it sounds like the same concept...just extra bird...



...and...+1 on the Charles Jurney book!

[cdwyer]

When I started training my most recent puppy I was put on to a book by Charles Jurney. I found it really easy to understand and would recommend it to anyone. I followed his advice about throwing all down wind marks. Pup would have to depend on his eye sight and develop that skill, then at a later date train them to use there noise. I don’t know if my training or just luck on getting the right puppy had anything to do with it but she is doing great and a lot better than the other dogs i have trained.

I read that book probably 15 times! Its highlighted & covered with sticky notes. Those days were a lot of fun, still look back through it off and on.. T-Bone has an autograped copy that was prsented to him on a tailgate in South Dakota. That was one of the coolest training days I've been a part of. Training for the upland grand with Charlie Journey,Stephen Durrance, the guy with the duck cannon, myself, Clark and a ton of freaking live phesants. That training group was 100% the next morning if I remember right.

[T-Bone]

When I started training my most recent puppy I was put on to a book by Charles Jurney. I found it really easy to understand and would recommend it to anyone. I followed his advice about throwing all down wind marks. Pup would have to depend on his eye sight and develop that skill, then at a later date train them to use there noise. I don’t know if my training or just luck on getting the right puppy had anything to do with it but she is doing great and a lot better than the other dogs i have trained.

I read that book probably 15 times! Its highlighted & covered with sticky notes. Those days were a l of fun, still look back through it off and on.. T-Bone has an autograped copy that was prsented to him on a tailgate in South Dakota. That was one of the coolest training days I've been a part of. Training for the upland grand with Charlie Journey,Stephen Durrance, the guy with the duck cannon, myself, Clark and a ton of freaking live phesants. That training group was 100% the next morning if I remember right.

hey what bout me....I was in dat training group...and yes it was pretty cool! Everything was cool about that week except the hellacious 86 hour drive up there!!!

oops.. sorry!!! now back on topic....