dummy colors

[polar]

Hey guys what do you know about the different color dummies. I know that a dog isn't supposed to be able to see orange very well because there colorblind, and they only see shades of color. But what about the black/white dummies what's the purpose? And what about the streamers on the dummies (i.e.falgman dummies) is that to help the dog mark the dummy.

[Drakeshead]

I think the streamers are to simulate wings, but I am no expert on that. I just use the white canvas bumpers.

[chance]

The black and white bumpers really do help a dog see the bumper in the air against different color backgrounds. Blue sky or cloudy sky. The streamers help too. They increase the sight picture with the motion. Solid white bumpers are very visible against most backgrounds but tend to disappear against white clouds. Solid black bunpers are sometimes used while doing water work. They don't stand out as the solid white ones floating in the water. I use the black and white with streamers for nearly all my marking scenarios. I use the florescent orange for blind retrieves.

[polar]

Chance did I understand you right. The black/white are easier to see in the sky. That makes sense because of the color contrast, but they are less visible on the water because of the black. I've never used the black/white combination.
Thanks for the reply.

[goosebruce]

The bumper as it travels through its arc, it has different backgrounds... imagine a mark launched from the top of the hill with clumps of trees on it... the black part will stand out when the sky is behind it, and the white part when the trees are behind it, therefore a black/white bumper will always be visible (unless you have zebras for backgrounds I suppose!). Black and white bumpers are usually much more visible, no matter the background.
Speed of a bumpers flight also makes a difference. In a broken treeline background, a dog may not pick up a small fast bumper (like a dummy launcher bumper), but with the streamers, its slower, and bigger, and has flapping (much like a bird)... all in all, much easy to track and follow. The streamers make a bigger object in the air, but not on the ground (much like wings) and really slow the fall of a bumper, hang time is important on longer or more difficult marks. Kinda like the difference between a 1/8 oz jig, and a 1/16 oz jig I suppose.. the slower fall is better if you can get away with it.
Canvas falls slower than plastic. Plastic wears better, and is better for water marks. The big black and white flagman canvas bumpers with streamers, fall more like a duck than anything you can throw (as far as fall rates, and motion) either by hand, or out of a winger. They aren't birds, but they are a much better than an average bumper for getting the poochs attention.
Bumper boy bumpers (hand throw and launcher types) have smart black and white bumpers... that are weighted so the white side doesnt show in the water... really smart, and the dogs seem to dig the bumpers. travis