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Anyone got any good short handling drills to keep a dog tuned up? I'm talking about 50 yards or less......just something to keep the casting sharp. Something you could run quickly before the dog got to hot.....

Set up a couple coolers full of cold pops. Cast dog to a cooler and have him fetch you a beer. Drink the beer and then repeat to different cooler, etc etc etc. This way he stays in contact with ice and you also stay hydrated.

I like it Chopper ... will incorporate into training.

On water can set out about 5 or so white bumpers visible on side of a channel, send dog up channel, stop in middle and handle to bumpers. Should get in some whistles due to white bumpers placed in close proximity, could also do a swimby on return if ya wanted.

Could probably set this up on land as a type of short definitive casting drill (minus the bird thrower) and put out a stickman instead of a thrower for something to lock in on, then stop and cast to the over and angle bumpers. Have Cooler, will travel regards

The "W" lining casting drill can be run nice and short, I think Dobbs has a diagram on his site, or its in Carol Cassity's book. If you line to all 5 poles from each side, you get in a lot of slot work and short precise casts away from suction without a ton of running.

Circle (swish) drill is easy and good

Cat Squirrel wrote:Circle (swish) drill is easy and good

Not familiar with that...???

GulfCoast wrote:The "W" lining casting drill can be run nice and short, I think Dobbs has a diagram on his site, or its in Carol Cassity's book. If you line to all 5 poles from each side, you get in a lot of slot work and short precise casts away from suction without a ton of running.

Thanks Mark, I have the book here somewhere......

GulfCoast wrote:The "W" lining casting drill can be run nice and short, I think Dobbs has a diagram on his site, or its in Carol Cassity's book. If you line to all 5 poles from each side, you get in a lot of slot work and short precise casts away from suction without a ton of running.

GC - when we have done the W drill throwing marks, we use stickmen at each of the points - do you just use orange poles when running the W as blinds??

stmasley wrote:

GulfCoast wrote:The "W" lining casting drill can be run nice and short, I think Dobbs has a diagram on his site, or its in Carol Cassity's book. If you line to all 5 poles from each side, you get in a lot of slot work and short precise casts away from suction without a ton of running.

GC - when we have done the W drill throwing marks, we use stickmen at each of the points - do you just use orange poles when running the W as blinds??

You want me to make you a copy of the drill?

It says use white flags or cones........Set up a big W with 15 yards between rows, and about 15-20 yards apart.......basically just moving the sending line around and using the other cones/bumper piles as suction. Never done this with blinds, looks like fun.........or disaster?

Oh, and found the swish drill in the book as well......thanks sd....

So what is this swish drill?

So what is this swish drill?

It's a pile drill that's good for developing younger dogs enthusiasm and confidence.
Basically, you put a blind stake and pile of bumpers in the middle of a field and move your sending line around the stake like a clock. You're sending the dog to the same pile but moving the line. You can run easier blinds for a young dog or run from a point where the line to the pile incorporates more factors. Almost like a reverse wagon wheel or pattern blinds. Instead of sendin gthe dog "out" you're sending them "in" to the middle of the clock.

It's super easy to set-up and young dogs love it. Great for enthusiasm and confidence in early transition.
Don't rely on it too much though. I almost never run an older dog on a circle drill.
Sometimes, when I'm rushed, I'll put out a pile and stake and have the dog ride with me on the 4 wheeler from line to line. You can really roll thru dogs like that and they get used to bikes too. To this day, I can't keep monkey butt off a bike


Brian: There are two types of "W" drills. One is where you set out bumpers in a W and have the dog pick them up.

The other "W" wif stickmen is essentially the ABCD drill we discussed. Run marks first then come back with blindz thru old scent and such. In reality, any stickman drill where you're running the dog through old falls and tite slots could be considered an ABCD drill. The configurations are endless. My two favs are W and Diamond 5 set-ups.

I do the "W" handling version a couple times a month to keep Rivithead somewhat willing to cast away from suction. Carol calls it the "don't hide the candy from the baby drill." I really think it helps. I always try to get the "short" pole first, so the dog does not get it in its head that it is a "forever poison bird" from handling past it 4 times and then getting it last. Dogs that do not have Rivits in thier heads may not have this issue.

Protrainer: All you do is set up 5 blind poles like a "W" about 15 yards apart side to side and front to back, go to each side, back up "X" far, and line dog to each pole. They will have to pass bumpers, old blinds, deal with little bitty slots, stuff like that. "They" say it also helps with putting/top end control on blinds. Dogs get good at it after a while, like any drill, then you can go run from each corner and not square to the sides. You WILL get casts away from suction then. I try not to do it too often, but a couple times a month. Should probably bust it out this week. You can do it as "doggie snooker" where you gotta call your pole b4 you send the dog and then count casts.....

Swish drill is like playing horse, the pole is the basket, and you shoot from all around the circle by lining your dog past/through/over whatever factors you got back to the same place.

Been running a setup..not sure of the technical name but here it is. A little rough looking but I'm not the best with paint drawing tool pallete thing.

Hey Jake.....see you made it. Welcome to the site!

Yea, that's a version of the W drill they/we are talking about. You can run it from all different angles. Good stuff.

Didn't read the thread my bad...didn't know y'all had talked about it.