Training in Scotland - Charlie

Charlie

Charlie

Location
Argyll & Bute, Scotland
I took Charlie out for a walk on his own today and what a difference, no Hattie wanting in on the action. I worked on my demeanour being super relaxed, what will be will be, I believe it worked. We walked on lead up the road to the track C+T for good heel position/lose lead, I climbed over the gate whilst Charlie waited for me, I called him and he came under the gap straight to me and on we went. I used my clicker to mark every LAM and when he was in the heel position, he did brilliantly. We went through the first deer gate, he sat and I let him have some off lead time. I have been working on keeping him around 20 meters from me (close for Charlie!) so when he looks round C+T, I am really seeing progress. After a couple of minutes I popped him back on lead and continued with heel, LAM clicker work. Lots of steep hills but he kept by my side which was a huge relief :whew: Kept on as we were then I let him off lead again and to my complete surprise he stayed with me just a couple of meters ahead or by my side, lots of LAM. I forgot my whistle so verbal recalls and he came back without hesitation even when something caught his attention on a hill when he went into pointer pose! Trotted down to the gate still off lead where he waited for me to climb over and off we went back up the road with him on what felt like a piece of cotton. A group of cyclists came towards us, Charlie sat on the grass bank and just watched them. I am so proud of him and he enjoyed some 1:1 time. :happy: x
 
Charlie

Charlie

Location
Argyll & Bute, Scotland
It's been a while since I updated this thread due to many things!

I took Hattie and Charlie out together today to do some training. There are quite a few photo's, sorry about that you might need a cuppa! It helps me remember where I am up to.

Firstly going up the hill Charlie is off lead burning some energy or he's good for nothing. Then we get a good sit at a bit of a distance which is pretty good as Hattie is with me:-



On we go through the pine forest and out to a good place to train with Charlie, doing some marked retrieves which is his absolute favourite:-

A little blurry but you can still see that HUGE tongue! :rofl:



Then both Hattie & Charlie for a marked retrieve for Charlie:



We did some retrieves just for fun and hiding the ball in the long grass much to Charlie's enjoyment and always delivering to hand!!

Back on lead for a bit until we are heading back down the hill. I did lots of on lead rewarding to looking at me and being at heel. Let him off lead he stays by my side, we do lots of 'scatter' for both of them, Charlie quickly returning to heel looking at me for what's next:

Very blurry, my camera skills are complete rubbish especially when I am walking downhill and trying to reward. I just wanted to see his focus which is good.



Again blurry but very focused :sun:



We trundle off down the twisty hill Charlie staying right by my side or a few feet infront or to the side. I normally pop him back on lead heading to the gate but today I thought as he had done so well I would leave him off lead. Got the the gate at the bottom, put them both in a 'sit wait' whilst I clamber over the gate:



Hattie & Charlie still waiting for my cue:


I cue them and under the stile they come, pop them both on lead, lots of treats and off we go. A good training session and lots of fun too!! :happy:

Sorry for the rambling and photo's :$ xx
 
Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
Lovely photos, and good boy Charlie, you can see that great focus! Of course Hattie is always quietly by your side. Your focus remind me of our holiday a few years back in Oban.
 
Charlie

Charlie

Location
Argyll & Bute, Scotland
An exciting few days with Charlie and Hattie had her glory moment too :nod:.

The other day we went for some training, put them both in a sit/stay whilst I went off to do a marked retrieve. Sent Charlie off to retrieve whilst Hattie sat by my side. Charlie hunted but just couldn't find the dummy and as I have not got to grips with my 'hunt' whistle he unfortunately came back to me empty pawed! - sorry Charlie my fault! To my delight Hattie had marked it shot off a good 100 meters, retrieved it, ran all the way back to me at full speed and delivered said dummy to hand. She looked so pleased with herself :smiledog::smiledog::inlove: and this is the dog that's 12 1/2 years old with arthritis, cloudy eyes and a kidney problem :giggl: Today Thomas and I took Hattie & Charlie out for some training. I sat them both up with Thomas whilst I went off to do a marked retrieve. Went back and sent Charlie off. He hunted for a good three minutes, he never gave up quartering through the trees, he eventually found it, retrieved and brought it back to hand. So thought I would make it a little more challenging. Sat him up and did two marked, threw the dummy one way and a tennis ball the other, went back sent him off, he retrieved the dummy delivered to hand, sat him up again sent him for the ball, he retrieved and delivered straight to me again but with a little help when he was in the ball area "find it" which worked well. Not sure if that's the right thing to do but he was very excited. We ended our lovely walk with some tennis ball throws and treat 'find it'. He walked beautifully off lead all the way back round the windy hill to the gate keeping a watchful eye on me, came through the stile straight to me to have his lead clipped on. Very happy :inlove: xx
 
kateincornwall

kateincornwall

Location
Cornwall , UK
Sounds excellent Helen , I know that there are methods out there but I firmly believe that putting our own interpretation on them is par for the course ! As long as we reach the desired goal , thats all that matters unless we want to work them in the field of course !
I was thinking of you and Charlie the other day, when Reuben went deaf to the recall and explored the woodland before returning , panting and happy ! Rinse and repeat all the way , frustrating at times but it will surely work out in the end ( says she hopefully ! ) xx
 
Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
Looks like they are both in their element up in windy Scotland! Great that you are really taking advantage of that wild and beautiful countryside and working on nice, long and complex retrieves with Charlie, looks like he really enjoys them! Hattie, though, she just loves everything! :inlove:
 
Charlie

Charlie

Location
Argyll & Bute, Scotland
Well with 'lockdown' I have been working on Charlie's retrieving. He has been on lead only as his shoulder has been playing up a little but all good. I let him off lead for a run, he then settled down for some training. I sat him up beside me whilst David set up two dummies at around 100 meters away, dummies placed about 10 meters apart. David came back Charlie looking up at me "c'mon c'mon what you waiting for send me NOW" "go" off he shot at full pelt found the first dummy came back and speeded up if that's possible to my recall whistle delivering straight to hand. Set him up again and sent him out for the second dummy, this time he was a little unsure where it was, oh heck my hunt whistle is still rubbish so must work on that, so I shouted "find it" as he was in the vicinity, yes he found it came pelting back delivering straight to hand. I then set up a blind I think it's a blind? I left Charlie with David, he was very steady Charlie not David! :ROFLMAO:I put the dummy down about 75 meters away in some undergrowth, went back to Charlie "go" he shot off found the dummy and delivered it straight to hand. Gosh I am mighty proud of him considering he had not been off lead for a week he was eager and so proud of himself, jumping around me with a big smiley face. I am hugely proud of him. Wish I'd video'd it. He really do all this I promise, cross my heart. xx
 
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