Day 1: Back in the Saddle

It is the week after the Boykin Spaniel Society Nationals; so that can only mean one thing...time for Fred The Dog and I to embark upon another 30 day challange!

While I was watching the Open level dogs run on Saturday, I realized that I want to have a dog who confidently crashes into the water and swims the width of the English Channel. We have done a bit of water blind work over the past few months; but our exposure has been limited to floating blinds, or blinds on land on the other side of a 30 yard patch of water; so I figured it was time to take it to the next level and start on 30 days of water blinds.

Step one was completed on the way home from Clinton, SC; which was to spend an excessive amount of money at LCS for new tieouts, some new hex bumpers, a gun stand, marking tape, holding blinds and a few extra whistles.

Step two was to do my research. I read several programs and reveiewed my SmartWork by Evan Graham videos. This being said I didn't yet write aout a training plan; but I think I have one in mind.

Step three was to call my partner in crime Rob and see if he was ready to start another 30 day challange...only I forgot to call him, so today I asked if he wanted to train dogs and then when we arrived I said, "oh, in case you didn't know; this is day 1".

Day 1 was a bit of a benchmarking day. I wanted to work with Fred and see where we stood on some basic skills so that I could decide how to best devise a program to fit our needs. I started by having Kevin put a visible bumper on the other side of the pond at the club which would lead to a 60 yard swim and then a pickup right on land. Due to the amount of water, Kevin wisely suggested that we make this a learned blind. Fred watched him drop the bumper; then I sent him back to it. He swam a perfect straight line across the pond. He really wanted to run the bank on the way back, but Kevin and Rob had a standoff with him unitl he decided to swim back to me.

After his long swim, I put him up and we trained LC, Hondo and Ranger for a bit. Kevin replaced the blind and I sent him again. He swam approximately 35 yards and got off course a bit. I whistled him and gave him a right back which put him right back in line and he swam straight to the mark. This time, he didn't consider running the bank, and got back in for the chilly 60 yard swim.

All in all, the session went well as a benchmarking exercise...now to make a plan for the next 29 days. As always, please send comments, questions or suggestions as I am always ready and willing to try new things with my little man Fred!