Handling - Three Handed Casting


In hunting retriever tests and field trials, handling skills enable retrievers to take direction when they did not see the bird fall. But handling skills are not just for competition dogs.

They'll make your retriever a much more effective hunting dog as well.

Dogs Are Left or Right-Handed
The ability to control which way the dog turns when given a "Back" cast is of great value when you need to handle the dog away from an influence that causes it to veer off the correct line. Casting the dog "Back" by turning it toward a diversion invites the beginning dog to succumb to the temptation of the diversion. On the other hand, casting the dog "Back" away from a diversion essentially tells the dog "NO Leave that alone," and greatly increases your control at a distance.

Training the dog to take both left and right-hand "Back" casts is complicated by the dog's natural tendency to be left or right-handed. Because of this tendency, your dog will prefer to turn one way-toward its stronger side. This preference will interfere when you want it to turn toward its weak side away from a diversion.

In your puppy training you determined whether your dog had a tendency to turn right or left, and you gave it early lessons on turning both ways before it developed a habit of turning in only one direction. You have also taught your dog to take both left- and right-hand casts into a dog crate and into the water. Now, all that early groundwork will payoff as you advance your dog's handling skills.

Teaching Left and Right-Hand "Back"
If your dog does not already know both left- and right-hand "Back" casts, or if it needs a refresher, begin by placing a pile of dog training bumpers 15 feet behind the dog. At first, practice having the dog turn toward its weak side. Stand about six feet in front of the dog, and have the dog sit slightly angled toward the direction you want it to turn. Cast the dog "Back" as you take a step in that direction. For example, if the dog is to turn to its left, raise your right arm straight up and give the cast as you step to the right.

With everything stacked in favor of success, the dog should turn in the correct direction. As the dog becomes proficient at turning to its weak side, sit it squarely in front of you rather than at an angle, and stop taking a step to the side when you give the cast.

Once the dog is turning well to its weak side, repeat the procedure but have the dog turn "Back" to its strong side. Then alternate between the dog's strong and weak sides.

A common handling error is to step toward the dog when casting "Back." Don't start this habit. The dog cannot see your motion toward it from a distance.

If the dog refuses to cast back, move it closer to the pile of bumpers. Then use stimulation and give the command "Back!"

Do not correct a beginning dog for turning the wrong way, because it may think it is being corrected for going rather than for turning in the wrong direction. If this happens, it will become confused and will not want to go back at all. Instead, if the beginning dog turns the wrong way, let it complete the retrieve, and then make it easier for the dog. Angle its position again to ensure that it will turn correctly with the next repetition. Remember to cast it several times toward its weak side for every cast you give toward its strong side.

Casting "Over"
It's not difficult to teach the dog to cast left or right on the command "Over," especially if you started "Over" for hot dog treats when it was a pup. Also, you should have taught the dog to turn off stimulation by taking your "Over" cast into a crate and into the water.

Refresh the dog's memory of "Over" by having it sit between two piles of bumpers about 60 feet apart. Throw a bumper to one pile. If the dog isn't focused on you, command "Look." As soon as the dog looks at you, cast it "Over" in the direction of your throw. After the dog is casting well to the pile where you just threw the bumper, start throwing to one pile and casting the dog to the other.

You can save time during this drill if you receive the dog between the two over piles and have it sit so that it delivers facing you. Step up between the piles of dog training bumpers as the dog returns to you and tell it "Sit" before it can return to the heel position. Now it will be in position for the next repetition.

If the dog takes the wrong "Over," stop it with "NO- Here." Then move the dog half way to the correct bumper pile and repeat the cast.

If the dog refuses to go, move it to within ten feet of the pile. Command "Over!" as you give the cast, and release the button as soon as the dog moves toward the bumpers. Then move back half way to your original starting point and send the dog to the same pile again, using "Over" without stimulation. If the dog refuses to go again, move it back to within ten feet of the pile and repeat the previous sequence.

Left and Right-Hand "Back" Drills
Set up a four-bumper wagon wheel pattern, with the dog sitting in the center facing you. Cast the dog "Back" to each bumper, alternating left- and right-hand "Back" as you proceed around the pattern. See Illustration 5-Four Bumper Left- and Right-Hand "Back" Drill.

When the dog returns with the bumper, receive it so that its back is toward the next bumper to be retrieved. Take the bumper and throw it back to its original location. Then send the dog "Back" for the next bumper. The dog must learn to ignore the attraction of the bumper it saw thrown and take your cast.

Your dog will soon learn to overcome the distraction of the last bumper you threw and concentrate on the direction you indicate with your hand signal. If the dog goes toward the wrong bumper, command "NO-Here." Then move the dog half way to the correct bumper and try again.

After the dog has perfected this drill, increase the difficulty by repeating it with eight bumpers. Follow the sequence shown in Illustration 6-Eight-Bumper Left- and Right-Hand "Back" Drill. If the dog has too much difficulty with eight bumpers, teach the following drill first.

Left and Right-Hand "Back" with Diversions
After the dog is proficient at turning "Back" in the direction you indicate, the following drill will help teach it to comply with your cast, regardless of other influences. This drill will also help the dog learn to turn 180 degrees and go straight back.

Place a pile of orange bumpers on the ground 40 feet behind the dog, and a pile of white bumpers about 20 feet on either side of the dog. Then cast the dog "Back" to retrieve an orange bumper. See Illustration 7-Left- and Right-Hand "Back" with Diversions, Step 1.

Next, start the dog ten feet farther from the orange pile. Now as it turns to go back, it must run between the two white bumper piles (Illustration 7, Step 2). Gradually move the dog's starting point farther away until it is running about 70 feet to the orange pile. With each success, the dog in- creases its understanding that it must continue to go straight back without veering off line.

If the dog goes for a white bumper, tell it "NO-Here" to call it back for a restart and move the dog's starting position closer to the orange pile so that it will be successful on the next repetition. Then back up again and repeat the drill from the more difficult position.

As you move back from the orange pile, increase the level of distraction by throwing a white bumper to one of the side piles and then sending the dog "Back" to the orange pile. First cast the dog "Back" turning it away from the diversion throw (Illustration 7, Step 2). Then, when the dog is proficient, increase the difficulty further by casting it "Back" in the direction of the diversion throw, as shown in Illustration 7, Step 3.