RETRIEVING AUSTRALIA FORUM

How does everyone teach relocations?

Do you think dogs are smart enough to know where a bird has fallen, when being sent from a different angle?

How many have you seen a dog do this well, from a different angle?

I start off by throwing dummies whilst going for a walk with dog at heel - walk on then send dog next just stop dog when running fee - throw dummy - wander off - call dog up and send, etc. This is because I like walking and gives dog lots of memory and different location practice.
According to a friend of mine, only go for walks at dawn to avoid snakes -
Teresa you will just have to get up even earlier!

Julie,

Be glad one of the new rules will limit relocations to 20 meters without putting the handler in a worse position to handle his/her dog than the original firing point. This will bring a bit of sense to stupid runs where you see a mark and are relocated miles away or in ditch where you can't see your dog.

Gareth

Julie,

The advice provided by Prue is an excellent starting point, nevertheless, have you not considered that, from the dog’s perspective, the second item of game to be retrieved in a Two Bird and/or a Double Fall is a relocation retrieve? In my experience, dogs that excel at Two Bird and Double Fall Retrieves have little difficulty in completing “traditional” Relocation Retrieves. Teaching dogs to stop to shot (thereby providing them with every opportunity to see and mark the fall) and then by progressively increasing the distance between the dog and the fall of the second item of game in a Two Bird and/or Double Fall helps the dog to master the concept of a Relocation Retrieve.

Regards, RWT

Dear Julie,
Following are further thoughts on techniques for teaching dogs to understand the concept of Relocation Retrieves.
There is a well established practise of teaching dogs to hold their line through cover, across water, ditches etc is by throwing marks to land in the same area and repeating the exercise by progressively increasing the length of the retrieve. In other words, from a relatively short distance you throw the mark and retrieve it. The handler then moves backwards to increase the length of the retrieve (maintaining the same line) the mark is thrown to land in the original area and the dog is sent to retrieve to complete the retrieve, etc etc. Based on this concept, you could throw a short mark and retrieve it. You could then throw the mark to land in the same area, then relocate ( not on the same line) and sent the dog to complete the retrieve. From this new location you could again throw the mark to land in the original location, relocate and sent the dog to complete the retrieve. Over time the dog should learn, through practise, to understand and master the concept of a relocation retrieve.

Regards, RWT