I've heard some really wild suggestions lately, anyone with solid simple advice? Compulsion is pretty much rules out, took too long for my last to get over the pressure.

Gordo,

When you come out in April, have Kevin show you. Or give me a buzz and we'll go over it.

Cathi
http://www.vonderwueste.com

Gordon,
I don't do compulsion with my dog, not necessary as she's very handler sensitive.
The TD at our club and I disagreed on how to train the blind search...he felt it should always be done with a helper; I felt with the limited amount of time on the field I could do it quicker at home as an ob exercise....and, although every dog is different, with mine I proved to be right.
Try this LINKfor explanation with photos.

NOTE: I NEVER used an e-collar though this article is written for that purpose. For me an e-collar is not necessary since I have a dog that is interested in retrieving a toy/ball. The added bonus for this blind method is that the learned behavior is that the dog will actually look up/into the blind as she goes around. And this method has not dimished her aggressive B&H when she does encounter the helper instead of a ball!

Gordon,
Flnks is using the ball on a string hung from a metal hanging tree tech. to teach the dog to go around the blind. I've seen him teach it now at two of the seminars that I attended, and the dogs learned rapidly and actually *enjoyed* the exercise.
Naturally the blind search is taught first as an OB exercise for an item, long before a helper goes into the blind. That makes it much easier to train the dog under control.

The dog must be solid on the RECALL before the blind search is trained.

If the foundation on the dog has been done in the DRIVE & FOCUS work that is shown on my tape then the easiest way to train the blind search is through drive (as Will has indicated) The learning curve is short and the dogs love the work. The helper is not on the field during the intial training. A hanlder can have two portable blinds and start the work anywhere they wish.

The dogs do have to go through a distraction phase but this happens when the helper is introduced. The fact is that when done properly the only force used is to force the dog back to you in a RECALL if the dog fails to round the blind or fails to come to you before being sent on to the helper - these issues should have been addressed in other areas of training.

Bottom line is that the dog must learn that he HAS TO GO AROUND THE BLIND is he is to be allowed to go to the helper

Again this is a very quick learning curve when its done in drive.

I just added to nice portable blinds to our web site yesterday. We will be adding more photos but here is a good idea what they are - these are quality pieces of equipment.

http://leerburg.com/blinds.htm

http://leerburg.com/891-2.htm

http://leerburg.com/891-1.htm

Ed,
Those 8 foot portable blinds look *primo*
Hehe....I bet those will be a shipping nightmare!

Just for clarifacation, this would be for Trooper, not the 11 week old puppy.. Did I mention that I got a CJ puppy,yet? He is maybe a week or two out from the blind search, that's if the progress on his FH continues as it has.

Gordo, Told you he was an awesome little guy - didn't I!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />