More water retrieves

Took Gage back to the lake. We worked from another area using the weeds for him to go through. He did cheat sometimes and bypass the weeds. Today he also chased the three ducks by hitting the water and swimming towards them. Was glad to see him go up to a girl today. He is making progress with his self-confidence.

Water retrieves

Today for the water retrieves we attached duck wings to the bumpers. This really got him going. When he got to the bumpers he dove on them to catch them. His whole head would go under. He was stoked!

Poor yard work

Yesterday Gage had a bad day working on retrieves. He wanted them for himself. Finally set him up where he had to come back to me and stopped. This has not happened out in the field and I hope to stop this before it does.

Blind retrieves

 Gage has started blind retrieves out in the field. First I put 3 bumpers out together. Then my partner threw the forth to the other three. I sent Gage and keep recasting him until all bumpers were retrieved.

 I had been having him mark one and sent him on the second. He would go get the second then go to the marked bumper. I am hoping that the blind retrieves from the same area will reenforce bringing the bumpers straight back to me.

Duck wings

Today Gage was worked on duck wings attached to his bumpers. He was extremely interested and I was glad for the long check cord.

Slow but steady

Yesterday we went to the lake. Gage saw his first live ducks. Much barking and smelling ensued. He never chased them but you could see him getting braver as time went on. His water retrieves were good and he had a ball.
His boldness around strange people is much better. One time I asked a person to give him the sit command, he sat as he should. 

Group training

Gage and I had the pleasure to participate in a training day with a few others. It was very enlightening to see what trained dogs could do. I was like a sponge soaking up all I could. The first lesson was that I needed to make longer cast with Gage.I had the chance to see dogs working retriever field trial drills and hunter drills.

I have now added a second person for Gage's retrieving drills. Needing to get longer retrieves my son has volunteered to help out. It was funny to see Gage the first few cast. When he got to the area that I could throw myself he started hunting. He worked his way our after a time and did bring the bumper back. The second day we went out he had figured he needed to mark better and went straight to the bumper on all the cast.