Steven C Rogers. tagkaigundogs.
Kennel Club Accredited Breeder of English Springer Spaniels.

'Training.'    With Tag & Kai

The first photo shows that the dogs have been put in the stay position while I walk away from them. The second

photo shows that I have called one dog (Kai) to follow me leaving the other (Tag) sat waiting. I will put Kai through
his paces while Tag watches. This is teaching the dogs to work on their own and not to be distracted by other
happenings around them.

The next photo shows Kai sat waiting for some action and the dummy (artificial retrieval object) is about to be

cast into the air, I will also fire at the same time a blank cartridge pistol, this is of course to get the dogs used to the
noise of shooting. On the command 'Mark' Kai will watch for the dummy to fall from the sky and mark the landing point as far as he can. The problem the dogs have is, of course, that their eyes are only 45cm (18 inches for the ones
in old money) approximately, depending on the breed, above the ground. As the terrain is never level and the grass
is almost 60 cm high the dogs cannot see where they are going. Hence the voice commands to keep them on the line.
Using this and their sense of smell they will retrieve the dummy and return it to me. The last picture shows Kai in
action as he races off to find the dummy.

Water obstacles and water retrieval.

The first photo shows tag waiting for the go. Notice that Kai is sat to one side but because he is still receiving

training he has a lead on his collar to a peg in the ground to prevent him from joining in this activity, as he loves to swim. You will notice that I am showing Tag the dummy, and a finger is held up to steady him, there is also the starting pistol in my Left hand, we are ready to go the command to mark has been given. Note in the next picture that the
dummy has gone and is on the opposite bank, the gun has been fired and Tag has not moved, He is waiting for the
command to retrieve.

In these next two pictures you can see Tag off across the water and collecting the dummy from the other bank and

heading for home. You must understand that Tag has to find a way down into the water and also up the opposite
bank and then find the dummy, this is again done with voice commands as the usual problems still apply.

          




Got it and now for home, Tag is back in the water and brining the dummy to me.

Once he is up the bank he brings the dummy straight in and waits for his pat on the head
and words of praise.



        




Now you can see Kai having a go only he is going to retrieve the dummy from the river so he has to battle the

current as well as spot the dummy floating along, remember his eyes are at water level so anything floating may be a distraction.



        




Here is Kai after the dummy in the river, and looking as though he means business, pictured on the left outward

bound and on the right Inward bound.





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Last update 17/07/2008 by Author. cprogs@aol.com