Starting Ground Coverage Pattern Work with your Upland Bird Hunting dogs, 6mo Old Springer Spaniel

‪@WhitewaterGundogs‬ our pups are introduced to this One Out-One Up drills as soon as they are reliably completing retrieves, delivering to the handler and confidently running with the check cord in place. This is usually around 10-12 weeks of age. For us it is usually Sonda and Rob approximately 20-30 yards apart in an upwind course. In turn the pup is called back and forth first cast birds are thrown out to the side at about a 45 degree angle on each side then the next round birds are thrown in directly up course. Oliver was just introduced to the check cord and this is his first introduction to this kind of training. This is where it all starts to come together for both handler and pup, so they have some work to do at home. We look forward to watching their progress

[@RobertNettle]

wonderful. as you said have dog come to him, instead of him going to the dog. great work. love the series. needs SHARP "here"

[@WhitewaterGundogs]

Yes, I think Paul went home with some good homework, will be fun to see their progress

[@jackiepitts4992]

Fun getting to watch Mack's brothers and sisters moving forward. Can't wait to get going with Mack!
Figure another month or so then start on some yard work. Foxtails around here make field work difficult but we will be ready in the fall! 😊

[@WhitewaterGundogs]

Foxtail is terrible this year, forced into the short wheat field for now, but that will be out too tall for the young ones in a few weeks. Lots of water work in our future.

[@jaybird4610]

Is there a technique when I can do this alone?

[@WhitewaterGundogs]

Unfortunately not at this stage or with this drill, most effective if you can have at least two people. In the beginning the birds would be delivered back to which ever of the handlers throws the bird, and then called to the next side, for the toss and retrieve, repeating for the One Out-One Up. This would ideally be repeated over the course of a couple weeks until the dog starts automatically delivering the bird and then heading for the other side. Sometimes with older pups you can use planted birds on either side of the field, but not nearly as effective and much more difficult to get the desired results. You could always come to Oregon and we can put you through training. Have a new litter due July, we could start you off 🤣😂😁

[@jaybird4610]

@@WhitewaterGundogs lol I wish I could blast out there. The reason I asked is my two year old Springer hunts fine , but I would like more of a field trial type quartering. I just need my friends (with labs… lol..) to understand the timing of a drill like this.HAVE A GREAT DAY!

[@WhitewaterGundogs]

@@jaybird4610 yes, a couple of friends will help the process!