Course Details
Let's face it, Retriever field work is an outdoor sport. But this time of year we might rather be inside!
Good news! I'm sharing my 6 favorite indoor training games that build real skills that translate to real field work when the weather improves.
All 6 games can be played inside your house. This class, by Retriever trainer Jennifer Henion, will focus on one skill game per week of class. It's a great way to get in shape mentally and physically for the spring training season.
Game One: Kitchen Triples
- This game teaches Line Mechanics & Line Discrimination when there are multiple "marks" or "blinds". You practice heel position, steadiness and focusing on this one, not that one.
Game Two: Run by the Bumper to get a Bumper
- This one helps with Handling Training. And cue discrimination. Yes the bumper is there, but I want you to follow my other cues BEFORE you get released to it.
- Great for blind retrieves - builds control at the end of the blind.
Game Three: Target Disc Casting & Whistle Sits
- Piggy backing on Game Two, this one creates a super fun way to build casting skills and add whistle sits in between.
- Great for blind retrieve handling and building value and strategicallybuild tolerance for several casts and whistles is a row.
Game Four: The March to Freedom
- Great for teaching slow, controlled walking to the performance line. It can be real hard to walk slow toward something you're really excited about!
- We'll make our own holding blinds from stuff in the house, and practice the routine of getting in, coming out and walking to the line before being sent to a food bowl or bumper.
Game Five: Hide & Run the Blind game
- This one helps teach the concept of what a blind retrieve is for the dog. "It's something I hid for you and now we're going to find it together!"
- It is so fun to grow this game, adding distance, obstacles, whistle sits and casts!
Game Six: The Honor System!
- Make the skill of Honoring into a crystal clear behavior chain - that is very rewarding!
Imagine how ready you'll be after practicing these games for 6 weeks! You would be so prepared for your real field training this spring - AND SO READY for your performances this year! Not just your dog's skill, but your relationship with each other! What could your dog learn about you and your cues in six weeks of games?! What amazing level of nonverbal communication can you develop with each other?!
Teaching Approach:
Each week you will get one new game to teach, starting with Game One: Kitchen Triples. You get 6 days to build it and polish it. I will post video instructions showing each building block of the game and how to put it all together. Under each video, I'll add written instructions. There will be a written homework assignment for each game, too, so you are clear on the milestones and the end goal of that game.
Coaching and Help: Gold students can submit questions and videos of their work often for every one of the games to get help for polishing your performance!
Silver students may submit written questions and can submit 2 videos of their work throughout the 6 week course. It's possible to group the first 3 games in your first video for feedback, and the second 3 games in your second video for feedback.
For Bronze students - you get to see all of the Gold and Silver student questions and video! You will learn from their challenges and victories - as well as my coaching feedback for those videos and forum questions. Just know, I LOVE it when students post questions in the forum - it is really fun and engaging for me to answer them each day of the course - so bring it on!!
Guest Instructor: Jennifer Henion
