How does one train a PL to mark the flight and fall of birds? Jere

The same way you teach a flusher.



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As my son the wrestler would say when asked how you get good at wrestling: mat time.

Lots of schools of thought on that....at least from what I have read. Some think the dog is born with everything they will get in terms of marking ability. Others think thats a part of it and the trainer can bring out or inhibit what genetics gave them......Jim spencer has a nice book on marking drills and I am starting to use Evan Grahams methods, including stickmen to help teach/ reinforce marking concepts, like hip pocket, ma/pa, check down, backside.....etc. I like Julies answer.......I dont think you can throw too many marks. I would throw mostly singles though.

There was a good quote in the HRC journal recently that I really liked and Im sure Im butchering, but goes like........Make the mark easy to see, hard to get to and easy to find.

I'm not a very experienced trainer-I knew much less when Churchill was a pup. I always train alone, so I finally got two bumper boys. I put them close together, and sent marks so one each went right and left, same distance apart; one sent back and far; one went towards us and fell close. I read to use that pattern in Charles Jurney's book-he said it would give a dog all the tools it needs. Those four marks were all Churchill saw for a long time-different distances from the line, different angle on the launchers, but the same pattern of marks-and all singles. We also did some hand thrown marks (with him steady and me in front of him a ways for more distance than I can throw) too, into and around different kinds of cover. He is an excellent marking dog, and he does triples easily now. Does it come from his dad, who is known for his marking ability, or from all the marks? I don't know-but Scout is seeing those same marks...

Make the mark easy to see, hard to get to and easy to find.

I like that quote!

Zeke

Shoot a pile of birds for em.

Starting in September and don't quit until mid-February. By their second season, they'll be pretty darn efficient at it.