A Secret Mission

Cisco’s 2nd Field Training Day

Have I mentioned that I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to field training?

Cisco did two land singles today. The first one he had trouble finding the bird (as did a lot of dogs). He found the bag of birds and then needed help being shown the bird he was supposed to be bringing back. Once he found it, he brought it right back — he always looks so happy coming back. The second single was in thicker cover and up a hill, but distance wise wasn’t quite as far. He did much better on that.

Cisco was very good waiting in the blinds for his turn. I was apparently releasing him too early and need to make sure I wait.

He’s such an impatient dog and would not sit still after he had his turn.

Then we got to the water. And wow waiting was torture for him. It’s going to take a lot of work to get him to wait calmly in a blind for his turn. We did a short water single with a bird — he had never retrieved a bird in water before, but didn’t have any issues with that. Then we did a really long (100+ yard) single with a bumper. He got about 2/3rds of the way there and then needed a bit of help to find the bumper. He swam straight back to shore instead of straight back to me. They said I should concentrate on shorter marks to make sure he learns to come straight back to me.

Cisco then managed to break the leash I had used to tie him to a tree to try off with — need to get a tie-out stake.

Overall it was a good day for Cisco. He’s all tuckered out now.