Retriever Marking: Focus

Focus is a key factor when it comes to marking habits.

The retriever should focus or burn-in on each mark until verbally released. Sometimes youngsters develop a bad habit of looking at the handler to be released for a mark and their marking suffers because of that bad habit. Later this same bad habit may develop into head-swinging on multiple marks instead of intensely focusing on each mark.

I want total focus on the mark, not me as the thrower, so I develop this marking habit by starting behind the retriever. If the dog looks at me the thrower, I would not allow her the retrieve, pick it up and simplify until she understand that she must focus on the mark at all times when I am out throwing marks.

I like to use a dummy launcher attached to an old rifle stock to add excitement....and teach pup to mark off the gun. Ideally each mark is easy enough that pup has 100 percent success.

In this video I gradually build a stand-alone marking concept.
First by starting behind the retriever with short marks, then in front and to the side with short marks, and gradually with longer marks out in the field.

email:MissSkeeterTheRetriever@gmail.com