Marking Enhancement - Part II

By Mike Stewart
Wildrose Kennels - Home of Drake the DU Dog

Marking is the ability to pinpoint fallen birds or bumpers, get to the game quickly and accurately, and remember the location of other fallen game in order to handle multiple falls. It is an important part of a water dog's retrieving skills. A "mark" is simply the location where a bird or thrown bumper falls and is seen by the dog.

Concentration, as explained in Part I, is vital to effective marking. Steadiness is a major factor in the dog's ability to concentrate on fallen birds. Picture the hunter knocking a bird down, providing his dog with a clear mark. Moments later a second bird is winged. The bird begins to glide down in another direction, yet is still visible from the dog's position. An unsteady dog, one that breaks for the retrieve without command, may not mark the second bird down because he quickly launched into action at the sound of the first shot. The crippled, distant bird may well be lost. To field a superior marking duck dog, the retriever must be rock steady.

Many well-intended owners provide far too many meaningless, repetitive, hand tossed marks under the pretense of developing enthusiasm and desire in their young pup. This practice is usually counterproductive to long-term marking ability. This only over-excites the young prospect, which is actually detrimental to steadiness and concentration, the truly meaningful skills necessary for superior marking ability.

The basic retrieving instinct, to chase and retrieve fallen game, is a genetic trait instilled at pup's birth. A well-bred pup has little difficulty using his eyes to follow a tossed object to the ground and can run a reasonable distance to recover the object. Marking ability is an inherited skill but one that can be improved through training which involves the core skills of marking. Steadiness is among these qualities.

Steadiness

If a dog is to be an excellent marker, he must concentrate and remain alert to the activities in the field. Concentration requires steadiness.

Early in the pup's marking experiences, we begin to use a partner to serve as a thrower. This assistant serves to hold the pup's attention on activities in the field in anticipation of the mark. Begin to apply steadiness expectations at the onset of marking training. After the initial introduction to marking, begin to pick up 50% of all marks yourself (denials). Begin to delay the release of the pup for the mark to every increasing lapse in time.

At first the delayed release may be only seconds. The delay gradually increases to minutes. Watch to ensure the dog's concentration remains on the fall. Avoid distracting the dog when the time comes for release if the dog is locked onto a visual place where the mark fell. Avoid unnecessary lining cues and movement. Delays enhance steadiness.

As we know, steadiness is actually an obedience skill, just an extension of "sit." On the hunt, steadiness is not just associated with gunfire. It involves sitting motionless for long periods, quiet and focused. Practice patience by having the pup sit quietly for long periods. Unfortunately, most training sessions primarily involve action-running for a bumper, hand signal work, water work, etc. However, on the hunt, there will be long periods of boredom and inactivity interspersed with sudden bursts of excitement, noise and activity. Prepare your young dog for such conditions.

Let's consider a few tips to promote steadiness for improved marking abilities:

1. Do not immediately send a dog for a retrieve in training or on the duck hunt. Wait an extended length of time as the pup holds focus on the mark. Delays promote steadiness and ensure concentration.
2. Get the pup on doubles quickly. As soon as the pup is marking well with an assistant thrower, move to doubles.
a. in-line site doubles
b. double marks, first at 180 degrees and then narrow to 90 degrees The pup will quickly grasp that there can be more than one object out there. Therefore, they remain focused. Waiting to introduce doubles until later in the basic training cycle offers no benefits. Early use of doubles actually helps in steadying a young dog.

3. In training, attempt to duplicate the excitement and distraction often found on the hunt. Sit for periods of inactivity, blow duck calls, jump and fire multiple shots. Nothing needs to fall, which is often the case on the hunt. Repeat similar lessons with friends and other dogs. Condition patience in the young dog from the start.

4. Condition dogs to mark birds down as they return from a retrieve. These lessons begin early for the young dog during recall drills. Call the pup in by the whistle and teach the pup to stop on the whistle. Next, as the pup stops, toss a bumper at a 90 degree angle from the pup. Now add a retrieve as the pup returns with the bumper. Toss out a diversion mark. The pup should stop and note the fall. Now move the entire process to water. Next add cold game as the diversion and finally live, shackled birds. As the dog gains proficiency, add a second diversion mark with gunfire. There should be no switching or interruption of the primary retrieve, just a pause and notation of the fall.

5. The most difficult challenge is to get the pup's eyes on the sky. A hunting season with lots of birds will help, but we must see our training from a pup's perspective. In training, birds (marks) originate from the ground, not the sky. Most young dogs, therefore, have their eyes fixed on the ground watching for the marks. Be cautious not to overuse seen bird throwers, human or mechanical. Once a pup is marking well, utilize unseen throwers. Make sure the assistant gets the bumpers very high in an arch and the mark should originate from woods, over a levy from behind, overhead or other locations where the bumper will not be seen until it's well into the sky.

As the young dog's confidence builds, so should steadiness. At this point, memories can be added. Remember, use lots of body movement, gunfire and calls in training to assure these distractions do not compromise steadiness and concentration. Steadiness under all conditions is a requirement for focused concentration. Begin to condition in these factors early in training sessions by avoiding repetitive marking (which causes overexcitement) delaying releasing the pup when a mark is thrown, and emphasizing patience in all training exercises.

The basis of marking is quite simple-the use of eyes. But the skills required get quite challenging when taken to the level of a superior marker in actual hunting situations. To have a great marker that can handle multiple falls under all conditions, you must field a steady dog. Next, memory enhancement.