Springers and Cocker Spaniel working on an Advanced Upland Field Control Drill.

As trainers and handles of competition English Springer Spaniel and English Cocker Field trial dogs, control in the field is critical to success in the sport.
Competition dogs can sometimes become wise to the fact that birds are planted down the field and can develop the bad habit of punching down the field in a straight line, thus potentially missing birds that may be to either side of the course. It is the handlers job to keep the dog in control and ensure they are covering the ground before moving forward down the course. To be successful in the Field Trial arena, dogs must use the wind and cover their field, missed birds are a disqualification for the day, certainly not how you want your day to go. In the hunting arena, this kind of control is equally as important to ensure that the dog is flushing his birds within your gun range, missed birds are no fun. This drill is designed to address this potential issue.

[@MrGundogtrainer]

Rob I met you at Tom's this spring nice to see you on utube

[@WhitewaterGundogs]

Welcome to the group, hope you are enjoying some of the videos! We will see you soon for the Spring Trial in May

[@jaybird4610]

I assume that you clipped those wings? If not great job planting those.

[@WhitewaterGundogs]

Jay, yes you are correct, the pigeons are clipped (we actually use tape, so can be removed later), and planted pretty heavy as well, want them to be right there when dog gets there.

[@TimKoller-ti2lf]

How do you transition from collar use for training to no collar for the trial?

[@WhitewaterGundogs]

Excellent question Tim, in our program once we are confident that the dog is fully collar conditioned training will alternate daily between collar on, collar off training sessions. If all goes well then two days off one day on...then three off one on...and progress from there until the collar is only used for tune-ups as necessary. We will be videoing Draven's progression through the process so hopefully you will be able to follow that for some insight into how it goes with him.

[@TimKoller-ti2lf]

Are you using clip wings for this drill?

[@WhitewaterGundogs]

Yes, all are clip wing birds for this drill, always want them to be exactly where we planted them.