Training Information

Obedience:

We hold a high standard to which all dogs in training are expected to adhere to.  In order to achieve the standard, your dog will be taken through remedial obedience, and if not already done, collar conditioning.  Obedience work performs two tasks important to the dog's training: establish an early relationship and hierarchy within the household, and set the basis for future training.  If the dog does not have a firm obedience foundation, future training will become more difficult if not impossible to complete successfully.

Collar conditioning will be performed for sit, here and heel.  These commands are essential, and definitive.  Sit means sit until the owner says otherwise.  Here means here and right now with both enthusiasm and speed.  Heel means that the dog will either sit next the owner quietly, and patiently, or walk by the owners side whether on or off lead.  Nobody enjoys a dog which is out of control, but everyone enjoys a dog which does as it is told without question. 

Force Fetch:

Force Fetch, also known as the trained retrieve is an important tool in the trainer's tool shed, and is one which each prospective client should consider.  Force fetch performs 3 tasks, it trains proper mouth habits, teaches the dog to turn off the pressure which will come with more advanced training, and teaches the dog that the retrieve is no longer just fun and games, but it's job. The dog is expected to retrieve to hand each and every time assuring that game shot is game in the bag.

Our force fetch program follows the a mixture of styles including the Mike Lardy system and the SmartFetch system.  The first step is to train hold.  It is my expectation that the dog will perform hold properly while sitting, walking at heel, when commanded to here, or retrieving.  Proofing the dog for hold requires that the dog be able to walk at heel for up to ¼ mile.  Since we live on a private road with no traffic other than our own vehicles, our walks are safe with no training distractions. 

Force fetch comes after hold training.  This process takes time, and while some dogs may only require 2 weeks to complete force fetch, others could take as much as 3 months to finalize the process.  Force fetch will also include collar fetch as part of the stimulus training. After force fetch is proofed, I finalize force fetch through the use of walking, or selective fetch.  Your dog will then be taken to our training fields and ponds where we will run marks for your dog using ducks.

I find it vitally important that the owner understand what we've done during force fetch so please anticipate spending a couple of hours going through the steps required of the owner to reinforce force fetch in the future. We will also take you to the field, time permitting on your schedule, to throw marks for the dog.

Retriever Training:

Retriever Training consists of several different areas including:

Marks - Singles through triples will be taught depending on the length of time the dog stays with Fire Storm.  A combination of Avery ATB's, bumpers, and ducks will be used for land and water. 

Blinds - Blinds are taught after basic marking is established and force fetch is complete.  This work naturally lends itself to blind work since force to pile is the natural progression from force fetch.  Once again, every dog is different, and each learns at it's own pace.  As the dog becomes more proficient, lengths of blinds will increase until they exceed the distances for both Finished and Master hunt test requirements. 

Line Manners - This is the area where sit, here and heel become important to the dog owner and the dog.  I've seen quite a few good retrievers fail at hunt tests due to poor line manners whether it's due to breaking on honor, breaking at the working bucket, improper heel, or excessive noise.  The dog is trained in a variety of situations including solo work, and in front of large groups such as we find at our various HRC club events.  We belong to 4 HRC clubs in Michigan so finding a venue with many people present isn't much of an issue.  Your dog will be exposed to other dogs and other people in a controlled manner.

Upland - upland training will consist of quarter, flush and retrieve training. The dog will be able to quarter, flush, and retrieve shot game to hand. It is highly recommended that your dog have basic mark and blind training as well as force fetch completed before upland training begins. These skills will ensure a successful retrieve to hand and will greatly minimize wasted game.

A Few Notes: 

Age - It is recommended that you bring your dog to us at 6 months of age minimum with 7-8 months of age being preferred.  Force fetch cannot take place until the pups adult teeth have fully erupted, and to be honest, you need time to form a bond with your pup. 

Immunizations - The client is required to provide proof of current immunizations including rabies, and brucellosis.  The client is to provide proof of a negative brucellosis test upon arrival; a vet note is sufficient. The client is also responsible for providing all heartworm and tick medication for their dog.

Food - We feed and recommend PMI Exclusive brand dog food.  Exclusive is a great dog food, and all of our dogs do very well on it.  We will purchase the dog food of choice for the client if something different is fed.  We will buy the client dog's food up to $40 in cost.  The client is responsible for any cost over $40.