Course Details
In this class, the handler and dog will be introduced to the concepts necessary to navigate retriever hunt tests (the water series!). It is the goal to give each team a systematic progression to teach water skills, from obedience and ‘delivery to hand’ through basic lining drills and handling skills necessary for upper-level tests. Specific factors in the water series of retriever tests will be addressed and discussed in depth including cheating, de-cheating, squaring the shore, angled entries and exits, whistle stops, casting, dealing with current, hand delivery of wet game, and live game considerations. Progressions in each skill will be based on the level of the team, from puppy foundations to dogs preparing for Senior or Seasoned testing.
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Syllabus
Syllabus GDF2 - W
Week 1
Concept: Foundation Work Begins On Land
Lectures: Foundations on the Land, The Come In Whistle, Teaching Return Line Adjustment Cues, Introducing Hazard Training, What Is Cheating?
Skills: The Come In Whistle, Line Adjustment Cues, Hazard Training
Week 2
Concept: Water Deliveries
Lectures: To Shake or Not to Shake, Generalizing Straight Entries, Go Swim, Non-cheatable Recalls, Finding An Appropriate Training Pond
Skills: Go Swim, Water Deliveries, Land Progressions
Week 3
Concept: Teaching Cheaty Lines
Lectures: Reviewing Whistle Stops in the Water, What is A Cheaty Mark/Line?, Teaching the Obvious Cheat, Water Decoy Generalizations
Skills: Land Progressions, Cheaty Marks, and Lines, Water Deliveries
Week 4
Concept: Angled Entries and Exits
Lectures: Applying VDP Basics, Introducing Water Casting, Water Casting Discriminations, Water Hazards
Skills: Water VDP Drills, Water Casting, Progressions
Week 5
Concept: Setting A Back Pile
Lectures: The I-Drill Applied to Water, Setting A Back Pile, Common Water Pictures, Introducing Distance
Skills: I-Drill, VDP Progressions,
Week 6
General Review
Lectures: T-Drill Applied to Water, Suction, When to Push and When to Break It Down, Cold Blinds
Skills: T-Drill, Review
Prerequisites & Supplies
Prereqs:
Gun Dog Foundations
Equipment:
- A range of toys for tug/ball play and treats
- Video camera/access to YouTube upload
- Deadfowl Trainers (or bumpers)
- Duck Call
- Whistle
- Placebox
- 4 Small Food Bowls (or Frisbees/Target Lids)
- Flagging (orange and white)
- Starter Pistol
- Human Assistant(s) OR Remote Bird Launcher(s) (Zinger Winger or Gunners Up)
- Blank loads that fit your starter pistol or bird launcher
- Tall Traffic Cones (or lining poles or equivalent)
- Shoestring slip (literally a shoe string or equivalent)
- Minimum weekly access to at least 3 different water locations, preferably one pond that you can walk all the way around no larger than 30 yards x 40 yards.
Testimonials
A SAMPLING OF WHAT PRIOR STUDENTS HAVE SAID ABOUT THIS COURSE ...
Gun Dog Foundations - Water is another terrific course from Cassia! The concepts are extremely important for younger field dogs, as well as dogs like mine, who might already have some well-established bad habits. Over the 6 weeks, I could see my dog start to make choices about whether or not he should swim back to me or bank run, and it's fabulous to see him choose to swim. This was a great course for the end of summer, and now I've got a lot of good exercises to practice in the off-season. You can't go wrong with any of Cassia's classes, and this one will not disappoint. - Samantha D.
The Fenzi Gundog classes with Cassia have been wonderful. I am so happy to be a part of a group pioneering our way into the future of force free training. Aileen T
Cassia has just done a fantastic job with the gun dog training class. Thank you Cassia and Fenzi Academy for making this available!!
I just can't tell you how helpful the information in the lectures have been! I love how you have broken down the skills for water. Thank you SO much for these great classes!!
I will be using the library in retro and appreciate the new tools for the old toolbox, will be handy for my little softy who just finished Junior, if she will ever go on to Senior. Best wishes and hope to see you around again! Dawn S.
Registration
There are no scheduled sessions for this class at this time. We update our schedule frequently, so please subscribe to our mailing list for notifications.
Registration opens at 11:30am Pacific Time.
DS540 Subscriptions
 Gold |
 Silver |
 Bronze |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 260.00 | $ 130.00 | $ 65.00 |
| Enrollment Limits | 12 | 25 | Unlimited |
| Access all course lectures and materials | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Access to discussion and homework forums | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Read all posted questions and answers | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Watch all posted videos | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Post general questions to Discussion forum | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Submit written assignments | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Post dog specific questions | ✔ | With video only | ✖ |
| Post videos | ✔ | Up to 2 | ✖ |
| Receive instructor feedback on |
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Find more details, refund policies and answers to common questions in the Help center.
