WORKING THE NSDTR
TRAINING IN FINLAND
HELSINKI 14th MAY 2005
TRAINING IN FINLAND
HELSINKI 14th MAY 2005
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Retriever training the Danish way (written by Riikka Junttila & Pia Risku, translated by Riikka Junttila) A special treat for Tollers interested in retrieving practice was organised on May 14, 2005, when the Danish Finn Lange (also judge of this year's Toller Show) held a training day in Kirkkonummi There were nine dogs taking part in the training and they were divided into two groups. The first group included Tollers that had not yet participated in retriever trials (apart from the basic retriever test), the second group consisted of dogs that had already competed in those. The day's program was rather informal and people could freely have a say in what they wanted to do with their dogs. After gathering at the parking place in the morning, Lange started the day by talking about the training of a puppy, with little Oona acting as the "demo puppy". Lange emphasised the importance of showing game to a Toller puppy regularly from the beginning. Small practices are made often with the puppy but only a few minutes at a time. Actual retrieving is not trained but short retrieves inside the house where the puppy cannot run away with the dummy or the bird. When the puppy is coming back with the retrieve, it is best to lean back and avoid looking threatening, so it is nicer for the puppy to come straight back to the owner. You can also encourage a young dog to jump against your chest with the dummy in the mouth, this way the dog won't drop the dummy so easily. What is more, one of the most important things for a puppy to learn is trust in the owner and his/her commands. From the parking place we moved on to doing the actual training with dogs from the first group, Rapsy, Deli, Sissi and Kiia, one dog at a time. According to the level of the dog, either basic retrieves or directional training were practiced. Kiia also got to practice the basics of tolling, Le. luring the birds. In tolling the handler stays low and out of sight and throws a tennis bal! on the beach, in the direction of the shoreline alternately to the left and to the right. The dog is directed with hand signals so the birds would not notice the human being. Between the throws the dog must stay calm in the hiding place and keep absolutely quiet. Lange said that calming down during retrieving is often the most demanding part of training, since Tollers have the tendency to start making noises when the activity ends all of a sudden. In tolling the dog must neither go to the water, nor show any interest in live birds. This is a challenge for an average Toller. At the beginning, it is best not to throw the bal! straight in the direction of the shoreline (because of the attractions of the water) but diagonally, slightly away from the shore. After a coffee break the afternoon group with Wellu, Speedy, Freya, Capsi and Tico started their training. For these dogs more demanding practices were made, such as long directional training in the field and double throw (markering) at a lake nearby. Tolling was also practiced at the lake. Lange introduced the idea of target training in directional training. Target training helps the dog to find the dummy or bird more easily. Before the dog understands directional commands, it is worthwhile to reinforce the place of the dummy with a throw to the same place where the directional line will be done. In the directional retrieve the dog will thus go forward partly with the help of memory and as a consequence, the significance of the directional command will be strengthened in the dog's mind. The directional retrieve can be made longer by moving further and further on the directional line. After a short break the practice can be repeated, and the dog will still remember where the dummy was but will lean more and more on the commands of the handler. However, one must not proceed too quickly to avoid failure. One of the day's key messages was that a retriever used either in practical hunting or cold game tests should really be under control by the handler. It is difficult to even practice retrieving if the dog does not have good basic obedience. More attention should be paid on learning such basic things as recall, staying and heeling, as a good command of these makes hunting and retriever training much easier. Lange also emphasised how we should always aim at creating successful practices when training the dog. Every time a dog fails to do what the handler asks, it decreases the dog 's trust in the handler. Therefore, the practices have to be planned carefully according to the level of the dog. They should not be too difficult especially with young and inexperienced dogs. At the end of the day we gathered at the parking place once more for a round up about the day's training. Lange said that he liked the Tollers that took part in the training, as they were very eager to work, although some of them were lacking in basic obedience. On the whole, although the day passed by very quickly, it was a successful training session as all the participants surely got something to think about as a result of Lange's ideas and discussions generated from them. 
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