Hunt Test Holding Blind Work
It's often said and I agree, that duplicating the noises, energy and environment of "game day" is one of, if not the most difficult things to achieve in training.
At a hunt test you wait patiently, anxiously or both in the holding blind. When it's finally your turn to head down to the line, your shot at the test can begin to unravel immediately.
Working in and out of holding blinds is an important part of your yard and field routines if you're going to be competing in retriever events with your retriever.
Your job in the holding blind is to be attentive to and to hold your retriever's attention and be aware of his state of mind when you're called to the line.
Your retriever's job is to be attentive to you, await your cues and commands, and move to the line with you as a team.
How often have you seen retrievers making it to the line ahead of their handler, or maybe you've enjoyed the stress of nagging, begging, or dying en route to the line as you struggle to make it there " together".
Use recorded hunt tests sounds, calling and shooting noises, whistles and woohooing and other hunt test sounds while you go over attention and obedience with your dog in the holding blind. Don't allow him to peak around the corner, tense up and otherwise prepare to get down to the line.
Keep your dog with you, attentive to you. Don't expect him to be more attentive than you are. It's tempting to visit with other competitors and your buddies, and shoot the breeze until your turn to head down…but take the time in the holding blind as an opportunity to prepare, be together in it and as you come out of it.
When training set up holding blinds, and come in and out of them, maintaining a high standard of your own attention to your dog, and your dog's attention to you.
Use your Retriever Specialist's launchers audio device to play sounds similar to those on test day while you maintain your dog's attention on you, and develop his patience to wait and respond to each cue even with the tempting sounds going on down at the line, or from the devices out in the field.