Advanced Field Training
	Getting Prepared How Poodles differ from Labradors Training Principles Beginning to Train Keeping a Log of Training Sessions Basic Training Intermediate Training Advanced Training Toilet Training House Training Return to P.P. index page		As we gain more experience in training Poodles for field events these ideas will be modified, updated and hopefully improved. Advanced field training is a philosophy and a mind game that can be compared to nothing else. If someone tells you that they "know it all" they are either misrepresenting themselves or haven't yet advanced to doing and understanding advanced field training. You are NEVER finished with field training a dog as there is always more to teach and more to learn and the tests keep changing from year to year. And each concept needs polishing. After a dog has completed the intermediate phase of training and is steady, doing double marks on land and water, has learned reliable handling skills and the swim-by and shore breaking program has been developed and has progressed from pattern blinds to cold blinds it is time to begin the really fun training. This is truely a mind game where you teach concepts to the dog, refine it's skills and gradually develop a deep understanding of, respect for and communication with your dog. Each concept must be repeated in different traiing locations for the dog to really understand the concept and picture of a test. This is a process of generalizing ideas and concepts for the dog. One thing that is important to Poodle training is to understand their weaknesses and work on them in a fair and honest manner. Poodles seem particularly sensitive to cold water. Don't try to teach water concepts when the water temperature is so cold that it takes all of the dog's concentration to just stay in the water, let alone learn something. This means that if the water is below about 55 degrees it will be very difficult for your Poodle to learn water concepts. What they WILL learn is to hate the water. Teach a concept on the land before the water, but always move ahead on a broad front. Advanced training should involve a program of building the dog up, teaching skills fairly, correcting when necessary, and building again. Maintaining a good attitude involves a balance between easy fun marks, doing concepts that the dog knows and is fun and easy and learning hard concepts and getting serious corrections. If all you do is train on hard concepts and give strong corrections your Poodle will not progress, will grow to hate field work and you won't enjoy it either. A training session on a difficult task should be preceeded by and followed by something that is easy and fun for the dog. Advanced Concepts This is an overview of SOME of the concepts that are considered to be advanced. Each concept is for both land and water work. triple marks of all configurations quad marks of all configurations blinds before, after, and between marks multiple reentries of cover and water marks over and/or past points and islands angled entries sit to flush poison birds eraser birds on double to quad marks cross wind marks and blinds terrain change on marks and blinds (hills, ditches, brush) hidden and retired guns at single and multiple stations bulldog marks retrieval of all kinds of fowl (ducks, chukkars, pigeons, pheasants, geese, etc) multiple blinds remote send (handler behind blind, dog ahead) on multiple marks send from a boat send with handler sitting on a bucket send from platforms and mats and haybales hunt up marks fallen in varying cover, weeds, brush, reeds, water grass etc.
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