How do people train on an evening in the dark? I generally don't get home until after 6 and it's pitch black by the time I get out. My evenings consists of walking and trying to teach heelwork on lead, but that is pretty much it. I do try some retrieving in the house (hiding dummies, etc) but I can't wait for the light nights to come so that I can do more. The only real training I can do is at weekends but I would much prefer to do more frequent, shorter sessions throughout the week.
Dave
Training in the dark (literally and figuratively)
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neilly1690
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Re: Training in the dark (literally and figuratively)
surely it cant be that dark ... just keep them close ...
springer mad ..or mad springer ...
Re: Training in the dark (literally and figuratively)
It's never that dark once your eyes have adjusted... Just sit in the truck for five minutes when you get there.....As the other poster said keep keep the dog close....
I train both hunting and retrieving in the dark....It teaches a dog to mark the fall of a dummy by sound and to rely on it's nose rather than it's eyes.... My only caution is you need to know the lie of the land in daylight to avoid hidden dangers like wire fences, ditches etc...
Rascal
I train both hunting and retrieving in the dark....It teaches a dog to mark the fall of a dummy by sound and to rely on it's nose rather than it's eyes.... My only caution is you need to know the lie of the land in daylight to avoid hidden dangers like wire fences, ditches etc...
Rascal
General Dogsbody
Re: Training in the dark (literally and figuratively)
I've done quite a bit of practise in the dark after work and I think it can sometimes be a benefit rather than a hindrance, it definitely has helped to develop her nose and also get her to pay more attention to the whistle rather than look at me. I don't do it close to any roads and I also use a collar and led light so that I can see where she is.
Matt
Matt
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Hepe
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Re: Training in the dark (literally and figuratively)
If i'm truly bad and lazy i just stand in the kitchen door, throwing balls or small dummies out on the lawn, sending a dog at a time, letting them work with their noses to find them. 
Other than that my tip is to find an empty parking lot or some other lit places, you can train quite advanced retriever stuff in a narrow area, just make the distance smallish. Mine love it when i narrow things down, making a game out of it.
Helene
Other than that my tip is to find an empty parking lot or some other lit places, you can train quite advanced retriever stuff in a narrow area, just make the distance smallish. Mine love it when i narrow things down, making a game out of it.Helene
Re: Training in the dark (literally and figuratively)
Cheers all maybe I'm just being a bit over cautious as where we live out in the sticks she can go for miles if she takes it into her mind to. I do have a 10mtr long line that I have been using so perhpas I'll persist with that for now.
Re: Training in the dark (literally and figuratively)
Ah I wouldn’t be training in the dark with a “bog off” dog, sorry I hadn’t realised... 
I think maybe it would really help you to go to an experienced spaniel trainer looking through your posts. It would help you I think get her back on track and give you some really good pointers training wise.
Which county are you in?
Rascal
I think maybe it would really help you to go to an experienced spaniel trainer looking through your posts. It would help you I think get her back on track and give you some really good pointers training wise.Which county are you in?
Rascal
General Dogsbody
Re: Training in the dark (literally and figuratively)
Hi Rascal, I'm in East Yorkshire and unfortunately due to illness I've not been able to give her as much training/attention as I would have liked which is why I have (as you so accurately put it) a bogoff dog . Although in all fairness she is getting better. I have been to a couple of sessions with a trainer local to me and am working on a few things before I take her back as finances dictate I can't go every week. Once I get her doing what I have learnt at one session on a regular basis then I take her for the next session which is a bit long winded but works for me at the moment. It's just that I was a bit reluctant to let her off in the dark knowing that she may indeed bogoff!! 
. Although in all fairness she is getting better. I have been to a couple of sessions with a trainer local to me and am working on a few things before I take her back as finances dictate I can't go every week. Once I get her doing what I have learnt at one session on a regular basis then I take her for the next session which is a bit long winded but works for me at the moment. It's just that I was a bit reluctant to let her off in the dark knowing that she may indeed bogoff!! Re: Training in the dark (literally and figuratively)
Hi Brev,
Sorry to hear about your illness and I know just how frustrating that can be at times....
If you keep her close to you and fully engaged with you and when she's not hunting or retrieving on a lead then she shouldn't bog off unless you're on rabbity ground...She also might not have the confidence to do that in the dark.
When she bogs off what triggers that?
Pleased you've found a trainer and in all honesty you shouldn't need to go every week but as you say, get what you've been shown going well and then go back...
Good luck with her....
Rascal
Sorry to hear about your illness and I know just how frustrating that can be at times....
If you keep her close to you and fully engaged with you and when she's not hunting or retrieving on a lead then she shouldn't bog off unless you're on rabbity ground...She also might not have the confidence to do that in the dark.
When she bogs off what triggers that?
Pleased you've found a trainer and in all honesty you shouldn't need to go every week but as you say, get what you've been shown going well and then go back...
Good luck with her....
Rascal
General Dogsbody
Re: Training in the dark (literally and figuratively)
How old is the dog?
How long have you had her?
I think illness and bonding need to be taken into consideration before you even think about "training" with the potential of a bog off dog you should bond rather than train, once your happyish that the bonding is happening then start to train, you have a retriever so in theory it will retrieve, in practice it will run in first, night time does give you an advantage in that the dog may rely on sound rather than sight. however that isn't always the case. do not think because you cannot see that the dog cannot.
Train for steadiness first and foremost.
How long have you had her?
I think illness and bonding need to be taken into consideration before you even think about "training" with the potential of a bog off dog you should bond rather than train, once your happyish that the bonding is happening then start to train, you have a retriever so in theory it will retrieve, in practice it will run in first, night time does give you an advantage in that the dog may rely on sound rather than sight. however that isn't always the case. do not think because you cannot see that the dog cannot.
Train for steadiness first and foremost.
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