Shady Gum Retrievers

05/27/2024

Congratulations to George Bubba Barron getting 2 new Hunting Retriever Champion tites at West Louisiana this weekend on Breeze and Ruby. It was a good weekend for Shady Gum Retrievers!

05/06/2021

12/02/2020

The dogs of Shady Gum Retrievers!

08/14/2019

Picked up a few started passes at Central Louisiana HRC on C**t owned by Jake Roberts and KJ owned by Amanda and Mickey Laniter

03/03/2019

Jeffrey and Stormy at West La. HRC test.

09/25/2018

Hunting Retriever Riggins Lil Sadie Wildfowl owned by Mickey and Amanda Lantier of Chopin La. Sadie was a pleasure to train!

09/25/2018

Shady Gums newest Hunting Retriever River Rippen Aspen.

04/13/2018

02/06/2018

The dogs of Shady Gum Retrievers getting some birds this duck/goose season.

09/26/2017

“Let’s Talk About Tune-Up Drills”

I believe without a doubt, “tune-up drills” are one of the most valuable training tools we have available in our training tool box. I would like to talk with you about the origin of tune-up drills. I was first introduced to tune-ups at Rex Carr’s in the early ’80s. They were referred to as “panic drills” and were designed to ease tension around the water.

It was common for dogs to feel stress in and around the water following the rigors of de-cheating work. Most whistles were accompanied with corrections around the water during this stage of training. The side effects were increased anxiety or, in some instances, “panic.” The purpose of these early tune-up or panic drills were to help dogs become more comfortable accepting whistles and being handled in and around the water.

Like so many of our modern drills, the tune-up drill has evolved into a more sophisticated application. It still accomplishes many of its original benefits, however, it is capable of doing so much more. Here is an excerpt from an article my friend, Andy Attar, wrote a few years back:

“The basic purpose of tune-up drills is to help dogs get comfortable with the difficult geometry of running straight lines in challenging situations. Crossing points, taking angles into and out of water, swimming close to, but not onto, a shoreline, taking tight lines past old blinds, handling in tight situations, and dealing with lines past guns are difficult concepts that tune-up drills address. Furthermore, tune-up drills help define the proper role a dog has to play during a blind retrieve. Tune-up drills help give dog and handler confidence in working together and if done right, dogs learn to relax around areas they have had problems with in the past.”

There are some specific guidelines I would like to share with you regarding tune-up drills…

-Single plant the blinds. Unlike a “Chinese Drill,” you are not trying to tempt control around previous retrieved blinds.

-When settling up the drill, plan on five to seven blinds. The total time to finish the drill should be around 20 minutes, and shorter if necessary to account for conditions.

-It is best to visit a theme and repeat the concept on succeeding retrieves.

-Repeat the drill for at least three to five days.

-You will handle tighter to line than you might normally in an effort to identify some of the more intricate details of that retrieve.

-THIS IS A BIG ONE! Do not be in a hurry to use much pressure.

Too many corrections will be counter productive. The power in this drill is the repetition, not the corrections.

-Be prepared to blow a lot of whistles. It is normal for the work to get sloppier in session two and three prior to smoothing out.

-You will need to balance out your tune-up drill with longer, and possibly, more disciplined blinds after completing your five plus days. Some dogs take advantage of the short and skinny nature of some tune-ups.

Most of you can remember a great dog named, Ebonstar Lean Mac. In the middle part of Lean Mac’s career, he developed a water blind problem that threatened his future. Mike Lardy shared with me that the single most important tool in turning around Max’s career was the use of tune-up drills. Max went on to win more Nationals, and became a very reliable water blind dog.

Below I have shared with you a link to a series of drone videos from a recent tune-up drill I designed for a workshop. Also, I have a diagram of the same tune-up drill for your reference.

I hope this can help you understand the value of today’s tune-up drills. If you would like to discuss this further, feel free to contact me for a phone consultation.

https://vimeo.com/album/4769250

08/31/2017

Our newest champion. HRCH Shady Gum's Southern Gentleman " Rebel". Thanks to South Arkansas hunting retriever club for a great weekend of testing..as always

08/08/2017

Our first hunt test of the fall was Central Louisiana, our home club. It was a great weekend. Dixie and Rebel passed both days. Dad passed Dixie in seasoned, for her first 2 in her first hunt test. I passed Rebel in finished giving him 3 total passes in Finished. On to South Arkansas in 3 weeks. Hopefully luck be on our side and we can come away with some titles.

02/16/2017

Shady Gum Retrievers Fueled by

12/27/2016

Couple good days for our dogs!!

11/16/2016

Stormy sitting on go...

11/16/2016

A couple new photos with logo

07/12/2016

Rebel and Stormy working on some handling drills.

09/28/2015

Good fall hunt test season. Two new HRs. HR Black Magic's Cabela "Bella" owned by Matt Westberry and HR Shady Gum's Southern Gentleman "Rebel" owned by George and Jeffrey Barron. Now bring on the ducks and cold weather!!

09/29/2014

Shady Gums Southern Charm-Lucy owned by Wren Terry

08/11/2014

Good Weekend at Central Louisiana Hrc.

12/08/2013

12/08/2013