2017 Field Training at Delaney

Mission: To support the training, education,
and improvement of all dogs and handlers

The LRCGB Field Committee has secured Delaney Wildlife Area for field training on Tuesdays, from April 4 through Oct 10, 2017. Group training will start at 4:30pm; the group training arrival time will close at 6pm. If the numbers grow too much, we will split into two groups. If your arrival time is after 6pm, then you will likely not get a chance to run but you may use the grounds elsewhere for blinds, etc.

Fees and Registration

• Pre-pay for the season: $50 for first dog
• Pre-pay for the season: $25 each for 2nd and 3rd dog; no cost for more dogs
• Drop In: $10 per dog per day

All Beginners Class participants are encouraged to join the training group after the class is over - even if you're not (yet) a LRCGB member. For those class members new to field work, the participation fee will be waived. For repeat clients of the Beginners Class the fee for their first dog will be reduced to $25.  We are planning to have specific mentoring groups (approximately 3 experienced people) for each new-to-the game-participant to help with transition.  This will be determined before the Beginners Class ends.

The Tuesday night training group is open to LRCGB members only, no guests except in special circumstances and with prior permission from the committee, not the weekly team leader.

Weekly electronic sign-up will be provided, both pre-paids and drop-ins should indicate their intent to attend by 5pm the day prior (Monday). Please be accurate on your estimated arrival time. A link to the signup sheet will be posted to the members-only section of the LRCGB web site: http://lrcgb.org/members/membersonly.html

Two Changes For This Year:

• Team leads will be assigned
• All Delaney participants will be required to learn the rules of the Delaney training, plus some history to understand where these rules came from. Payment of the fee does not preclude you from taking the required training, nor does participation in past seasons – no matter how long! An overview will be provided at the end of training sessions for the early part of the season. All participants are required to have this training to continue.  If you participate in two Delaney sessions without training, you will be required to get the training prior to your next Delaney session.

Guiding Principles

• This is a peer-to-peer training group. There is no formal instruction outside of the Beginners Class. Please look to your peers for help and plan to take ownership of your training.
• Everybody is expected to contribute to the training group. You will need to bring equipment such as holding blinds, bumpers, birds, pistols, radios, duck calls, etc. The club will try to supply popper guns and gun stands, popper shells, and possibly wingers.  At a minimum you need a duck call, a working radio, a pistol, and your birds.
• Don't expect to just come and run your dog. You are responsible for helping to set-up and for working in the field.
• Bring one bird for every dog you run. Tag your birds and be prepared to dispose of your birds - back home!
• To keep things reasonably organized, we expect that everyone will volunteer to lead one or more sessions per season and take responsibility for setup. We will circulate the season’s syllabus to provide some guidance.
• The weekly lead - and the weekly lead ONLY - is in charge of the setup. 
• Feel free to adjust how you run your dog on a given setup, so long as it doesn't place an undue burden on the rest of the group or the throwing team. You may choose the order in which you run the marks. You may ask the bird boys to adjust their throws. You may run from a different line. But don't expect that the basic setup will be changed for you.
• We'll have many dogs to run, and the sun WILL set! Be mindful on how you affect the group, and be efficient:
  • Arrive before or at the start time or the arrival time you gave on the weekly signup. If you arrive late, you may have to run at the end or may not run at all if we lose sunlight.
  • Each setup should have two holding blinds for dogs to wait in. Know the running order and be in the holding blind ready to run when you're up. There should be a dog in the last holding blind at ALL times.
  • It's better to cut the line than to let the rest of the group wait.
  • Have a plan ready for you and your dog BEFORE you come to the line. Use your radio to let the bird boys know what you're planning to do when the previous dog is coming back with the last bird.
  • Within a group, you will organize who throws/runs when - for multi-dog owners, be efficient and run with as few dogs in between as possible so you can work; multi-dog owners should not place undue burden on the group.
  • Air your dog in advance.
• Everybody is expected to understand bird boy etiquette. Especially, do NOT help a dog unless asked to do so by the handler or if there is imminent physical danger for the dog.
• A few club members will have a key to the property. Weekly team leads need to make sure they get a key to unlock and lock the gate. As a key owner, do NOT use your key for anything but the Tuesday training sessions.
• Bitches in season are welcome to run. Let others know. You will run at the end of the running order, unless everyone else agrees to let you run earlier.
• While members who pay the seasonal dues can train at Delaney at any time of the day, all should inform the group in case others wish to join. If you don't want to train with the main group that's okay but the formal training group takes precedence, can pick location, and can expect not to be disturbed by whistle calls.

What's Expected of Participants

• All Delaney users are required to work at least one (if not more) Club field events.
• Air your dog away from the setup. Pick up after your dog!
• Please be aware that we're sharing the grounds with other people walking their dogs. We must keep a good relationship between our training group and others that have a right to use the same grounds. If someone complains, be courteous, offer to explain what we are doing, but do NOT get into arguments. We cannot afford to lose these precious grounds.
• Never discharge a firearm in the direction or in the vicinity of others using the grounds.
• While on the grounds, never drive faster than 5 mph. dog walkers, runners, horseback riders, etc.
• Do recognize that we dog trainers are an eclectic group, and we cannot please all people all the time. To ensure a good time is had by all, please make an effort to be nice and welcoming, get along and accept the differences amongst each other; critical commentary to these agreed upon processes should be directed to the field committee chair (Rainer Fuchs). Improvements that are in sync with these philosophies are welcome!

Training Principles

• This is a training session, think about what you want you and your dog to LEARN. Do not try to win the training session, you will have ample time to demonstrate your dog's ability at the tests.
• All dogs learn at different rates and have different problems. Do not feel your dog should be able to do the most difficult set-up or that a training approach used by one member is always the right approach for your dog. Know your dog's skills. If he's less experienced, simplify your run!
• Don't hesitate to ask more experienced handlers for suggestions on how to simplify if you're in doubt. Ask questions!
•  While all dogs have bad days, if your dog appears to consistently have problems, then you may want to consider that the task you have asked is beyond the current ability of your dog.
• You are encouraged to spend as much time as you need to help your dog deal with a problem you encounter while running a setup. At the same time, please be considerate of your fellow dog trainers - especially as daylight wanes. For example, if you worked with your dog for 10 minutes on a tough blind, your training partners wouldn't be pleased if you tried to run a second, similarly difficult blind. Know when to quit. A happy bumper may be better for you, your dog, and your training partners than another frustrating mark or blind.
• Be willing to offer your advice when invited to do but do not lecture others if they're not willing to be lectured. On the other side, be willing to hear other opinions and questions and do not be rude to those offering suggestions as they may see things you do not.

Guidance for Team Leaders

• You will be responsible for the set-up in advance of the week – please review the syllabus and ask questions if needed AT LEAST a week in advance.  It is ok to ask for help.
• Plan the set-up so that you can accommodate the number of dogs signed up.  That may mean only one long water mark and shorter mark – or it may mean that you give people the choice of 3 things – two marks and a blind, three marks, etc. 
• Plan your worker rotation.  There are a number of options listed on the google docs sheets, but do be mindful that people want to know what they are supposed to do, so plan ahead.  

 

Register Now!