I'm new to this site and I would like to see what your thoughts are on the following. I've trained only one chesapeake, my male Helles who will be 7 this spring. I'm very happy with the results I've optained with him.

When I started out training my male I worked him a lot on finding planted pigeons. I do a lot of pheasants hunting and wanted him to becaome a bird finding fool. However, the one big problem that took sometime to work through was getting him to extend and go deep on long retrieves. Since he was used to hunting them up he would fall short and start using his noise. After he was 2 yrs. or so I worked all summer and into the fall on long marks and eventullay got him to think deep but he does fall back to the noise when I sometimes think he shouldn't have.

So my question is about training the new pup I hope to get this April. Would it be better to develop the retrieving skills first then move on to hunting up birds?

Finally, with working a dog on long marks I've read that pups that are being trained to be field trial dogs are taking marks at 150 yds when they are 4 to 5 months old. Could somebody outline how one goes about working a young pup to this level of marking?

Thanks
Lindsey

I have only taught 2 dogs to hunt & flush and both were taught very easily since they already knew obedience,could mark and handle.
The control of the dog's hunt is helped by obedience and handling skills. For example, having a dog sit to flush is much easier to teach to a dog that already will sit on a whistle to handle a blind. Once the dog is sitting it is in a position to mark the shot bird(s). Then the same marking skills take over that you would use in non-upland training.
IMHO no matter your goal be it field trials,hunt test, waterfowl or upland hunting your first year of training should be about the same. Then you concentrate towards a specific area of interest. I don't think you will regret the time spent on basic obedience, marking, lining and handling skills.
I hope this helps to answer your question.
Tim

Well,you gotta start young using the dummy launcher, it will get them used to long marks/retrieves at about 100 yds. at 7/9 mos old. This discipline will defenitly stay with them for more advanced training when they older.

Does anyone know of any good trainers in NH?

I have a puppy right now that just turned 7 months. Distance is not my concern as much as confidence in going out to the mark. The bird is thrown in light brush or none and the distance is not long. I want him to be successful and gain confidence. Little by little I introduce terraine obstacles. As for distance I would not use a machine but have someone out there to help. When the dog shows signs of lossing momentum have another bumper or bird thrown. Don't put the dog into trouble out there without someone who can help.