Most field people release their dog for a mark on their name because it is a word that is unique to each dog.
When you are at the line during a test and the dog is honoring, you don't
want a stray "fetch" to send the dog off and running. I consider Fetch, Take It or Go, too general and they are words that are too often used. Whatever obedience instructor told me to use the word "Okay" to release my
dogs...I'd like to have a few words with them. I say "Okay" ALL the time!
The dogs are forever releasing when I don't want them to. In the course of
a general conversation, the word simply comes up too often. The same will
happen with "Fetch". Imagine that you are standing on the sidelines waiting
for your turn, when someone starts a conversation with you about how you
trained your dog. You sure don't want your dog taking off for the bird when
it's not their turn. You just want to be sure that they are going to go when
they are sent and not by a stray word said in casual conversation. My dogs
are tuned into the sound of shots being fired the second we drive up in the
car. If I said their name at any point after exiting the vehicle, I
honestly believe they would head for the field, find the gunner and start
looking for the bird. If you've done your training right, the dog should be
wired the second he's out of the car. Don't take this for granted! You
want that desire and determination, but you also need to have control of it.
If you train multiple dogs and you have them sitting side by side, you can
send one vs the other to do the retrieve. Sending them on their name really
makes me concentrate on who I have at the line and what is going to happen.
What level is the dog at and what can I expect them to do? I consider this
a tool for myself in training multiple dogs. I also use this to proof
steadiness with multiple dogs. Though you will have your hands full, I
usually have all three dogs at the line and throw marks for them. I then
release them one at a time and have the others wait their turn. The dog
that moves, or makes a motion to go, has to wait until last, or skip a turn,
depending on the severity of the infraction.
Proof your release word. The word Touley starts out like Twenty, but she
won't go on that command because I've proofed her on it. She has to hear
the entire word, and it had better be her name specifically, before she
takes off. I would start doing this when you get into work at the Senior
level and you are really starting to require complete steadiness. You will
want to vary the amount of time you make your dog(s) wait before sending
them. Wait five seconds one time, and twenty seconds the next time. Say
different words before sending her. What if the judge asks you a question
right at the most "inopportune" moment? What if the judge asks, "Would you
like to take the retrieve, otherwise it will be a no bird?" You don't want
the dog taking off on the first word out of your mouth or on the first word
with the same letter as their name starts with.
The biggest problem I've had with this, is the crossover from obedience
training. Last year at our first Senior test, Touley broke on the live shot
flyer. Can you guess what word combination I used? How about......"Touley,
Heel!" Oops ... I can promise you I only made that mistake ONE time! I
should have said Sit! Sit is a better word than Heel because it is a
stationary command and stops motion. After using the Sit command and when
you have gained control, Re-Heel. I now pretty much have the field words
down, and it's automatic to use the appropriate words at the right time.
NEVER use the name first. I imagine if your creative enough you could use
something other than their name, but I'd still keep it simple and use a word
that is very unique.
Definitley, all command words should be one syllable and easy to hear like,
Back, Over, Sit, Heel, Here. I don't like Left or Right either, although I
did try that initially. You will be amazed later when you are fine tuning
your handling skills. You use your voice to get the desired cast, movement
or momentum. I use lots of soft and loud commands to tell the dog what is
going on. A loud, "Over", will not only send the dog over but, it also
drives them back. It's these little details that make you, and the dog, a
great team. It's much easier to give one word certain inflections, than it
is to give a phrase meaning. Sometimes, the dog just plain can't hear
you...sometimes they can't even hear the whistle! KISS does apply here as
well...Keep It Simple Stupid! Keep in mind that you will have enough to
think about without extra clutter involved in the handling. You will be
evaluating the field, each and every cast. Taking in all the factors that
are going on, and how best to navigate them. You, as a handler, don't need
a bunch of extra "stuff" to bog things down. Keeping your words simple will
help you when the going gets tough and you need to really concentrate.
Having to take an extra second to consider, is this Left or is this Right,
only becomes a burden and then a handicap.