For more information go to: billhillmann.net/ For advanced retrievers Bill Hillmann describes how to improve marking for your retriever ... with special help from Judy Wilcox, master bumper thrower (Grasshopper Retrievers)
Marking has to be a natural gift.You can't teach a dog to be a good marker but you can enhance it if he is a good marker.I think this video help's enhance a dog's marking.It help's him to be a precise marker because through fatique,hopefully, the dog will learn it's better to run out,pick the object up,then return.
Bill. How do you guide your dog into position when working on blind retrieves? Multiple marks are not an issue, it’s just getting him more in line with the mark. Some times he adjusts too much either way.
I love your videos but this one has me confused. The question was about a dog that's not a good marker. And the solution was a drill for a dog that is already a good marker.
I think the definition of good marker is used loosely ... the dog can mark the bird or bumper but it only marks the area the bird fell and goes hunting around for it ... thats not a bad marker thats just an area marker ... a bad marker wouldn't see the thing at all. if your dog can even mark where the bird fell generally then you need to roll back to the basics. thats the point I think. and actually the video is about teaching "precise" marking ... a beginning dog isn't there yet.
