03/12/2025
Marking the fall of a bird or dummy is a cornerstone of gundog work. It relies on a dog's eyesight, focus, memory, and experience.
Here is just one approach to help your gundog develop a strong marking ability, progressing from easy to more complex setups.
Focus Out, Not In
The dog needs to be looking at the falling object, not at you.
The visual stimulus should be the reward.
Encourage the "Launch"
In early training, allow your puppy or young dog to launch straight out for the dummy on your command ("Get Out"). This builds desire and teaches them to stay "locked on" to the target's trajectory.
Gradual Difficulty
Start easy with short, high-arc throws in open grass, and only increase distance, cover, and distraction as the dog succeeds.
Contrast.
Use dummies that contrast well with the background (e.g., black dummies against snow, white or bright-coloured dummies against dark cover) to make them highly visible and encourage the use of their eyes.
Progression
Stage 1: Building Eye Focus
Short, High Marks
Sit your dog up. Throw a dummy in a high arc just 10-15 yards away in an area with short cover. The high arc ensures the dog tracks its full flight.
Immediately send the dog for the retrieve. The goal is a quick, accurate run right to the spot of the fall, using their eyes.
The dog runs directly to the fall area without a lot of hunting.
Introducing Steadiness (Brief Delay):
Once your dog is reliably retrieving the short, high marks, start introducing a brief delay.
Throw the dummy, wait one second, then send the dog. Gradually increase this delay, but never let the dog break their gaze from the fall area. If they look at you, the delay was too long, reduce it on the next repetition.
Have a helper throw the dummy from a different position (e.g., 30 yards away).
The helper can attract the dog's attention (e.g., a quiet shout or a visual cue) before throwing the dummy.
This teaches the dog that retrieves can come from anywhere, not just from the person next to them, which simulates real shooting situations.
Introducing Difficulty (Memory & Distraction)
Gradually increase the distance of the throw. Once proficient on short grass, move to slightly taller grass or cover where the dummy is partially hidden upon landing. This forces them to pinpoint the fall area accurately before searching.
Basic Memory Marks (The "Look-Away") -
Throw a dummy and mark the fall.
Now, turn your dog to face away from the fall for 5-10 seconds, then turn them back and send them. This tests their memory of the location.
Increase the duration or the distance you walk away before sending them.
Split Retrieves / Doubles
Place two dummies at 90-degree angles to your dog, about 20-30 yards away from the dog and 20 yards apart from each other.
Send your dog for one of the dummies. As soon as they pick it up, call them back immediately. This prevents them from running over and picking up the second dummy
The dog learns to focus only on the retrieve they are sent for. Gradually move the dummies closer together to increase the temptation/difficulty.
Stage 3:
Multiple Marks (The Double/Triple):
You will need one or two helpers. Have the helpers throw multiple dummies in quick succession (e.g., A, then B, then C) in different locations.
Wait for all marks to fall and for your dog to be steady. Send the dog for the the last dummy thrown, C).
The dog must use its eyes and memory to correctly pick the last dummy thrown, then the second-to-last (B), and finally the first (A). This simulates a multiple fall of shot game.
Don't forget to 'mark by ear' too
