Old Cypress Retriever’s

Old Cypress Retriever’s Full service retriever training facility offering, basic obedience, waterfowl training, and hunt test training and handling

09/05/2026

🎥SIDE BY SIDE WITH CORY: Simplify For Success 🐾

When your dog is struggling with a concept, piling on corrections is the quickest way to ruin their confidence.
Instead of doubling down on what isn't working, be willing to simplify the task. Keeping their attitude right and confidence high is how you build a reliable retriever over the long haul.

Here’s how we break it down in the field:

⬇️Shorten the distance: Move up to set your dog up for an immediate win.

🌼Lighten the cover: Throw marks in shorter cover so the bird is easier to spot and find.

🗺️Clear the path: Choose an easier route to the mark before adding back complexity.

How do you handle it when your dog hits a wall during a setup? Let us know in the comments! 👇

09/03/2026

Teaching your retriever to hunt in heavy cover is essential for success in the field. Instead of expecting them to push through distant thickets right away, set them up for success during off-season training.

🦆 Walk up to the cover with your dog to encourage them to dig in.
🦆 Show them that pushing through thick cover leads to a successful find.
🦆 Build their confidence step-by-step before increasing distance.

09/01/2026

Blue/Green Algae Part 2: Water Safety Testing! 🦠💧

Following up on last week’s post, one of our awesome followers recommended an easy way to check water before letting your pup jump in! 🐾
We picked up the DETEKT Blue-Green Algae Toxin Rapid Test Kit to try out. For about $40, you get two rapid tests that take 10 minutes or less to give you peace of mind before training in suspicious ponds. 🧪🌾

Reading the results is super straightforward. 2 lines mean the water is safe for your dog!

🟢 1 line means toxins are detected, so do not let your dog enter! ⚠️ 0 lines means the test strip is defective or invalid. ❌
It is a quick, affordable safety tool to keep in your gear bag during warm-weather training sessions. Keeping our retrievers safe always comes first! 🐶🦮

Have you ever tried one of these test kits? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

08/29/2026

🎥 SIDE BY SIDE WITH CORY: Mix Up Your Setup 🐾

Ever notice your dog going on autopilot during training? 🔄

When running three marks and a blind every single day, even with varying distances, dogs can easily get bored, complacent, or develop bad habits simply because they know what’s coming next. 💭

Break up the routine! Try switching things up by throwing a single mark and running two challenging blinds 🌾 Or throw a pair of singles paired with an easy confidence-building blind 🐕‍🦺 Keep your training setups completely unpredictable so your dog comes out of the truck fully engaged and guessing ⚡

When your dog doesn't know what to expect, they’re forced to lock in, pay attention, and work as a true team player 🎯

08/27/2026

Reading your retriever's body language while running a blind is one of the most powerful tools a handler can master 🐾

Paying close attention to stride and stride leads helps predict where your dog is heading before they drift off course. If a dog is in a right lead, they tend to fade right, and if they are in a left lead, they tend to fade left. Catching subtle signs like head turns allows handlers to intervene early, make quick corrections, and keep the blind line tight 🎯

Understanding individual turn tendencies on whistle stops is another game-changer. Some dogs consistently turn to one side regardless of movement, while others turn based on their current drift. Recognizing these subtle habits gives handlers a huge advantage in keeping their dogs in position and building successful field runs 🌾

What body language cues do you rely on most with your retrievers? Let us know in the comments below 👇

08/25/2026

🌾 Summer field work means taller grass and sneaky grass seeds! 🌾

When you’re running dogs in tall cover, those pesky seeds can easily end up in their eyes and cause irritation or worse. Here’s a quick tip to keep your retriever safe and comfortable:

👀 Always keep Eye Wash & Q-tips on hand in your gear kit!

👀 99% of the time, a quick flush with eye wash does the trick.

👀 For stubborn seeds lodged under the lid, gently roll the eyelid back and use a soft Q-tip to carefully lift it out.

Always check your dog’s eyes after a run! A quick post-training inspection goes a long way in keeping our dogs healthy, comfortable, and ready for the next mark. 🐾🔥

What’s a must-have item in your field kit? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

08/22/2026

🎥 SIDE BY SIDE WITH CORY: Never Correct Effort 🐾

Have you ever seen a dog struggling during training, only to watch their owner correct them even though they were trying their best? 💥

Cory shares an essential mindset every dog handler needs to keep in mind. If a dog is giving full effort—like searching for a mark but leaving the area because they can’t find the bird—correcting them for making a mistake is the wrong move. That’s the time to teach and help them, not punish them.

Imagine asking a child a math problem they don’t understand, like 2+2, and slapping their hand every time they guess wrong. How long until that child just stops trying and completely shuts down? Dogs are no different. If we correct effort instead of guiding them, they will eventually give up and stop trying altogether. 🎯

The lesson? Give them the benefit of the doubt, recognize when they are giving you effort, and focus on helping them succeed rather than rushing to correct mistakes.

08/21/2026

Are you giving clear casts to your dog, or are you confusing them? 🤔🐾

When handling retrievers, pay close attention to the angle of your arm. Pushing your hand straight forward looks more like a "stop" signal to your dog 🛑, while extending fully upward gives a distinct, clear back cast command 🙋‍♂️

Small arm tweaks make a big difference in helping your dog finish blinds efficiently! 🦆🌾

What dog handling tips would you like to see next? Let us know below! 👇✨
Tips

08/19/2026

🐾 Training Tips: Understanding & Handling Drag Back 🐾

Breaking down what every retriever owner needs to know about drag back scent and how to train for it during solo sessions.

Remember:
1️⃣ Recognize it: Drag back happens when a retriever carries a bird through heavy cover, leaving a faint trail of "cold scent" along their return path.

2️⃣ Know the risk: Young dogs often get hung up on these return paths, mistakenly thinking they've reached the fall area before hitting the "hot scent" at the actual bird.

3️⃣ Simulate it: If you train solo or in a small group, manually drag a bird through the grass along various paths leading to the fall area to build the drag-back scent yourself.
Teaching your dog to push through cold scent to reach the main scent cone is key to clean test runs! 🐶🌾

08/15/2026

🎥 SIDE BY SIDE WITH CORY: Always Have a Plan 🐾

Ever stepped up to run a blind in a hunt test or trial, only to realize midway through that you weren't fully prepared for what the terrain had in store? 💥

Cory shares a valuable lesson he learned the hard way at a Grand test in Georgia. In the fourth series, all his dog needed was a simple blind pick-up. But after failing to properly evaluate the line beforehand, blowing a whistle sent his dog behind a patch of grass—completely out of sight—costing him the run just 10 yards short of the final series.

The lesson? Always have a plan before you step up to the line! Take time to analyze the blind, spot potential terrain pitfalls (like tall grass, cover patches, or hidden brush), and watch where previous dogs run into trouble. Visualizing the entire run multiple times ensures you stay in control and never get caught off guard by unexpected obstacles. 🎯

Preparation is everything. Plan your line, anticipate the land, and set your dog up for seamless success!

Address

19332 West LA Highway 335
Kaplan, LA
70548

Telephone

+13376525011

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