Lining Drill
You need a large field with cover running every which way, no water and somewhat hilly. There should be only be one focal point for your dog to run to. What I mean by that is set up a cone or a visible marker to you and run your dog from 8 different spots in the field to that cone.
Running this drill to the point teaches the dog to run with their head up and run to an area the dog is familiar, but from 8 different start positions.
The dog eventually learns to run straight and this will carry over into other fields.
The main thing when teaching your dog to run straight lines is not to avoid any cover or weeds or follow paths. The field I use has many grass paths cut throughout the field and large hay bales present in the field. Some of the grass is varying heights. The dog is made to come back to you in a straight line just as the dog is supposed to go on the way out. This is very important. No handling. No collar. This is a lining drill which teaches your dog teamwork at the start when lining up.
The first time you run your dog to the cone he/she is not going to go straight.
- Line her up to the blind and send your dog
- Whistle sit the dog at first place she/he veers off the line to the cone
- Walk out to the dog (to the point they veered off) in a straight line to the cone. Keep yourself on the line to the cone. Call the dog to you. Once lined up for the cone again, resend the dog on the line to the cone.
- If veers off the line again walk out to that spot veered off. Call the dog to you, line the dog up and then resend to the cone. Once the dog reaches the cone, whistle sit the dog down and walk back to the start and call your dog in. Very important.
- Resend your dog again.
- Then go to the second line and so on.
Each day try to get as far as you can making sure your dog's second try runs straighter. Pretty soon you will see the dog straight running to the cone and you will only be running the lines once.
Your first line is short and then the lines increase in distance.
#8 is the longest line to the cone.
Important: Each time you send your dog, line her up saying “dead bird” and when she/he looks in the direction you want confirm by putting your hand down and saying “good” “that is it” or “yes” and send. Be consistent, use the same words.
When your dog does get to the cone and you whistle sit, praise her in a loud voice or I at first when I started Tar jumped up and down letting him know how pleased I was.
