NDRC wants to provide it's members with more than just fantastic training grounds. One of the club's goals is to connect members with the resources they need to realize greater training effeciency and success. Here you will find information on quality training methodologies and trainig materials, links to training information online by topic, and links to product information such as e-collars.

In addition, NDRC holds dedicated Training Nights for its members every Wednesday night starting at 5:30 pm @ the NDRC Maingrounds on HWY 10 East. All members are encouraged to attend. Hope to see you there!

Evan Graham

So, you've got your dog, your gear, and an expensive pick-up- what's next? SmartWork by Evan Graham is a comprehensive, concept-orientated methodology for training working retrievers. Whether your pup is destined for the duck pond or for hunting tests and
field trials, this modern, incremental approach to training provides the handler with a step-by-step path toward more effective training. This complete and easy-to-follow training progression emphasizes teaching your dog a specific behavior, enforcing the behavior, and then reinforcing the behavior over time. Dogs trained with the SmartWork system obtain higher levels of skill in less time. Handlers learn to praise their dogs for compliance and how to properly and fairly adjust training to correct behavior.

Download the SmartWork Training Progression

The SmartWork Series

There are several excellent vendors of the SmartWork training series. The NDRC isn't affiliated with any particular vendor, but many club members have received excellent service from these online stores:
http://www.gundogsupply.com
http://www.lcsupply.com/

The Basics:
Many handlers become bogged down in basics training. Basics training includes all training up to the transition phase. Dogs must have a solid foundation of basic obedience, be properly force-fetched, and complete all phases of pile work and swim-by before they are ready for transitional fieldwork training. For the basics, trainers can try SmartWork Volume I, SmartFetch, the SmartWork Obedience DVD, and the SmartWork Water Force & Swim-by DVD. These quality resources will give each handler complete and accurate information on all aspects of basics training.

Evan Graham will soon release a new companion DVD to the SmartFetch book. The DVD will show unforced dogs progressing through Evan's complete force fetching training sequence. Look for the SmartFetch DVD soon.

The Transition:
The NDRC is committed to helping members bring their dogs into the transitional training stage. The transitional stage represents the evolution of your dog into a fully trained working retriever. Transition dogs are capable of competing in hunting tests and field trails. They are sound field dogs that are superior in skill and intelligence to other dogs. During this stage, dogs advance their marking skills on land and water through a concept-oriented approach to marking development. Dogs and handlers in the transition stage also learn how to function as a team to run blind retrieves on land and in water-advancing from simple blinds to complex
blinds with diversions. Try adding SmartWork Volume II to your training library during the transition stage.

Evan Graham will soon release a companion DVD to the SmartWork series. The DVD will teach handlers how to efficiently use stickmen to teach dogs marking concepts from beginning concepts to advanced concepts. Look for the Men of Steel DVD soon. Don't know what stickmen are…start working smart!

 

If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Mitzi Brunsdale or simply fill out the NDRC Membership Application and mail it to the address on the membership form.

©NDRC, Darcy Litzinger/Kinderwood Labradors. 2008, 2009. All rights reserved.