228. Our HAVHDA Utility Test Training Plan | 3 Dogs, 10 Weeks, 1 Shot

Welcome to Standing Stone Kennels! We have three dogs, Thunder, Doc, and Trix, running NAVHDA Utility Tests this season, and we're breaking down the exact training plan for each one over the next ten weeks.Thunder is a Utility Prize 1 dog qualified for this year's Invitational. His main issue is duck search confidence. He pops, checks in, and runs the shore instead of expanding independently. We're using lining drills, duck launchers, and heavy salting to build his independence before his September run.Doc has a similar confidence hang-up in the duck search. His prep mirrors Thunder's, with an emphasis on challenging field work and duck work twice a week. He's targeting a Prize 1 at the June test.Trix is a titled Master Hunter who has never run Utility, and for good reason. Her issue is unique: she finds ducks, but won't retrieve them independently when we can't influence her. The plan is high-volume marking drills with dead ducks to condition the same retrieve expectation she has with every other bird.We also cover: how to structure weekly training schedules, when to run mock test days, the "train hard, test easy" principle and where it gets misconstrued, why ducks and quail cause the most retrieving problems, and how much field work experienced dogs actually need.If you're prepping a dog for their first utility test or trying to requalify, this episode gives you a real-world blueprint.Chapters0:00 Intro — Three Dogs, One Test Season1:28 Meet Thunder, Doc, and Trix3:12 Thunder's Duck Search Hang-Up: Popping and Checking In7:48 How Thunder's Invitational Prep Affects His Utility Training12:31 Building Independent Duck Search Confidence15:21 Using Duck Launchers to Build Confidence in the Water17:42 Heavy Salting — What It Is and When to Use It19:21 Reviewing the Training Pond and Setup28:21 Thunder's Weekly Training Schedule Breakdown35:39 Field Work: Quality Over Quantity38:51 Train Hard, Test Easy — and Where It Gets Misconstrued43:29 Running Mock Test Days: How and When45:44 Doc — His Hang-Ups and Training Approach54:08 Doc's Plan: Similar Path, Slightly Different Wrinkles58:59 Trix — Her Story and the Duck Retrieve Problem1:00:06 Trix's Ten-Week Plan: High-Volume Duck Marking Drills1:05:15 Conditioning the Right Response When You Can't See Your Dog1:09:04 What Makes Trix Special in the Field1:11:56 Wrapping Up — Three Dogs, Three Plans, One GoalSend Us Mail5919 W Pleasant Valley RdPretty Prairie, KS 67570LinksStep-By-Step Dog Training Course: https://www.standingstonesupply.com/coursesJoin our Patreon Community - https://bit.ly/SSK-PatreonOur Store - https://bit.ly/SSK-StoreSocial MediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/StandingStoneKennelsInstagram: www.instagram.com/standingstonekennels/Website: www.standingstonekennels.comEthan and Kat Pippitt are the proud owners of Standing Stone Kennels. They breed German Shorthaired pointers and train all types of dogs for the hunt and the home. Their training strategies are easy to follow and are flexible to meet the needs of individual dogs. They are avid outdoorsmen and when they aren't training dogs they spend their free time hunting all kinds of game across the United States.We use affiliate links to help support the channel. If you would like to support Standing Stone content we appreciate you using the links in the description of this video.Subscribe to our channel here: http://bit.ly/2Dyy9DW