Kooly's Plan – 3 ½ years old (updated 7/8/07)
      
                            strengths:

                                   1. very "birdy" (big turn on)
                                   2. excellent nose
                                   3. can run big marks with cover – 400 yards
                                   4. fast (when he wants to be)
                                   5. very responsive to whistles
                                   6. wants to please
                                   7. very good at handling
                                   8. excellent marker
                                   9. super good memory
                                 10. through transition
                                 11. strong in water
                                 12. many flyers at "Euro" shoots - did well at these
                                 13. excellent in the uplands
                                 14. nice, tall sit at the line
                                 15. honest
                                 16. carries a line naturally and far
                                 17. great mouth 
                                 18. responds well to indirect pressure
                                 19 has three AKC Senior Hunt test passes

                            weaknesses: (3/07)

                                    1. test wise - will ibreak on close water flyers
                                    2. OB - huge difference between training & hunt tests                                    
                                    3. can get sulky when pushed too much
                                    4. anything perceived as work is not good
                                    5. certain drills turn him off easily
                                    6. allergies 
                                    7. not very aggressive off the line running cold blinds (much better lately)
                            
                            weaknesses: (update 7/8/07)

                                    1. test wise - will vocalize on close water flyers, some forward motion,
                                             re-heeling is a big issue
                                    2. OB - still difference between training & hunt tests                                    
                                    3. certain drills turn him off easily
                                    4. allergies 
                                   
                                   analysis: getting a balanced attitude (no noise or motion)

           rationale -  continue with the higher stimulating training approach, using "in your face
                               marks", heeling backwards at the line, selection, poison birds, "muzzle/quiet"
                               corrections and a great deal of watching, holding blind manners and action at
                               the line, zero tolerance & create as much excitement in training as possible
                              
                         Balance Focus – run blinds and marks with factor themes for high success
                                            work on basic multiples regularly
                                            be animated at the line
                                            limit drills (well spaced out) - loves walking baseball
                                            well defined line manners "etched in stone"
                                            group training at least twice a week
                                            train twice a day  - interesting blinds (clipped winged pigeons)
                                            use birds often (pheasants & ducks)
                                            needs lots of close marks with birds and water  
                                            road twice a week  
                                            use cold honors & watching            

                          solutions: holding blind drills (often)
                                            use backward step to re-heel often to set-up him up for noise
                                                  corrections
                                            start doing poison birds regularly
                                            use selection in training to break predictability  & increase
                                                   responsiveness at the line
                                            zero nagging & one word commands
                                            cold honors on close marks (use Taffey or Daisy - as pick-up dog
                                            work on multiples, gradually build - but balance with singles
                                            use pattern blinds to teach factors                           
                                            "whoa" break lessons (stand still & don't move)
                                            run cold blinds with learned factors
                                            run marks with similar factors
                                            plan marking exercises for maximum effect
                                                   learn concepts in themes
                                                   be systematic on factors
                                                   increase distances gradually (keep track)
                                            design set-ups for training areas = same as Daisy