TOTAL RETRIEVER TRAINING
A New Training Video By Mike Lardy

Review by Dennis R. Voigt, Retrievers ONLINE

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The first two times that I worked with Mike Lardy was in pre-National training, first at the '86 Canadian National in Moncton and secondly at the '86 U.S. National in St. Louis. What immediately struck me on those occasions was Mike's ability to see through the chaff, prepare dogs to do their best and predict not only what was coming and what was needed, but how to prepare the dogs!! These skills have more recently been manifested in a series of National titles. Mike's record of accomplishments rate him as one of the most successful trainers (48 FC's, 5 National winners, trained 2 Amateur National winners, Top Open Dog, Top Derby Dog). It would be folly not to listen to his viewpoints. Fortunately, the latest video to hit the streets will give you this opportunity.

ONLINE received an advance copy of the new 5 hour video and we are pleased to review the package here. In brief, we think that you'd better get this one. ONLINE reviewed Mike's second Training Seminar and recommended that you attend the next. Well, the "next" happened last February (1995) at Dick and Jean Johnson's Mallard Hill Farms near Tallahassee, Florida . . . a superb training and trialing property. The video captures that seminar, attended by about 150 assorted dog owners. The video is augmented by 2 notable events. First, the superb filming, production, editing, graphics, voice-overs and mixing of Whistle Lake Productions, captained by field trialer Jerry Younglove. Secondly, special footage shot at Lardy's Handjem Kennels in Wisconsin illustrates many of the technical points covered in Florida. The mixing of Florida and Wisconsin by Younglove is most useful and transparent to the casual viewer but critical to the student. In total, the video presents a complete and thorough demonstration of training retrievers from BASICS through TRANSITION to ADVANCED.

It is worth noting that this seminar was staged to help support The Bird Dog Foundation, home of the Field Trial Hall of Fame. Mike contributed over $33,000 as a result of this effort. Three companies supported the production and seminar, Tri-tronics, Day's End Dog Training Supplies and Iams Dog Food. Incidentally, the Eukanuba dog food advertisement on the video is particularly well done, featuring a couple of puppies stealing the show.

Accompanying this video is a comprehensive and complete manual describing the program. It contains charts, diagrams, colour-coding and a Table of Contents for each section that has a feature for you to record your video counter number for later reference. The manual is indispensable for giving the student an overview and visualizing tests and drills. Diagrams match many of the set-ups on the video. The training sequence chart is particularly useful. The manual contains sincere and appropriate appreciation to Andy Attar and Rex Carr, as well as thanks for the many helpers such as artist Vern Weber, the Johnsons, organizer Marilyn Fender and, of course, Cindy, Mike's wife.

Overall video production is sharp, quick moving, graphically enhanced and easy to follow. Mike is accompanied by Pros James Brengosz, Jim Van Egen and Dave Smith which together with a kennel of "name" dogs demonstrate many excellent methods. The audio is clear and Mike expresses himself very well. The audience make-up of diverse interests enhances the production by posing the kind of questions you and I might ask. Furthermore, I believe the presence of both experienced trialers, hunt testers and "rookies" helped Mike and the production team to spell out new terms and illustrate basics while offering some advanced insights. The attendees did look like a cold morose group at times as conditions were less than ideal (This seems to be a trademark of Lardy seminars - the last one issued tornado warnings. I remember huddling in the basement with FC Thunderball and friends under Zeus attack and downpours).

At the outset, Mike properly underscored a very important point . . . there is very little "new" in retriever training. He gave appropriate credit to Rex Carr's historic role. Mike's program is remarkably simple in many ways. (For a synopsis, refer to your ONLINE (Vol. 4, #4) for a review of Mike's seminars. Most of Mike's drills can also be found in back issues.) For those who are continually searching for new, complicated and more advanced drills and procedures there is a lesson here! As Lardy says, it's the overall method that counts. Mike's record suggests the basic, clear, simple work is not only adequate but it may be best. His careful use of force via the collar is particularly significant. He uses a mixture of positive and negative reinforcement along with punishment but he relies heavily on indirect pressure and only applies as much intensity as necessary to get the response. Most importantly, other than conditioning, he primarily uses the collar for lack of effort and rarely for making a mistake. This is quite different than many collar trainers. Mike is not on any power trip when it comes to dogs and in my experience he practices what he preaches.

Mike does a good job of expressing his viewpoint about procedures used by other trainers. He does this by contrasting his method with others by describing other procedures as opposed to naming other trainers. The experienced trainer will recognize these references and benefit. The inexperienced won't miss the reference. Some notable sections are those that discuss retired guns, short birds as problems, teaching destinations versus lines (and Go As Sent), and primary versus secondary selection. There is also considerable elaboration on Mike's distinction between a "fully" trained and a "fundamentally" trained retriever. In the advanced section, Mike amply identifies the many "gray" areas in training Open All-Age field trial dogs. Lots of exceptions are described but you'll notice that the fundamental principles outlined earlier are not violated. For all its simplicity, this is a thorough and well thought out program with a rationale for all basic procedures and exceptions.

This video is about as close as you can come to being there. The opportunity to review footage and ideas might even make it better. If you practice the principles, procedures and philosophy in this video you will be a better trainer and your dog a better performer. What better reason to buy it? Videos available from Whistle Lake Productions are advertised in the Classified section of this issue of ONLINE.