This flowchart is derived from the Mike Lardy's Total Retriever Training and to a lesser degree from Smartwork/Smartfetch method by Evan Graham.
Basics:
- Formal Obedience: Here, Heel, Sit, Remote Sit, Kennel
- Sit to Whistle
- Force Fetch: Hold
- Force Fetch: Ear Pinch
- Force Fetch: CC to Fetch
- Force Fetch: Walking Fetch
- Force Fetch: Stick Fetch
- Simple Casting: 3-handed Casting (remote sit)
- E-collar conditioning to obedience commands, debolting
- Collar Fetch
Pile Work
- Lining and Casting to the Pile (mostly from front/remote sit)
- Stick to Pile (1 stick send for every 3-5 free sends; 20-100 yds; mostly remote sends)
- Force to Pile with E-collar (1 nick for every 3 or so free sends; up to 100 yards)
- Sit to Pile (on the way in and on the way out)
- Come in from Pile
Double T
- Teaching the line from baseline to back pile (100 yards)
- Forcing the double T line, similar to Force to Pile
- Stopping to Pile
- Mini, Full, and Double T
Swim-by
- Teaching and then forcing across water to back pile
- Stopping, Over Casts, Exits
Basic Marking:
- Singles, 50-100 yards, light cover
- Hand Deliveries to heel
- Strong Steadying w/ Honoring
- Simple Land Doubles
- Simple conventional De-cheating
- Simple Water Doubles
- Moderate-to-Long non-cheating Water Marks
Transition:
- Pattern Blinds
- Blind Drills
- Pattern Blinds with Diversions
- Elementary Cold Land blinds
- Channel Blinds
- 8-handed casting (Wagon Wheel)
- Walking Baseball
- Wagon Wheel Lining Drill
- No-No Drill
- Zig-Zag Drills
- Chinese Blinds
- Taught/Permanent Blinds
- Simple Cold Land Blinds
- Cheating Singles (Tune-up)
- Taught/Permanent Water Blinds
- Simple Cold Water Blinds
- Diversion Marks: Four-phase Drill
- Diversion Marks: Basic Diversion Mark Drill
- Diversion Marks: Taught Blinds with Diversion Marks
Interim Field Work:
- Marks in light to moderate cover at distances of 50-200 yards
- Closer proximity Double Marks at contrasting distances
- Low pressure handling on field exercises @ gradually increasing distance
- Closer proximity, higher concept marking
- Single diversion mark with simple cold blind (AKA Blind Drills)