Indoor Work During the Storm: Building Obedience and Field Skills When We Can't Get Outside
Hello retriever enthusiasts,
With the winter storm still blanketing Long Island and much of the Northeast in heavy snow and ice, field work is off the table for the foreseeable future. Roads are hazardous, temperatures are dangerously low, and safety comes first. That said, these indoor days are actually valuable opportunities to strengthen the obedience and mental focus that make our dogs more reliable and responsive when we return to the field.
The drills below require little space—a living room, hallway, or basement is sufficient—and use only clean, everyday items such as bumpers, treats, a leash, or household objects. They build directly on the concepts we've covered recently: handler-dog communication, steadiness, recall precision, and line mechanics.
1. Extended Sit-Stay with Controlled Distractions (Steadiness Foundation)
A dog that holds position amid distractions is far more likely to remain steady at the line through gunfire or falling birds.
Place your dog in a formal sit.
Give the stay command, step back 10–15 feet, and hold for 30–60 seconds.
Introduce mild, realistic distractions: bounce a tennis ball softly, jingle keys, open and close a door, or have a family member walk past.
Reward calm, focused behavior with a treat or quiet praise. If the dog breaks, calmly return them to position without additional excitement.
Progress by extending duration (up to 2–3 minutes), increasing distance, or adding a recall from another room. This directly supports the impulse control needed for holding steady during complex marking sequences.
2. Hallway Recall Ladder (Reliable, Straight Returns)
Strong recall is essential for bringing the dog back efficiently from a mark or responding to a whistle in a blind.
Work in a hallway or between open doorways.
Begin at short range (5–10 feet): call name + “here” or “come,” reward generously when the dog returns straight and sits.
Gradually increase distance, add turns through doorways, or place a low-level distraction (a toy or folded towel) on the floor.
Practice “emergency” recalls by calling from around a corner or from an adjacent room.
Use high-value treats or a short bumper toss as the reward. This drill sharpens focus on you despite minor environmental pull—exactly the skill that helps in windy fields or multi-mark setups.
3. Pivot Heeling & Positioning Drills (Precise Line Mechanics Indoors)
Clean lines start with how well the dog reads your body position and cues.
Start in heel position.
Pivot 90° or 180° left or right while keeping the dog aligned; reward for staying tight.
Add “front” finishes (sit squarely in front) and side swings to heel on either side.
Pair verbal cues (“heel,” “front”) with clear hand signals to reinforce two-sided handling.
Use a small target—such as a mat, cone, or placed bumper—as a focal point for the dog to line up to from different angles. This mirrors the subtle microadjustments we make at the line for optimal “under the arc” sends and reduces the need for corrective handling in the field.
4. Indoor Memory Retrieve Games (Mental Marking Practice)
We can maintain and build memory without any outdoor space.
Show your dog 2–3 bumpers or toys, place them in visible but varied locations (behind a chair, under a table, in an adjacent doorway).
Return to your starting spot, wait 20–60 seconds, then send with “fetch” or a specific mark cue.
Reward successful retrieves; if the dog searches, guide quietly and reset.
Increase difficulty with longer delays, more hidden placements, or additional items to choose from. This keeps the dog’s mental picture sharp and strengthens selection skills for multiple-mark tests or complex blinds.
Closing Thoughts Short, focused indoor sessions (10–20 minutes, repeated 2–3 times daily) keep our dogs sharp and prevent any backsliding during prolonged bad weather. More importantly, they reinforce the obedience and mental discipline that pay immediate dividends when we step back outside.
Try one or two of these today and see how your dog responds. If you have questions or want to share results, leave a comment below or message us on Instagram (@flyinghighretrievers). We’re all navigating this weather together.
Looking forward to clearer skies and stronger performances,
Ryan Fisher
Flying High Retrievers Long Island, New York
