HexaBumpers - Tips from the Pros

HexaBumpers^TM sizes 2" and 3"
HexaBumpers are made in two sizes due to the requirements of different training styles.

The 2" HexaBumpers are more convenient to handle and also make it easier to transport large numbers of them in the field. This size is also easier for young dogs or small breeds to carry. For normal training the 2" HexaBumper is also fine for large dogs.

Those training for long marks seen in field trials and hunt tests find that the 3" HexaBumper is easier for the dog to see at long distances. The larger diameter and additional weight also helps condition retrievers to handle real ducks.

HexaBumper^TM Colors
The HexaBumpers are manufactured in four colors; Black, White, Orange, and the Flasher^TM (black/white panels)

White
The white bumper is most commonly used. It is visible to a dog against a wide variety of backgrounds making it a good all around training tool. Any time your background is dark or you are unsure which bumper to use the white bumper should be your choice.

Black
Black bumpers are best used when you background is lightly colored. Most of the time this translates to a skyline position when the thrower is on a hill and the trajectory of the bumper has the sky for a background. The black bumper is more visible than the white in these conditions.

Orange
Orange bumpers are primarily for running blind retrieves. The color rods in dog's eyes do not allow them to see the color orange very well. This varies to different degrees with different dogs as some can't see orange at all and some seem to be able to see them with little or no problem. This is why at most retriever events the blind will be marked with orange. This being said, the Orange HexaBumpers are best used for running you dog on blinds.

Flasher^TM
The alternating colors of black and white flashing in the air when this bumper is thrown has much the same affect as the spinning wings on decoys that can be seen at such great distances. This makes the Flasher^TM the ultimate bumper in any marking scenario. The Flasher^TM should be used you want the best possible chance for your dog to see a mark.

HexaBumper^TM
Justin Tackett, Avery Team WaterDog, WaterDog TV, Super Retriever Series

I am not aware of any other company that has taken the ergonomics of a dog's mouth into consideration when designing a training bumper. The new Avery training bumpers present a hexagon shape that fits snuggly into the mouth and discourages a dog, especially younger ones, from rolling it. The bumper's shape and the introduction of the V-slot on the exterior of the bumper allow the dog's canine teeth to fall into place and encourage proper holding. There are perhaps two other important design components of the Hexabumper make this the best on the market. First, the texture of the Hexabumper is neither too soft nor too hard. Some of the softer style bumpers seem to encourage a dog to chomp and squeeze the bumper. This behavior obviously would not be a desired trait when translated to my hard earned ducks and geese. Finally, we are all busy people. Don't even think about selling me a bumper that doesn't come with a rope supplied. Avery has stepped up to the plate once again and provided a product that addresses the needs of both professional dog trainers, amateur trainers and their customers that just love to hunt with their "best friend".

HexaBumper^TM VGrips
Troy Bailey Avery Pro Staff, Avery Sporting Dog Specialist

The V-grips on Avery Hexabumpers and Avery True Birds help create confidence in the dog's hold. Hard mouth is kept to a minimum as the V-grips enable a looser grip while still maintaining a firm and confident hold. They also discourage mouthing and rolling the bumper which leads to less dropping and slipping, especially after a long training session when bumpers tend to be wet and slippery with saliva. I have seen dogs that tended to carry bumpers by the end or "cigaring" them, improve their mouth manners thanks to the V-grip feature. It's never too early to start working on good mouth habits.

Black HexaBumper^TM
Jeremiah Harston, Avery Pro Staff, Avery Sporting Dog Specialist

One of the most important factors when throwing marks for your dog is visibility. A dog cannot mark what he does not see. As a trainer, it is your job to ensure the dog had a fair chance to see the bumper as it flies through the air. This means you need to select the proper color of hexabumper for the particular background you are training in.

The black hexabumper is ideal for a mark where the sky is your backdrop. A black bumper will be very visible against the sky or any other light colored background. It would be extremely unfair to expect a dog to mark a white bumper against a light background. The lesson you were trying to teach would be lost because the most basic element of marking, seeing the mark, would be lost.

Another use for a black bumper is when you do not want the dog to be able to easily see the bumper when it is laying on the ground. When the cover you are training in is short, a black bumper could be used to encourage a dog to hunt the area more thoroughly. This is very useful when you are training a dog how to hunt in the water. A black bumper is not easy to see in the water and will require the dog to search longer in the water, a very useful skill for your duck dog.

Additionally, field trial trainers often use a black bumper when they are teaching the concept of a short retired mark. The basic idea is to make it difficult for the dog to see the mark on the ground and this ensures that the only way the dog will find the bumper is if he has made a positive mark on where the bumper fell. This basically prevents the dog from "getting lucky" and stumbling on to the bumper.

Regardless of the situation, a dog trainer should always be fair to his hunting buddy. Your dog cannot mark what he does not see. Be sure to always be fair to the dog by selecting the right color of bumper for the area you are training in that day. This will change often and can even vary from one mark to the next in the same set-up. That is why it is important to have at least a few bumpers in white, black, or the flasher.

Flasher^TM HexaBumper
Jason Zerrer Avery Pro Staff, Avery Sporting Dog Specialist

From young puppies being introduced to marking to the seasoned retriever, no other training aid on the market compares to the built-in visibility of the Avery Flasher^TM HexaBumper^TM. The strobe like effect which is produced by the Flasher^TM in any training environment gives retrievers the confidence they need to become pinpoint marking machines.