Any Ideas? ?

[comanche 2,942]

A quick ten or even five minute session that goes well is worth more than a half hour session that gets messy no matter how old the dog.. When a session is on a roll and you and the dog are "coming together" going through the whole repertoire and even adding a new twist can be worthwhile. But don't feel you have to do everything every day. The dog won't forget what it knows just because it has not practiced an exercise for a few days .

Neither will it forget a bad or stressful experience when asked to do something that went wrong in the past. Sniffing about and looking a bit sheepish when given a command is often a sign of insecurity or mixed messages rather than wilful disobedience. It could be boredom because the exercise has been repeated so often it no longer seems fun or important of course.

There is a bit of old-time gundog trainer's jokey folk-wisdom that says you should never give a dog more than three retrieves in a row because if you keep throwing the dummy away the dog comes to believe you don't want in any more and won't bother bringing it back!. Don't take it too literally but its food for thought .

Five minutes spent practicing a new trick that ends with a successful or progressive outcome is worth its weight in gold. Finish on a high note and forget the stop-watch.

[slipper 116]

I know what your saying but what about other things i am trying to train her to do is it ok to spend a bit of time quartering etc and keep checking that she stops on the whistle or can this be overdone aswell?

[slipper 116]

Oh and also I am a bit confused as the chap in a monthly shooting mag think his name is kirby says for amateur trainer's you could use food rewards, but others say this is a big no no??

[comanche 2,942]

Not my place to argue with an expert but I avoid food rewards. Its only my queer logic but I can't help thinking that a dog that that works for its owner's praise, love and cuddles rather than what's in the their pocket will ultimately be more in tune with the handler.

I'm sure you can overdue any lesson. Just think; the puppy has just spent a few minutes reacting to your hand signals and done a perfect stop to the whistle. You are chuffed to bits ,the dog senses that "Dad" is in a happy mood. Stop right there,don't be tempted to do it again-it might go wrong .

Instead end the lesson, praise,love and cuddle your pupil (don't worry how daft or un-macho you look to others by making a fuss of Fido). The dog will remember this moment of joy and the events leading up to it. So you had planned a longer training session?. So what?;the dog did what you wanted first time. That's what you wanted! .

[Philluk 181]

Some good advice there, see the good stuff comes out of West Sussex

 

I agree treat based training is a big no no, again my opinion as your giving the dog a choice not a command and the problem is with a reward is when something better comes up in other woods the dog comes back to you for a biscuit or he stays and enjoys the smell of the rabbit. But he can get a biscuit anytime.

 

I use treats for fun training in the house I point my hand like a gun say bang dog falls and lays on his back, I taught that in an hour with a sausage as a reward.

 

All retrieves are done with the fact he is pleasing me with a mix of I've told him to.

 

Keep it fun and I'm a big believer in a high pitched voice as praise

[slipper 116]

Just an update folks, I have been leaving the retrieving for a bit and have taken all your advice on board so have just been playing with the dog and just quartering the fields and at the most using the stop whistle, been going great she walks at heel on and off the lead, well tonight I thought I would try an easy retrieve and let her run in but she picked it up and dropped it straight away, I tried one more but same again, thought I would end on a high so clicked her off and stopped her on the whistle then made a big fuss and went home,

Any how where do I stand with the retrieves?

[Philluk 181]

What are you using as a dummy?

[slipper 116]

Hi mate I have used a normal 1lb dummy and yesterday was raining so the dummy was slimy so tried a ball but still no good

[Casso 1,261]

It's either that exercise or the relationship.

[slipper 116]

Ok its a strange one when I get home from work I whistle her from her kennel and she jumps straight into my arms, I know that's not acceptable but I don't mind, and everything else seems ok, I just don't know how to get her retrieving again, shall I bring her in the house and try toys instead?

I think we have a good bond she is always keen to be with me and my wife says she gets exited when she hears my van pull up