Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:58 am Post subject: In a muddle with my arms (and Quest re dressing gowns!)
Can someone please tell me what my hands arms and mouth should be doing in this situation!:-
Whilst walking down a nice wide path by the canal, I craftily drop a dummy in the hedge for Zorro so he doesn't see me do it. 50 yards on I line him up, do that leg and hand-pointy thing and tell him to 'go back'. Off he goes back down the path, very obviously 'hunting' but he stops too short of the dummy. So to help him out I blow the stop whistle, Zorro turns and looks to me for advice, and I do something with my arms that I think might be helpful (a sort of pointy thing,flapping movement or so I thought)and say 'go back' but then seeing Zorro's puzzled expression, I realise that its pretty identical to my 'stop' hand command, except I'm sort of pointing, instead of having a flat hand.
I've sort of got my left and right, shoot-from-the-hip hand signals right, but whats the signal for 'go back a bit further you daft ol'gundog and you might find it'?
And secondly (and if you're going to snigger then step away from the thread!) should I consider buying Zorro a toweling dressing gown to slip on after his swimming lessons and to have handy as and when and if he does start doing water retrieves? He's no spring chicken and I'm a bit worried that he might get chilled.)
Don`t know about the hand signals Becs but do know you can get zip up "gowns" for dogs, does he go in the car after he`s finished training, he`d need to as these things cover them to the neck, soak up all the wet and helps warm them up
" but whats the signal for 'go back a bit further you daft ol'gundog and you might find it'? "
Becs, really? Have you made your way to the heady heights of grade 3 and your instructor has not shown you how to push a dog 'back' yet? Naughty instrutor... or where you just not listening???
People tend to do a couple of different arm movements, its all individual, for the 'go back' command but generally speaking With the dog sat facing you watching you, and presuming you have your arm up with the palm towards the dog holding him in a 'stop', you would then EITHER lower your hand to shoulder height then punch it back up into the air whilst saying 'back!' ....... or...... other people drop their hand forwards so it is flat to the ground but extended forwards and at shoulder height, and then raise it quickly back up in an arc to above your head again saying 'back!'.
This obviously means nothing to a dog that has not been taught it first by way of throwing a seen dummy over its head then sending it 'back' many times (or having a helper throw a mark behind it with the dog facing you, and then you pushing it onto that seen dummy by way of one of the above arm signal.)
Choose one and stick with it. Bear in mind when a dog is a long way from you it needs to be a clear defined movement they can SEE. Too many people hold a dog on a stop with their arm up, and then only push their arm up a couple of inches bellowing 'back', great for close quarters, rubbish for across two fields
" And secondly (and if you're going to snigger then step away from the thread!) should I consider buying Zorro a toweling dressing gown to slip on after his swimming lessons and to have handy as and when and if he does start doing water retrieves? "
Maybe. I wouldn't but if you think he might need it then do. I happen to think they are more trouble than they are worth but he is a golden and therefore not double coated so might be an idea.
Just don't buy it from ebay, hun.
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12“!
and I recently saw a towel bag thingy in a suitable olive green with a well respectable gun dog in it, sitting behind a landrover - now you can't get much more gundoggy than that - will try & find the link
Sorry Becs but I have all sorts of visions of you pointing and slinging your arms about in a pointy fashion . Poor Zorro is all I can say.
It may actually be best if someone handcuffs your hands behind your back and you just tell him to Go Back again . Were you ever a Girl Guide? Did you think semaphore (spelling?) might work .
PS. I have seen quite a few dogs in towelling robes in recent times.
As my old obedience mentor used to say, "If you are doing a Sendaway then your dog should just keep going until you tell it to do something else!" Not exactly in gundog work, but very similar.
Train the distance, and greater! Teach him that retrieves can be further and further away. And the way to do it is to move the starting point back. So, Start with a relativly short retrieve, something he can easily do. When he has completed the retrieve move back a little and toss (or walk) the dummy back to the same place. The object is that he will be keen to go back to where he had success, where he found a dummy. Each time he does it move back a little further and keep replaceing the dummy in the same place.
Dogs get so use to how far we can throw a dummy and start going that distance and hunting. It's always that far so they simply dont expect it to be any further.
Another thought for you to extend the distance is with memory retrieves. Gradualy extend the distance you walk before sending him back. There are so many ways of gradually building up the distance.
Thank-you for the advice- the mist is clearing and I'm going to concentrate on lovely BIG hand signals and building up the distance and practicing nice, straight forward 'go backs'. Poor Zorro - I must be such a huge handicap to him but bless him for his patience and willingness to continue to humour me!
Re dressing gowns - I have added it to my 'Must Haves' Crufts shopping list! I feel it's the least I can do for my ol'gundog after all he puts up with from me! Shame Di has banned me from ebaying for one though - I find that people underestimate the 'fun' one can get from Ebay! (Long story )
Not another Crufts buy Becs.... My god if you spent £xx's on a collar (insert ridiculous amount in place of x's!!) How much will you be spending on a dressing gown??!!!!!
I know, I know..... He's worth it!!!! To go with the tweed collar though, may i suggest something along the lines of a quilted silk, large collared smoking jacket stylie 'dressing gown'... really dont think anything towelling is in Mr Z's league!!!!
Edited to add.... With regard to all these confusing hand signals... how about you make a few brightly coloured placards to hold up for the lad.. You could have a big green BACK.. and a bright red STOP... much easier for him to understand!!!
I have one for Amy and Anna. After a cold day's picking up I'll send they across the brook to wash the mud off then stick the towling coat on to stop them sitting around freezing in the back of my Landrover whilst I'm talking. The added advantage is that by the time I get home they are bone dry and lovely and warm!
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