Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:08 pm Post subject: The Hunt Command
Gawd I just don't stop with these posts do I?!
Just a quickie post about one command, because I'm still making up my mind about this (and I see at least one other person elsewhere is too;-) ) ...
Who here uses a verbal command and who uses a whistle for getting your dog to hunt in an area and what, if any, are the advantages/disadvantages of both?
Use both, and a hand signal as well, remember my point, the "Over" thread, always stack the odds in your favour, you may need to use each of the commands at different times.
Use both, and a hand signal as well, remember my point, the "Over" thread, always stack the odds in your favour, you may need to use each of the commands at different times.
The 'hunt' whistle used for labs is one of my 'pet hates'! this is something that lab people have stolen from the spaniel people and is now much loved (and much used) amongst many FT'ers.
I don't use it - whistle or verbally - but what I've always have used is two slow 'tut's' which tells the dog to hunt back towards me. I half started to believe this to be my very own 'claim to fame' command only to discover that the 'big boys and girls' were using it as far back as the IGL retriever championship 1991.
I like my dogs to be able to hunt up an area without me having to tell them to but I realise that a hunt whistle is probably needed if you want to trial...
Natasha
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WLF All the Way!!!!
"Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you canīt eat it or hump it. **** on it and walk away..."
Use both, and a hand signal as well, remember my point, the "Over" thread, always stack the odds in your favour, you may need to use each of the commands at different times.
Andrew
What hand signal do you use Andrew.
And do you use the pip pppip hunt whistle command?
If I use the whistle, it's the much loved (except by Natasha, of course. Is it just me that finds ironic a woman uses a "Tut, tut" command!!!! ) owl impression!
The hand signal is a sort of "patting the ground" to which ever side I want them to hunt, bear in mind it always is always preceded by the raised hand stop command, so it's just lowering the arm and pat away.
I do tend to use this one most of the time, simply because I prefer quiet handling if at all possible.
I THINK ANY DOG WORTH IT'S SALT WILL HUNT IF IT GETS A WHIFF OF SCENT. I USED TO USE A SLOW, LOW WHISTLE, BUT SINCE I WAS MARKED DOWN FOR IT ONCE STOPPED IT. I NOW USE A TENNIS BALL PUSHED INTO A MOLEHILL TO TEACH TO INVESTIGATE A TINY WHIFF OF SCENT. IF THE DOG IS WAY OFF COURSE THEN I WILL STOP THE DOG AND DIRECT TO THE AREA I WANT WITH A HAND OUT IN THE DIRECTION I WANT DOG TO TAKE , AT THE SAME TIME, my hand does patting motion.
I also have hand signals for straight back, back left and back right.
Sorry for funny typing, my caps were locked on and have suddenly released themselves.
Agree with you entirely Sherry, but there are times when the wind is completely wrong, and you do need to help the dog a bit more than you normally would.
In that case I would direct the dog so that, dog was put in a position where the scent could be picked up.
It sets my teeth on edge when I hear 'hi lost' or 'there, there'
I cut my teeth on the grouse moors and the range your dog gets, any kind of whistle or yell is a wast of time. You have to point and hope a. that the dog finds and b bl---y hope I didn't fall down a hole.
Wind direction is another thing for novices to do battle with.
Area is bone of contention and everyone had their own idea. I remember as a youngster, judge said 'keep your dog in the area' . What bloody area?
You are usually told, 'it is somewhere between that blade of grass and that blade of grass' - thats your area - you hope.
Sherry
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) owl impression!
