barney2007  Offline
old dog
Joined: May 29, 2007
|
|
Posts: 6712
|
|
67630 LabPounds
|
No.of Labs: 4
Lab Names: Barney (LRSE&C), Bert, Wylye & Ebble + 2 staffies - Aggie & Billy (Rescue Remedies)
|
Location: Wilts/Dorset
Gender: 
|
Items
|
|
 Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:55 am Post subject: |
    |
|
| Becs wrote: | | but then I thought that maybe he shouldn;t have gone out at the wrong angle anyway, so should I have stopped him at that point, called him back to me and made him run back straighter? He does sometimes go a bit outwards instead of straight. Should I be doing something to train him to go back straighter and if so , how? I think that because he's facing me, and then has to turn around, he doesn't always go the full 180 degrees, so goes off at a bit of a tangent. |
Is the distance he's going back longer than usual Becs? Does he fully understand the 'back' command do you think or is he being a bit of a wally?
Sounds like it may be one of the three.
I think I would give him a bit of a helping hand and do the same exercise running along a fence/hedge line so he has a guide. This should get him to go straighter. Once he's confidently doing this, then take it back into an open field scenario. Keep the distance short at first making sure he's running out straight before you gradually start increasing the distances.
I think I would only stop the dog to correct it and send it on again on such an exercise if I was absolutely confident that the dog did understand and was capable of what I was asking it to do. If I wasn't I would have a rethink on how to break down the exercise to make it easier for the dog.
Sounds like you are coming on great guns. What joy that he is getting the stop whistle (I don't think lying down is such a problem and I should think with time and as the exercises get even more challenging he'll naturally want to start sitting up anyway), and also that he is getting your directions too. Smashing  In fact your whole post above is a joy to read
Re. dummy hunting, have you tried the same exercise with tennis balls instead? Some dogs prefer this.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
:: View previous topic :: View next topic
|
Becs Offline
The Clique Chick Queen
Joined: Dec 10, 2005
|
|
Posts: 10127
|
|
114301 LabPounds
|
No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Hartley (black lab) Zorro (Golden retreiver) Flo, (JRT) Ted (mini dachsi) & Mouse (brown Lab)
|
Location: gloucester
Gender:
|
Items
|
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:14 am Post subject: |
  |
|
Thanks Helen- that makes perfect sense about getting it right with shorter distances and practicing alongside a fence. D'oh.....why do things seem so blindingly obvious when someone tells you the solutions!!!?
I think with Zorro, he starts to turn around to head backwards sometimes, then something catches his eye (like a leave or stick or a crisp wrapper!) before he has turned all the way around, and so he heads off towards it and then gets a bit muddled when he realises it's not his dummy like he thought it was. It was very gratifying that he took notice of me when I redirected him, but then again, if he'd gone straight backwards, he wouldn't have lost his way in the first place!
I will try him with hunting tennis balls. The problem that I'm anticipating with that is that all tennis balls are the property of Flo! She has always made it very clear to all the gang from when they were little pups, that tennis balls are NOT for sharing, and it has been a lesson they have learnt very well!  But maybe if I buy Zorro a whole set of his own, and we lie to Flo if she ever asks us about their existance, Zorro and I could have our own little training-set of them! If not- Zorro has always enjoyed finding my gloves when I've dropped them accidently-on-purpose on walks, so maybe I could try using gloves instead?
Thanks again for the advice.
Becs and The Gang
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
:: View previous topic :: View next topic
|
Blypark Offline
lead trained
Joined: Jul 30, 2006
|
|
Posts: 2483
|
|
26419 LabPounds
|
No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Breeze - gone but not forgotten ,Merlin (here for training for owner) Domino and Scrabble the hairy mutt
|
Location: Suffolk
Gender:
|
Items
|
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
Have you tried the furry balls. Pardon my french!
You can get rabbit skin balls or get a rabbit skin and cover it yourself. Or cover a dummy. It might gee him up a bit, but, you are also in danger of him saying - stuff the canvass stuff where is the fur!
But you seem to be doing really well.
As far as tests go. The Game Conservacy do a series of nice tests that are not as serious as a working test. They are a relaxed way of getting into the competition mode and getting your dog used to working in new surroundings with other dogs.
Also you can choose which test you want todo first and the order in which you do the tests. So, if I had a dog who needed revving up, I would do a watertest first.
They are run as heats around the country ending with the final (if you are lucky enough to do well in a heat) at the Midland Game Fair in Shropshire.
I used to really enjoy those days out, but I now see they have stopped the Open class.
Sherry
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
:: View previous topic :: View next topic
|
Becs Offline
The Clique Chick Queen
Joined: Dec 10, 2005
|
|
Posts: 10127
|
|
114301 LabPounds
|
No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Hartley (black lab) Zorro (Golden retreiver) Flo, (JRT) Ted (mini dachsi) & Mouse (brown Lab)
|
Location: gloucester
Gender:
|
Items
|
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for the 'furry-balls' idea Sherry! Zorro's favourite dummy is his rabbit skin one, so I'm careful to alternate it with his plain canvas one and his feathery one, but I think Rachel pointed out some natty,little furry-balls with tails, so I'll add them to my Crufts shopping list.
I think we're still an awful long way away from thinking about any sort of tests or competitions but I'll certainly google The Game Conservacy as it might be something to aim for next year. Not sure that the water test would be Zorro's first choice- he's only just started to take his life jacket off at his hydrotherapy swimming lessons! 
Becs and The Gang
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum
|
| |
|
| |
