" would a similar amount of points be deducted for me crouching down for delivery? "
All judges are individuals BUT most would not zero you for this no, especially at NDNH or Novice level testing. However if you crouched to sort of cricket ctahc the dog and it would of patently hit the deck if you hadn't, then possibly, yes.
I would not increase to triple retrieves Katie at the mo, and take a step back and work on creating a constant happy hold.... happy to talk to you about water holds if it was a question, but it might have just been a fustrated 'muse'!
Di
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
Hello,
I am a real novice at this gundog stuff but i already love it and so does Lola i have a problem with hold , she just drops it a few feet away , i no why she does it but cant get her to keep hold . Our trainer tells me not to worry about this yet and to keep up with her bringing it back wich we have no problem with . Lola has learnt so much watching the other dogs that i am hoping that this will come in time. She is very quiet she never makes a sound which the trainer says is really good as a noisy dog even a whimper can have you sent home straight away and some of the dogs at training are real noisy .
I have been given a few tips to teach her hold but the reason she drops it is because of max it is easier for her to drop it than him take it wich he doesnt really do now but she still just drops it i think out of habbit. The only thing she wont let another dog take is a stick so i was usuing a stick to teach the word hold and she gets it but only with a stick any tips greatly apprieciated
Di- it wasn't just a muse, any tips would be appreciated, its one we've got wrong from day 1 (obviously liking to get a bad habit properly ingrained lol)
As for the triple, it was 2 in a row so a back and then one to the side. I basically sent her out to each one individually so not trying to direct too much but just trying not to get her to swap I usually just put out a memory and a mark which she is doing a treat, or if I'm being clever a blind and a mark but I have trouble sneaking one out without her noticing.
The crouching isn't too scarey catching her (at least in my mind )
I've generally gone back a few paces as I realise I have an impatient streak and regularly jump stages. So trying to reign myself in a bit and doing some *gasp* heelwork.
Same as Basil's Sarah above - without the 2nd dog experience! It was HARD work and lots of training to get Luna dropping things on feet ready to kick or throw again! 'Tis useful for keeping both her and visiting kids entertained though!
I am AMAZED that I can now get as much delivered to hand as I do! She seems to have learned when I expect it and when I don't now....
Last edited by Luna-Tuck on Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:35 am; edited 2 times in total
Andy I think to be honest, and this is just a muse, that a relaxed happy hold formed from a desire TO hold the item from a really young age, a knowledge in the dog they are never going to have something snatched fast just for the owner to pretend to themselves they got a 'delivery' (IE: PHEW! He didn't drop it THIS time....grin) is the most relaxing thing in the world.
You can then concentrate on getting the smaller parts right without then having the stress of not knowing if you have to cricket catch this end.
Another fairly relevent point is that dogs can start to get very slow hesitant 'inruns' if the inrun is accompanied by a chorus of 'hold! hold! hold it!' in the last ten paces... rather than 'woo hoo! yeah nice one boy!' when young (I've lived and learnt this lesson through working showbred dogs for years....they need everything they can to make the last part of the inrun something other than 'plod plod plod' often, especially on dummies, so the very last thing they need is to be verbally 'boll*cked for the last ten yards).
Its also so useful if you do end up with two dogs out picking up and you are busy dispatching a runner the other dog delivered, if the second dog comes in with something and will just happily stand there without fussing and starting to stress bite the bird 'take it from me, Mum!!! TAKE IT FROM ME!!!!' you have a far happier job all round.
I've never been fantastic at teaching my dogs not to shake on leaving water, they slip one in now and then and you see a point in a test go sailing away, but at least if you can be nearly 100% confident that dummy will stay in their gob whilst they do so its slightly less nerveracking
Di
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
katie, there are several things you can do about that including 1) wading into the water and taking it from her in the shallows...or at least on the edge of the water. 2) However some dogs benefit actually from the opposite and you being a LONG way back from the waters edge for them to run to and deliver. 3) getting yourself a seriously unhappy grumble when you see them even START to drop a shoulder to shake and clapping and walking backwards can help... 4) as well as teaching them a 'shake' command, so that they know they CAN shake at some point but ONLY when they have delivered safely.
its about getting the hold a bit 'happier' and a bit more 'solid' really though... and hassling them into you out of water. No dog WANTS to hold out of water really, so sometimes its not the 'happiest' of all your deliveries
Di
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
I've sorted out some woofers and have them in a box ready to groom as they are about to be rehomed to the Chernobyl children who visit agility comp next weekend. Luna found them this evening and practised some happy holding Isn't it lovely when they get on with their homework independently! All I had to do was tell her she was a clever pup!
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
I usually just put out a memory and a mark which she is doing a treat, or if I'm being clever a blind and a mark but I have trouble sneaking one out without her noticing.
)
and regularly jump stages. So trying to reign myself in a bit and doing some *gasp* heelwork.
Isn't it lovely when they get on with their homework independently! All I had to do was tell her she was a clever pup! 
