Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:50 am Post subject: a few questions from a novice...
Jessie is 5.5mths old
she can do the usual puppy stuff of sit, down, stay, wait, leave, (high five !) etc..
her recall to both whistle and voice with and without distractions (children, sheep, cats, chickens and other dogs) is pretty ace.
her retrieving is getting there and she is starting to understand GET ON, FETCH IT IN, and HILOST (if necessary) she also understands the LOOSE command. we need to try and teach her the HOLD command because 9/10 times she drops it at our feet rather than letting us take it from her.
so i have a couple of questions to be getting on with,
how do i start using the whistle to get her to stay/down from a distance i.e on her way to retrieve? and how to i teach the hold/not dropping it at our feet
just to add I dont know if this is right or not but i blow the whistle quickly twice for recall and then im training the down by using my hand command and blowing the whistle once - this seems to be working although havnt tried it at any distance yet (only about 2metres)
This is a little bump for you and hopefully one of the more experienced people can help you out.
It sounds as though things are progressing well with your training though. Different trainers have different techniques for getting a dog to hold the dummy, I was always told to get really low down (almost crouching on the floor) when the dog was returning with the dummy instead of looking over them. Another technique to encourage them in to you is take a couple of steps back when they are returning which gets them to realise that holding is not a bad thing and this is where you can use a verbal hold command, keep your hands high and try not to snatch the dummy from them, if you have low hands the dog will usually drop there head which can lead to dropping the dummy. Finally if they drop the dummy without giving it to hand you can gently put the dummy back in the mouth and give the verbal command to hold. All this is to be done with huge amounts of praise for getting them right and treats aswel if you train with treats Hope that makes sense?
As for the whistle, I use 1 pip for a stay and two for recall. I started using the stay / stop / sit command as a sit whistle but the progressed to it being a stay. I would use the verbal command to sit with you hand high in the air ( get used to it for directions later) facing the dog and reinforce this with one pip on the whistle, this will be a gradual progression so don't rush, you need a stop whistle to be spot on.
thank you so much, took her out last night and did lots of training, she is walking to heel without the lead on when told and will go on ahead when told (but have yet to try this with distractions !)
if she is walking to heel i carry on walking and say wait she then waits on the spot whilst i carry on for a bit I then turn leave it a few seconds then give the recall command.
last night albeit in the dark she was laying down when i gave the one whistle but would creep closer to me to do it
with regards to retrieving i have been not giving a treat - just praise if she drops it at my feet but if she gives it to me she gets a treat, i do give it back to her to hold then repraise and give a treat.
i will try your methods hoping to do one of Di's training days in january
Two little things from what you have said there I would have a look at it.
The first is the creeping in, I would gently put her back to where she moved from and give the command to sit / stay again and then walk away to your position. She is only young and still probably a little unsure but try and be consistent with this as it will help
The other thing would be the praise for returning with the dummy, once she gets the hang of delivering to hand I would not praise her until the dummy is in, encouragement to return is good but to much praise for a retrieve on the floor could create some small issues in the future.
I wouldn't be worrying about 'delivery' too much at this young age, while the mouth is still developing, and teeth are settling. You will find at about 7+ months things settle down in this department (and in the dogs head), and she is more capable of presenting and delivering to hand.
As long as she is returning happily and confidently to you, with the dummy, approximately, I would be happy.
As long as she is returning happily and confidently to you, with the dummy, approximately, I would be happy.
thanks yes she retrieves every time and seems to love coming back to show us what shes got but 9/10 times drops it at our feet in a very proud manner lol
You can give her the article back and praise her/fuss her up while she has it in her mouth, not attempting to take it off her.
Around the house, offer her something to hold occasionally, if she takes it praise her, get your hands on her body and really fuss her, but don't attempt to take the article off her. Only praise all the time she holds it. If she drops it immediately cease the praise and walk away.
She is being taught an awful lot at a very young age! In terms of the whistle, i use this for every sit; sit for food, when I am out walking I will blow a sit whistle and stop with the dog, praise etc and heel on. You really need to embed this thoroughly before getting it at distance, make sure the dog REALLY understands it.
I use 3 peeps for recall (as I use 2 peeps for the hunt whistle). Again I use this to trecall to food and in any situation to be honest. One word of caution from me, don't lose the verbal commands.
I made the mistake with Mylo of 'grabbing' at the dummy early on which led to him spitting it on return (if the dog is still spitting, try putting your hands behind your back and see if it comes in, if it does you know it is anticipating you taking the dummy). As suggested either get down low, move one leg back and encourage the dog into the back leg, tap your back leg or even your chest and teach a word to lift the head, I use 'up up'. You can do this at home as well to reinforce it. You can also do the retrieve on a 6 foot lead, make it a bit of a game and when you take it use your word, leave, give, dead etc.
These are some of the thjings I have done. Hope this helps,
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Hope that makes sense?
