Post by: EastWaViking on February 06, 2009, 04:33:13 PM
back to me. Tonight I decided it was time to introduce the gun to the training. I bought some 22 short blanks and shot them while the dummy was in the air. She didn't even blink! Straight to the dummy and running right back to me. I think I'm on the road to having a pretty good dog. I will work my way up to full 12 gauge loads slowly over the next month or two.
Any advice from experienced gun dog owners/trainers?
thanks
Post by: Gutpile on February 06, 2009, 04:43:59 PM
Post by: Wacenturion on February 06, 2009, 04:53:18 PM
The main thing is for the pup to associate the sound with fun.....i.e ....retrieving. Where people screw up is getting in a hurry and try shooting right over a pup that is not use to the sound and ends up spooking him.
As with everything dog training.....take your time and do it right. Always quit the game early if he gets bored or distracted....as there is tomorrow.
Post by: Gutpile on February 06, 2009, 06:22:57 PM
Post by: Ridgeratt on February 07, 2009, 04:37:59 PM
Post by: Shannon on February 07, 2009, 07:16:03 PM
Post by: mossback91 on February 07, 2009, 09:27:42 PM
Post by: EastWaViking on February 10, 2009, 01:46:36 PM
Post by: merlo105 on February 10, 2009, 07:30:24 PM
Post by: rasbo on February 10, 2009, 07:42:50 PM
Post by: Rowdy on February 11, 2009, 09:16:52 AM
Well, after four days of using 22 short blanks with my pup I decided to jump straight to the 20 gauge today. She didn't even notice a difference! I threw the dummy and touched off a 7 1/2 and off she went, grabbed the dummy and right back to me three times in a row! Now I need to work on "stay" and "heel" any suggestions?
"heel": I put my dog in the half hitch, walk slowly at first and correct when the dog pulls to the front or side. I also use a paper towel roll for a tap on the head as the dog pulls to the front. After a sesion or two start making 90 degree turns when the pup isn't heeling, this will essentially have the dog correct itself by the tightening of the lead. At heel a dog's head should be next to your knee so it can see when you go in a different direction. I have a buddy who thinks his pup knows heel and the dogs whole body is out in front of him. I told him to turn around without saying anything, his reply "but he'll just keep going the other way", exactly because he's not heeling.
Dog training is a blast and a great way to bond with your dog. It also lets your dog know your boss and what you say is law. You'll more than likely get your best results with short consistent sesions and always end on a good note, the dog doing something right and getting rewarded for it (atta boy, scratch behind the ears).
Jake
Post by: Wacenturion on February 11, 2009, 05:18:02 PM
Well, after four days of using 22 short blanks with my pup I decided to jump straight to the 20 gauge today. She didn't even notice a difference! I threw the dummy and touched off a 7 1/2 and off she went, grabbed the dummy and right back to me three times in a row! Now I need to work on "stay" and "heel" any suggestions?
"heel": I put my dog in the half hitch, walk slowly at first and correct when the dog pulls to the front or side. I also use a paper towel roll for a tap on the head as the dog pulls to the front. After a sesion or two start making 90 degree turns when the pup isn't heeling, this will essentially have the dog correct itself by the tightening of the lead. At heel a dog's head should be next to your knee so it can see when you go in a different direction. I have a buddy who thinks his pup knows heel and the dogs whole body is out in front of him. I told him to turn around without saying anything, his reply "but he'll just keep going the other way", exactly because he's not heeling.
Dog training is a blast and a great way to bond with your dog. It also lets your dog know your boss and what you say is law. You'll more than likely get your best results with short consistent sesions and always end on a good note, the dog doing something right and getting rewarded for it (atta boy, scratch behind the ears).
Jake
Good advice. Also once your dog knows what is expected, do not let him or her get away with breaking the rules. If they cheat, take the time and correct the problem right now. If you get lazy and don't follow through on this, you'll have no one to blame but yourself.
I'll give you an example......when I was field trialing retrievers years ago and wanted the dog to spin and sit on a whistle command after I sent him on a blind retrieve so I could redirect him, I would first make sure he would honor my command. Usually at first they know a single blast means sit as I have already trained that into him. When sent and I hit the whistle he will initially sit and look back, but then their youth and desire gets the better and they take off again . At this point drop everything and chase the dog down, drag him back to the approximate site of the infraction, have him sit and look him right in the eyes and hit the whistle at point blank range. Then turn and walk back to where you originally gave the command....don't look back at him. When you get there he had better be right where you left him....or if he isn't, you run him down again. Believe me they will get the message...and if later they cheat....repeat.
At this point you will have a dog that responds the correct way. Usually most retrievers you see out there don't pay a bit of attention to their handler because the handler was lazy and choose to yell and blow on the whistle over and over because the dog only partialy listened. Not the dogs fault...hell he was trained to act that way. One blast means turn, sit and look at me for more direction....not, I repeat, not multiple blasts on the wistle, you son of bitch and other descriptive phrases thrown at him over a 10 minute period....you get my drift.
Every dog is different...training is just a fun common sense approach on how to trick them to initially do what you want, praise and reinforce it until you are sure they understand and then never let them regress. Time spent doing it right will give you a hunting buddy the quality that few will ever know. :chuckle:
Post by: Wayne1 on February 12, 2009, 04:55:10 AM
Quote
I'll give you an example......when I was field trialing retrievers years ago and wanted the dog to spin and sit on a whistle command after I sent him on a blind retrieve so I could redirect him, I would first make sure he would honor my command. Usually at first they know a single blast means sit as I have already trained that into him. When sent and I hit the whistle he will initially sit and look back, but then their youth and desire gets the better and they take off again . At this point drop everything and chase the dog down, drag him back to the approximate site of the infraction, have him sit and look him right in the eyes and hit the whistle at point blank range. Then turn and walk back to where you originally gave the command....don't look back at him. When you get there he had better be right where you left him....or if he isn't, you run him down again. Believe me they will get the message...and if later they cheat....repeat.
Exactly the way I've always done it.. And find that it really does'nt take but a couple of time's before they get the idea.