Confusion reigns supreme in the Spudlet household

[Spudlet]

Henry has been doing so well with his retrieving I thought we would try something a bit advanced this evening

Oops!

Basically after doing some plain retrieves in the house I decided to bring in a toy and try getting him to bring back the toy and the dummy in the order that I directed him. I knew this was going to be tricky, but wow was it ever confusing!

So rather ambitiously tried it off lead first time and yippee it worked! However it soon became apparent this was a total fluke as the next time Henry went for the dummy first again despite being asked to get the toy. Ho hum... time for Plan B.

Plan B was to create a makeshift long line with two leads attached together (the actual long line is in the car and it's cold out there!). The idea of course was to guide Henry to the desired object. Yeah, right

Henry was still only after one thing - his dummy! Even if I got him to pick up the toy first he kept spitting it out and lunging back at the dummy

Bless him, he quite clearly had not the faintest idea what I wanted him to do

The neighbours must have thought the house was on fire as I kept encouraging him, and he was getting all flustered about not being able to get his dummy and yodelling at me about it - it was like gundog training by the Keystone Cops

Have to admit we gave up and I just got him to do a couple of nice calm 'holds' and left it in the end

I really must find a class, but I can't help but think that any trainer will just tell me I've done it all wrong and to go away!

 

[Vizslak]

Hehe, poor iccle confuddled spangle!

 

[Spudlet]

Henry just did his first ever real delivery!!!!!!!! YESSSSSSS!

He has been running in lots - my fault, as when we started retrieving he needed his enthusiasm building so I just let him charge in willy nilly

Now that he has got the idea, the goal has been to get him doing it properly!

I have been thinking of weird and wonderful ways of doing this, but in a flash of wine-fuelled clarity it came to me just now - obvious really, get the clicker out agin. Should have thought of it before

So got him sitting next to me, I was kneeling on the floor at first and gave a 'wait' command then rolled the dummy about 2 feet away, and clicked him for waiting, then commanded him to retrieve and clicked that. Gradually built up the distance of the throw so the dummy was landing about 8 feet away, he generally did very well, only anticipating the retrieve command once, for which he got nothing. Also did a couple when he waited and I picked the dummy up (for which he was also rewarded).

Finished the session by getting him to 'hold' the dummy for a few seconds before taking it - and on the last one he sat while still holding, all by his little self

I can't tell you how proud of him I am right now! I've been trying to get him to grasp that he can sit without spitting the dummy out for ages!

I kow not everyone rates clickers on here, but my goodness they work for me and Henry

Now, should I be worried that my best training ideas come only after a glass of vino?

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Poor Henry.......*hands him mobile* International Dog Rescue is on speedial 1.

In future please could you remember that Henry is a spangle and not up to such complicated things

- his two brain cells must be exhausted

. Any more abuse and I shall be forced, as the elder of the spangles, to call International Dog Rescue myself

- and I can 'cos I have my own mobile and everything..............

St Sweep

 

[CorvusCorax]

Wow, my head hurts. That is one smart dog

 

[Vizslak]

Yay! Well done Henry! I'll grant you gundog training with a clicker is unusual but what ever works for you and the dog to get the end result!

P.s gundog training better after alcohol is not unusual however

 

[Spudlet]

I have a bit of a pick and mix approach to be honest - the clicker is good for teaching new things, for joining lots of existing commands together to make one new behaviour (so five commands - sit, wait, get it, hold, give = one full retrieve) or for transferring a behaviour to a new situation - so moving a retrieve from the living room to outdoors. Couldn't have used it to train hold though, did that the old fashioned way! Then once a behaviour is well anchored in there I can leave the clicker and use praise instead.

I suppose I am a bit worried about finding a trainer who can work with me, Henry, and our unorthodox methods

 

[Vizslak]

I'm sure you will find one, my gundog trainer is quite unorthadox by gundog trainer standards! He took some getting used to as I was forever expecting him to say something I was doing was really wrong! Shame you aren't near me, I'm sure he wouldn't have cared what methods you have used. You will find one, speak to a few on the phone this week, its my mission for you! You will know when you get the right one on the end of the phone!

 

[kirstyhen]

With his running in, try not to send him for every dummy you throw. Get him sat, throw it, get him to stay and you go and get it. Then he won't anticipate the retrieve everytime.
You probably need a slightly bigger space to get him picking specific things, so there is a huge gap between the items, making it as clear as possible, ie. get him sat, throw one in front and one behind, then send him for the specific one you want. Then you can gradually close the gap down.

But yay, go Henry!!

 

[Patches]

YAY!!!!!! Well done Henry and you.

We've already managed to transfer the "wait" command I use before Harvey is allowed his food to toys I throw. It's funny how making them sit and wait seems to make fetching the toy all the more exciting. He's even started to find the toy when I've thrown it over the back of the settee, or into the kitchen, out of sight.

We have "sit", "wait", "Get on" and "bring it here". He doesn't like to let go, being a puppy. I'm encouraging that to some degree then asking for "dead" into my hand.

Obviously at 14 weeks old it's not there yet, but it's coming. I think you're doing marvellously with Henry. Think about how far you've come in just the last few months! You'll be ready for the next shooting season, I'm sure of it.