My clever boy!!

[kirstyhen]

So finally got round to asking my Landlord if we could use one of her empty fields for some training, which she was fine with. So we now have a lovely, huge, secure field to train in

So set off down there this evening for a trial run and although he did run around like a loon igoring me a few times, he was also brill

Although to be fair to him, he could have done with having a good run around before I started trying to get him to listen, so the lunacy was partly my fault

Had him hunting up the side of the field, going where I wanted, also walking at heel no matter what I did (zig-zagging everywhere like a mad woman) and sitting everytime I stopped

We have also made a huge leap in learning the stop whistle, which up until now he has taken to mean come all the way back and sit. He was still turning and trotting towards me, but sitting after only a few steps rather than all the way back

Still need to crack him losing focus and legging it, LOTS of work needed there!!

But there is definately hope and now I can take him down there for 10 mins a couple of times a day and just keep repeating the lesson until it sinks in

Off to Frampton Game Fair in a few weeks, going to try and find something that he is willing to retrieve outside so we can work on that too, I think a Dummy covered in Rabbit fur may be the way forward

Sorry, self-indulgent and pointless

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yay, glad to hear this, they always do come through and surprise us. What an improvement from a few months ago

In the past day or so I have had both of the Asbo Twins off lead at the same time, walking along with a mad grin on my face!!! Just about to take them out again (touch wood Bella doesn't tank off for home!).

My problem I have to crack is that B walks to heel, but doen't look up at me, which apparently I will get marked down for in the test I want us to do in November.
Trainer says that this will mean he will cock up if I change direction or if he sees something he wants to go for during the off-lead section of the test. Meeeeehhhhhh!!!!
Would a steak necklace work? A pork-chop balaclava?!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

HH - stick some steak in your pocket!!

Yey for Otto!!

 

[CorvusCorax]

I already have chorizo in there! He needs to be looking right up into my face apparently (bah, he isn't a flippin collie

) and you aren't allowed any sort of food or bait in the test anyway...hmmmm!!!!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

So rubb it on your clothes - Eau d'stinky isn't food is it??

And you weren't hoping to cop off were you???

 

[kirstyhen]

Luckily, as a Spaniel, there is little expectation on Otto's heelwork

He doesn't look up at me, however he's attention is at least half on me as he will stick with me if I change direction.
He does tend to nick off if something grabs his attention away from me though(it doesn't take much

)
I just have to be VERY aware of his body language, I have a nano second to correct him if he wants to go, usually I miss it though

Does his head have to be in the same place as the Obedience Collies? If so, I think Velco works.. one piece on his nose and the corresponding piece on your crotch...

 

[CorvusCorax]

[ QUOTE ]
Does his head have to be in the same place as the Obedience Collies? If so, I think Velco works.. one piece on his nose and the corresponding piece on your crotch...

[/ QUOTE ]


This is the thing - I have one person who used to live in Germany and can do the test in her sleep, telling me no, that's nonsense, and a trainer who says yes, they should be looking up all the time.
We had some visitors from a sister club at the weekend and their dogs were all velcro-ified...and they are all competing and winning in trials.

I suppose it doesn't look very shepherdy to me, but whether I like it or not I can't imagine getting him like that in a few months, especially with work and my holidays....gonna take him anyway, it'll be an experience for us both!!!

 

[GinaB]

Gina hearts Otto

He has come on in leaps and bounds Hen, I remember your posts when you first got him and his lack of manners

Will he not retrieve a normal dummy?

 

[kirstyhen]

[ QUOTE ]

I suppose it doesn't look very shepherdy to me, but whether I like it or not I can't imagine getting him like that in a few months, especially with work and my holidays....gonna take him anyway, it'll be an experience for us both!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly! Surely they can't mark you down that much if he does the right thing at the right time but doesn't have his nose rammed you-know-where

I'm definately sticking with Spaniels, people have such low expectations of them, it makes you look good when they manage to stay still for 2 seconds

 

[kirstyhen]

[ QUOTE ]
Will he not retrieve a normal dummy?

[/ QUOTE ]



We haven't tried a normal dummy yet, ut I have low expectations! He has no interest in anything that has been thrown, unless it looks like another dog is going to pinch it and then he just wants to start a fight!
Rabbits and Birds however, he would retrieve all day long, which is useful, but it would be nice to be able to work on it first without relying on dead rabbits in the wood!
I did think about a Dokken Dummy as they look quite real and you can inject them with scent, but they are about £30, which is alot if he is just going to ignore it!

 

[CorvusCorax]

[quote Exactly! Surely they can't mark you down that much if he does the right thing at the right time but doesn't have his nose rammed you-know-where

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly, squared!!!
Well, here's hoping....

 

[CorvusCorax]

Hen, B was flatly uninterested in balls or toys until about a month ago, something just clicked in his head while we were mucking about, I started hiding the ball when he didn't show any interest, he though 'ooohhh, that must be exciting if she doesn't want me to have it!', now he is mad for them, it will come!