Perspective

[Spudlet]

I was feeling really mean this evening - Henry cocked a deaf ear at me today when I recalled him, so I went and got him, tucked him under my arm and took him back to where I wanted him, twice (I don't know what he was smelling, but it was obviously irresistibly rank). That and a bit of heelwork got him steadied up a bit, and we had a lovely walk.

Like I said, I was feeling mean... I don't like to be grabbing him (although he wasn't hurt, I don't grab him by the scruff or anything).

Then I was browsing through a site linked to from another forum, and what should I find but an article on my favourite subject - force fetches. This one even had a picture - a lab with a lead clip hooked onto its ear, lead pulled taut. This was apparently there to be a source of 'pressure' (but lets cut the BS, what it's really there to do is to cause pain). And this is what passes for 'training' for some people... the mind boggles. I have just posted a loooong rant about this on my blog: it's such a pointless damn method when there are far better ways out there.

However, I'm not feeling so mean any more...!

 

[blackcob]

And on the other hand, you get the big soft wusses that seem to frequent the husky forum who would let their dogs walk all over them before they so much as use even a flat collar to try and control the great daft lumps ('cos their babies pull so hard, they might hurt their precious necks if they don't use a harness).

Force fetching is a new one on me, having a read now - how bloody cruel and pointless.

 

[KarynK]

And on the other hand, you get the big soft wusses that seem to frequent the husky forum who would let their dogs walk all over them before they so much as use even a flat collar to try and control the great daft lumps ('cos their babies pull so hard, they might hurt their precious necks if they don't use a harness).

That always makes me hoot with laughter people who obviously don't work Husky's being dragged along the pavement at the end of a harness, what makes them think they are going to stay upright if something interests said Husky elsewhere!!!

 

[Ravenwood]

I was feeling really mean this evening - Henry cocked a deaf ear at me today when I recalled him, so I went and got him, tucked him under my arm and took him back to where I wanted him, twice (I don't know what he was smelling, but it was obviously irresistibly rank). That and a bit of heelwork got him steadied up a bit, and we had a lovely walk.

Like I said, I was feeling mean... I don't like to be grabbing him (although he wasn't hurt, I don't grab him by the scruff or anything).

Then I was browsing through a site linked to from another forum, and what should I find but an article on my favourite subject - force fetches. This one even had a picture - a lab with a lead clip hooked onto its ear, lead pulled taut. This was apparently there to be a source of 'pressure' (but lets cut the BS, what it's really there to do is to cause pain). And this is what passes for 'training' for some people... the mind boggles. I have just posted a loooong rant about this on my blog: it's such a pointless damn method when there are far better ways out there.

However, I'm not feeling so mean any more...!

Spudlet - force fetch is something the americans do - we don't practise this over here. Its done by using an electric collar to make the dog retrieve in the straightest line possible. If the dog waivers to counteract terrain the electric collar is used to make it go in the most direct route.

I am pretty sure you must have been looking on an US site - in this country we pathetically wave white hankies to direct our dogs in Field Trials

Don't panic Spud - you won't have to teach Henry to force fetch to come picking up with me

PS: I forgot to add that if in training my dogs my dogs ignore the stop whistle, I run out, grab them and bring them back to the spot that they should have stopped at and blow the stop whislte again - then continue - this is a mile away from force fetch

 

[Spudlet]

It was, I know it's a USA thing. I just think it's bloody cruel. Makes my blood boil! But then, I am a professional blood boiler, it's what I do best