Annie is now around 21 months old and with my limited experience I think everything is going OK, but sometimes she chooses to ignore me and do other things. It could be something as simple as just sit where she is in the yard when I whistle for her to come, or look at a sparrow on the fence or something. How do I go about breaking this habit?
Cheers,
Waldo
Victoria
Waldo...if mine do that I walk over to them and put them on a lead and MAKE them take notice...I will not let them get away with it, particularly if I have used the whistle. If they get away with it, then they know there is a hole in your authority and they will then work away at the edges of that hole and you end up with a totally disrespectful dog...I do think some people overdo the use the whistle or are calling their dog all the time...I see that as a form of nagging, if you like...so the dog becomes immuned to the call.
I don't care if a monarch butterfly is more interesting that coming with me, they will obey!! One good method with the Brittany is to ignore them, no eye contact, turn your back and walk away and do something else...they cannot help themselves Saying that, I find myself laughing out loud sometimes at the irony of things...we NEED, WANT, EXPECT our Brittanys to display the breed's legendary prey urgency and nose...and when they do on a thrush or bellbird we get impatient with them!!
doganjo
Agree with all of that - but it IS difficult to be consistent all the time. Allez sometimes just stands and looks at me after I've blown the whistle recall, as if to say 'Ok, whistle again and I'll come'. I did that a few times then realised he was doing EXACTLy what the kids used to do - 'trying it on'. So now if he does it, I don't blow recall again, I go and get him. He stays put and lowers his head and the elephant ears go out apologetically!
So stick with it, Waldo, don't let her off with it.
By the way, for you folk down under - I had a call yesterday on my mobile from a gentleman in South Island - Wally Grieg who has a young Brittany. He is a Senior gentleman and is involved in racing cars mainly, but phoned me to ask if I knew where he could get Brittany models, sculptures and paintings or prints - all artefacts of Brittanys in fact. I was so amazed I never even asked where he got my number and he had no idea he was calling me in Scotland. I told him to contact the Hills as it turns out he has met them, but he doesn't go on the interent so couldn't check out Ebay.
So Barry and Chris you can expect a call from Wally, and i hope you can help him out!
guy
you need to break his concentration. A useful trick if close enough is to throw a rolled up lead at or even near him. If further away a few paces at speed towards him - if that doesn't work a few more threatening damage to tender parts of his anatomy. Tone of voice is important here :-)
As soon as you have attention offer a reward - I don't do treats but do try and carry a small dummy with me ( a small paint roller works well) throw that and even let him run in to it.
You need to connect 'look at me' with 'something good to do' .
Saying that, I find myself laughing out loud sometimes at the irony of things...we NEED, WANT, EXPECT our Brittanys to display the breed's legendary prey urgency and nose...and when they do on a thrush or bellbird we get impatient with them!!
Allez sometimes just stands and looks at me after I've blown the whistle recall, as if to say 'Ok, whistle again and I'll come'. I did that a few times then realised he was doing EXACTLy what the kids used to do - 'trying it on'. So now if he does it, I don't blow recall again, I go and get him. He stays put and lowers his head and the elephant ears go out apologetically!