Hehehe - trouble with t'internet is that we sometimes can't see (or the poster misses out) some subtle info that changes the nuance of the post completely.
I don't train Piper with Chase. Piper is destined to be my beating dog and as such has a good close pattern. He is responsive within a hunting context BUT he is stubborn. The chap who kennelled him for me feels he has been trained harshly and tbh he is so strong and often doesn't switch on his ears until he has been physically told to remember he has them. I am uncomfortable training that harshly but often have to resort to a tap on his rump to remind him. Once he has remembered that he has to behave we do fine for either a session or a whole days work. My other ace in the hand for Piper is food and now we are in training season he gets all his food NILIF but he is a typical ESS and training will be a short burst thing as he loses focus quickly. From a working context he mainly needs to firm up his STOP which at the moment is unreliable (recall is very reliable however so not the end of the world) and he needs to get steady on fur as hare or bunny sees a disappearing spaniel.
Chase on the otherhand I hope to Trial and so most of my training is geared to that, he will not be a beating dog but may well do some walked up shooting as he has an invite for work next season.
As for the cockers - these are all training for trials and believe me, they are quiet boys. _________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
This is getting so familiar a subject...how to keep control of these little Ferraris
My method is probably not PC. I am the boss, they are the dogs and I want them to work for me. All my controls are done starting at short distances, including heel work, sit, stays, drop to whistle. Then the distance is increased. I only progress in lenght when the exercises are well assimilated. I also think it is important to have a pup following you off lead young.
You also need to be firm and mean it or the Brittanys soon realise how far they can push their luck! If one of mine disobeys, he/she gets put backl on the lead, no more fun, and the rest of the day in the kennel.
I run 6 at a time and I know I am lucky to have land but won't tolerate them b...ing off or not recalling. They get reprimanded with tone of voice and they know quickly that you are not pleased
OK, hands up - you've all sussed me - I'm soft in the middle, man _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
Annie - how about using Agility as a way of building focus with Allez?
I know years ago agility training was what helped me and Freddy bond. The dog has to watch you to know where to go next and although the context is obviously different to gundog work it is unlikely to harm your relationship.
I know the club I used to belong to had a number of working handlers who used the summer to agility train as a way to keep their dogs fit and active and working with them. The other thing with agility is that if the dog enjoys it you also have an excited dog to work with so you are developing control with arousal.
I was planning to start agility with Chase this season but sadly I think family care issues will make this impossible - we will continue Dog Games and Training at the shoot twice a week and if I can fit another class in then maybe. _________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
Allez has only just started Anne, he has come on leaps and bounds... it will all click i promise, we all have good and bad days, though some only report the good. Read Monets diary again and you will see its all about hitting your head hard against a brick wall. He learns something and to make room for it he will forget something else... just keep at it and the main thing is that you both have fun together
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