I am looking for tips on how to improve skills my dog can do. I'm sure the answer to this will be "You should have got it right in the first
place"...but my dilemma is this. My dog will walk to heel - but is sometimes a bit in front; he will retrieve dummies, but won't always sit before
giving them to me; he will sit and stay, but sometimes lies down instead of sits. When I ask him to do something, and he's nearly right or nearly good
enough, I don't want to tell him off or ignore him / withold praise because it's not quite good enough, as this may result in him not doing it at all -
but how do I say "that's good, but this would be better" ?!? Any tips would be great! He's not terrible, and he's only 7 1/2 months
(Springer x clumber) but I'd like him to do even better! Thanks Angela (PS I also have a separate question on steady to game if you can help!)
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Improving things!
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 AngelaD |
Improving things! |
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Posts: 8 (17 June, 2009 18:19:47) |
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Rigby1 |
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Posts: 8 (17 June, 2009 21:06:05) |
Im sure there are plenty of experienced trainers on here that will be able to help but I just wanted to add something.
Your dog is 7 1/2 months old, he will be going through his "teenage" phase at the moment!! I wouldnt be horrified at him not sitting when giving up the retrieve unless thats what you really want of course. A gun dog at heel should have their head slightly in front of your legs anyway so he can mark retrieves on both sides of you. You dont have to totally withhold praise but i wouldnt overdo it. I personally wouldnt say a word when he is nearly right but a little extra praise when he does it how you want will help! If you praise him for being nearly right then he will think he is doing it exactly how you want him to. Please do remember his age though, he is still very young and training a gun dog is a long process if you want to get it right. I wouldnt be too disheartened if I were you. With the sit i would walk back to him and place him back in the sit everytime he layed down so he came to realise that is what you want, exactly the same as if he broke his stay then he would be taken back to the same spot in which he was told to stay. Hope this may help you a little, Neil. |
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polmaise |
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Posts: 30 (17 June, 2009 21:29:20) |
Stop Training , and Start Playing!
imo, This 'Springer/Clumber X, at only 'Pup' age, is 'confused', with the 'disciplines', you expect of a dog at 18 months? If it is doing 'all', the things you say/, at the age it is at?, 'Capitalise', this with 'Fun'? You will find 'the dog WANTS to do it,rather than MADE to do it. |
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diane303 |
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Posts: 9 ( 8 July, 2009 17:19:12) |
Yep, polmaise is correct. I feel that you can train, but just make it all fun. He sounds like a great puppy! This is the time to encourage him think that you
are the greatest thing...EVER! Praise him for every behavior that you endorse. When you call him and he looks at you, praise him....and give him every
opportunity to do the right thing. Ignore mistakes so he will think "Gee - if I do "A" I get a smile and happiness, when I do "B" I
get ignored and a scowl" If you equate yourself with fun and good things, when he goes through the dreaded teen phase the Rigby1 referred to, it will make
life easier for both of you.
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jimh |
Hi from Jim | ||
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Posts: 1 ( 7 September, 2009 11:05:42) |
Hello to everyone here. I am looking forward to being an active part of the community here. Thank you.
Jim |
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cuffy |
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Posts: 471 ( 7 September, 2009 20:32:20) |
He's not terrible, and he's only 7 1/2 months (Springer x clumber) but I'd like him to do even better!
Wouldn't we all.!!! It sound like the dog is doing fine to me.What do you intend to use him for?,this will help determine your approach to training. If you are going to use him to flush game then quartering to pattern is more desirable than walking to heel at this stage of training.Heel work, like most aspects of training is an ongoing process and will inevitably improve with time & practise, if taught correctly. Regarding obtaining a nice delivery,this is also a progression and polishing a correct response.I teach my dogs to hold a dummy remotely, then recall and sit in front,to aid this I use a couple of chairs ,one either side of me,in my garden.It creates a small square in front,you can show the dog it has to come right up to you to present the dummy.I then remove a chair and then both. A dog lying down is often a sign of stress.To be a good trainer you need to be able to read the dogs body language and try and read what the dog is telling you.I expect it is the "Discipline" which is causing this to happen.You have to adjust your training as and when things crop up,you will then get a better response.Like others have suggested,I would ease off him a little and give him time to mature physically and most important Mentally. Praising every other retrieve,can help improve the dogs drive,He will make more of an effort the second time. It is very important you are consistent with what ever you do,to enable the dog to learn and not get confused I hope this helps Steve |
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