Training thread - Page 3

4pack

Like everything else, you have to teach the dog and know that he understands the command before you correct.  I guess I was being too vague when I said that you have to tailor your training for the dog.  All dogs are different.  Some dogs learn the out on the tug and it translates onto the field.  Others get selective hearing and you have to make him hear  if you are 100% sure he knows the command.  This is where the Tailoring comes in.  It is a wide spectrum of force that is available for us to use on a dog.    Each individual dog can be reached with a different level.    Some dogs are a light pop of the leash while some would not notice a baseball bat being broken over their head.  You know your dog better than anyone.  I know that some people use controversial Products for the out.(not gonna go there) 

There are alot of things that we can do to get creative with the training.  If you, your helper and TD are all paying attention to the dog and the past sessions you can come up with solutions.  Like I said earlier, some people will use the two sleeve method for various reasons and I'm sure plenty of you have either had or seen the helper give the dog the correction while you are still away.

I know someone asked the question of leash length.  Like the amount of correction, you guys need to read your dog.  Sadly dogs are like kids/people.  You don't take the same approach with all kids when they are learning, why would an animal be different?  Some kids are verbal, visual, etc. learners.

The nice thing about my little boy, is that he gets more intense after the out or when you hold him back from something.  You have to look at how your dog reacts to your training and the things you do.  This is where the term Hardness and softness enter.  There is no need to beat a soft dog over the head with a brick when a light correction will do.  On the other side, there is no reason a very hard dog should get 5 commands and a couple light pops.

Great post Don. My dog deffinatly knew what out means, we did it thousands of times at home with the tug and he was even capable after slipping the sleeve after a long cary back to the truck or even a small loop around the field, spit the jacket and back to the decoy. Even as a pup it was evident he would out for a real bite when he'd spit the sleeve if the decoy reaproached or even locked eyes with him from across the field, no need to even say anything. Unlike others here he wasn't going there that easily off the bite. I may ask my TD about the 2 sleeve for my new pup, she's not as level headed as Baden and could get a little hectic but we have a long way to go with that, before I find out for sure.

That's exactly my point.  You have two dogs that are going to take two different approaches. 

Dog training isn't a cookie cutter type of thing.    The coolest thing about seminars is not just the fact that you get help with your dog, but if you shut up and pay attention, you will see many different type of dogs and solutions for everything.  The worst thing about seminars is the person who goes to one and takes it as gospel.  People that give seminars probably  have forgotten more than you and I will ever know, but it doesn't mean that they are always right or everything/method applies to your dog and training.  YOU have to decide what to implement into you program.  I know people that go to seminars alot.  This month they train like Ivan, next month like Flinks, in two months it will be Dean's philosophy and in 3 months it will be Someone else's Methods.  Seminars are great for picking up knowledge and decifering what to use for yourself.  You wouldn't go to group therapy and stop drinking because the therapist told someone else he had a drinking problem, would ya?

eh hum

Bancroft

Have you ever trained with Ivan? 

I can guarantee you that it's not all fun and games. 

"H

Bancroft, can you explain the Balabanov method? We don't all have his tapes or been to his seminars. I'm trying to make this a learning thread not a brag about what method we all use.

I'll let you all know Monday how my dog does on another field. Will be with a different club Sunday.

h

Bancroft

Not trying to get pissy, just saying that what we see on a video is not alwaysa full picture.

Kinda like a DIY network 30 minute show on "How to Build A Bookcase".  We all know it takes longer than 30 minute and they edit out alot of the stuff showing you the major steps. 

I'm with ya on teaching the out early.  I use plenty of Ivan's methods, who doesn't?