A place to learn a new language, the Koehler Method of Dog Training, which is an entire language of communication between owner(s) and their dog. Let the journey begin.
Hi Roxanne. Busy day today. Rained like cats and dogs yesterday, so today...anyway, we were able to work in backyard before the sun went down.... Hugs, Nancy
Fun to watch. Good increasing the retrieve distance.
Pointers. 1) Keep your body still when you throw DB. You are stepping back on right foot to get leverage to do longer tossed retrieve, but every time you move, Sofie loses focus of looking "out" to where DB will land as she swings her head to you as foot moves. Stand tall and straight with a quiet body. Every time. 2) You are again trying to require Sofie to focus on where DB will land. Nope. Throw DB ESPECIALLY when she is NOT looking, when she is rubber nicking towards sound in neighbors yard. Then send. Her responsibility to pay attention, you are doing her work. 3) Cease verbal praise as you are teaching her that your verbal praise is part of the retrieve sequence. It is not. Save verbal praise for when you REALLY need it, not for normal work. A quiet body and a 🤫 handler puts retrieve work responsibility on the working dog. 4) Do not chase her when she fails as that is a LOUD and LARGE body mechanic. Instead, when she fails, and she will, simply close fist on ck cord "O" ring to stop any forward movement. Then calmly and quietly, hand over hand, (so she can't lunge towards DB), walk towards her, get on her ears and escorted her to DB, then back up quietly to SSIF. 5) No need to use her name before sending her. "Fetch" and she should launch like a 🚀. If not, you know what to do to help her succeed. And start practicing lowering your voice pitch when sending. No need to be loud, she can hear you if she focuses. 6) When she returns to SSIF, and her head is lowered, use one to 2 fingers under her chin (still holding DB) to lightly push her head up higher.
🤫 . The quieter you are, the more responsibility to focus is put onto the learning dog. To much help handicaps the dog and a soft dog will allow you to do their work😙. Make Sofie take more responsibility as you cease 'babying' her. She's a big girl, a well bred retriever, she can do this work, but you must train yourself to be 🤫 and make her take more responsibility for her job to retrieve on command.
Hi Roxanne. Busy day today. Rained like cats and dogs yesterday, so today...anyway, we were able to work in backyard before the sun went down....
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Nancy
Fun to watch. Good increasing the retrieve distance.
ReplyDeletePointers.
1) Keep your body still when you throw DB. You are stepping back on right foot to get leverage to do longer tossed retrieve, but every time you move, Sofie loses focus of looking "out" to where DB will land as she swings her head to you as foot moves. Stand tall and straight with a quiet body. Every time.
2) You are again trying to require Sofie to focus on where DB will land. Nope. Throw DB ESPECIALLY when she is NOT looking, when she is rubber nicking towards sound in neighbors yard. Then send. Her responsibility to pay attention, you are doing her work.
3) Cease verbal praise as you are teaching her that your verbal praise is part of the retrieve sequence. It is not. Save verbal praise for when you REALLY need it, not for normal work. A quiet body and a 🤫 handler puts retrieve work responsibility on the working dog.
4) Do not chase her when she fails as that is a LOUD and LARGE body mechanic. Instead, when she fails, and she will, simply close fist on ck cord "O" ring to stop any forward movement. Then calmly and quietly, hand over hand, (so she can't lunge towards DB), walk towards her, get on her ears and escorted her to DB, then back up quietly to SSIF.
5) No need to use her name before sending her. "Fetch" and she should launch like a 🚀. If not, you know what to do to help her succeed. And start practicing lowering your voice pitch when sending. No need to be loud, she can hear you if she focuses.
6) When she returns to SSIF, and her head is lowered, use one to 2 fingers under her chin (still holding DB) to lightly push her head up higher.
🤫 . The quieter you are, the more responsibility to focus is put onto the learning dog. To much help handicaps the dog and a soft dog will allow you to do their work😙. Make Sofie take more responsibility as you cease 'babying' her. She's a big girl, a well bred retriever, she can do this work, but you must train yourself to be 🤫 and make her take more responsibility for her job to retrieve on command.
Make sense?
Roxanne
Wow! Such good advice. THANKS!! It is raining here today, but I will try this out tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Hugs,
Nancy