dog stuff!

[gator]

aight...got a couple of questions...i know ya'll prob. tired of my dog questions but this is better than bickering so...what is the best way to instill marking in my dog, and to get him to run in a straight line to pile/dummy/bird...2nd, my dog is started on hand signals but i may have gone overboard cause on a blind retrieve, he looks back at me for directions (kinda over-dependent i think)...imp. note is that my resources are few and far b/t, i live in a neighborhood in jackson so i think part of the problem is just that b/c of school, i have to do the majority of work in my front yard keeping an eye on traffic, and i can't find a consistent partner to help me...teek has helped but he's in school too...he's a good dog, very well manored after a minute or two of greeting other dogs...so if anyone would like to get together on the weekends or late afternoons sometime, i'm game...also, w/ this heat i am scared of taking the hunt out of him so i may just lay off for a while...what do ya'll think?

[Big Lou]

I would force him to a pile along a fence row with lots of under brush. I would also get me a shock collar and collar condition him to beat the correction on a command. Other words work around with him on heel and give him the command to sit. Then slip in a nick with a sit every once and a while to reinforce the command. On the force to pile if he is popping and looking back then nick him with another back command! That will stop that right away. Marking gets better with lots of practice in the field. Get your buddies, wife, or kids to throw marks for your dog. The longer the better prepared your dog will be for any situation. Hand commands can be pratices on a t and double t drill after force to pile. Tehy can also be practiced in a wagon wheel in the yard. Just remember that you are training an athelete and you will only get out of it what you put into it and repetition is the key.

[gator]

preciate it big lou...that is gonna help

[torch]

GATOR CHECK YOUR PM

[the doctor]

anybody got any info on whether west nile can be transmitted to dogs retrieving doves (birds) heard all the ins and outs of mosquitos and contracting it from them
not too worried, just curious



the doctor (not animals)

[torch]

DOCTOR I HEARD IT COULD HAPPEN BUT ONLY IF THE DOG IS NOT COOKED TO 165 DEGREES

[gator]

back atcha torch...have a good one