hand signals

[grnhead1]

my dog has has a season under his belt so i started on hand signals.. he picked it up real well but im havin trouble gettin him to stop with the whistle when i send him.. he wants to come back to me and send him again.. any advice

[huntaboykin]

PM sent.

[pntailhntr]

I had this problem and got some help at an HRC event from a trainer. You have probably only had your dog sit at your side and not in front of you. Work with him sitting IN FRONT of you and not at your side. He wants to come back because that is what he was trained to do, sit at your side. Look at the water dog video if you have it and it will show you teaching sit and stay and walking away from the dog. Work on that and the dog will get used to sit no matter where he is. Once he learns to do that it should be no problem having him sit on the whistle.

If he is already sitting like that, then you need a VERY long check cord and snatch a knot in his booty when you blow the whistle, he'll sit then!

[S Turn 2]

My first question would be do you sit him on a single blast? If so, what do you bring him back to you with??
You may need to just train him to the whistle more. That way the dog isn't confused as to what you want him to do.
Just work him on the sit/single blast then after he has that down. Move to the retrieving and when he picks the bumper up(whistle/whistle/whistle)short multiple blast him back.

[grnhead1]

well both of yall are right.. ive never sat him in front of me.. all he knows is he better have his booty beside me and i didnt want to discourage him from that so im kinda lost... and S turn your right to this is the 3rd day ive had him on a whistle i might be gettin ahead of myself because im used to him pickin stuff up so quick im expectin to much from him.. when im just doin multiple marks with him should i just tell him to sit and give him one beep because he just sits automatically and maybe he is not associating the whistle with sit because im not sayin it???

[pntailhntr]

Exactly, like I've been told numerous times, go back to basics! Walk with him at heel and whistle as you are stopping, not when you stop. He will eventually realize and say wait, everytime I hear that whistle I sit, and he'll pick it up. Also, make sure you are sitting him facing you as well. You want him to SIT wherever and whenever, you tweet that whistle. When you tweet,tweet,tweet, or tell him HEEL, you want him at your side. You need to go back to the obedience basics and extend it to the whistle and do this for a couple weeks. When you have done it for 2 or 3 weeks and you think he has it down pat, do it for 2 or 3 more!! Wish I had a dollar everytime I heard that!!! Once you've done it and he really has it, still do it to start your daily training for the first 5 or 10 min or so, then go to your retrieveing drills. Don't get ahead of yourself, it is VERY easy to do, don't TEST your dog, you are only allowing him to fail and learn the wrong thing. Make sure he knows it BEFORE you "TEST" him. Hope this helps!!


STICK TO THIS BOARD, YOU WILL GET LOTS OF GOOD INFO AND FIND GREAT PEOPLE TO HELP YOU WITH ADVISE AS WELL AS SOME PERSONAL IN PERSON TRAINING SESSIONS!!

[S Turn 2]

Man just be consistant and don't try and rush. So many times it's us and not the dogs that mess up. Like Pntailhntr said, I would recomend getting in a few training sessions with some people that are in your area and KNOW what they are doing. I'm sure there are plenty on this site you could catch a training day with. Just depends on where you are located.

Also, I know it has helped me greatly, so I will recomend you go pick up the training DVD:

Retriever Fever Retriever Training
by Shawn Dunstin

It is a 3 part DVD series that really helps you understand what and how to train your pup. What helped me the most out of these DVDs is that he walks you through it step by step and you can just stop the dvd at anytime and come back to it when you have your pup steady to the particular drill you are doing. The dvd shows you in detail how to set up for training and how to administer it. I picked a copy of it up at Sportsman Warehouse but I'm sure you can get it at most stores like that or off the net.

[goosebruce]

I would guess from your question, your probably not following a particular program. Asking for help through a tough spot is one thing, but without a program, your destined to leave big holes in what your trying to accomplish. Id suggest finding a program that makes sense to you, and following it to the letter, and when you come to parts ya dont understand, look for help there. Been where ya at, and know how it feels to be thinking your training, but to find out your not... a program is step by step, and when you have a problem, you never have to go further back than the last step. travis

[grnhead1]

thanks for your help guys

[Meeka]

Travis, he's probably like me - its too late for a program, that'll be for the next dog and he likes making things difficult. The only benefit to not having and following a program is that you get a lot of problem solving done!!!!

[GulfCoast]

Travis, he's probably like me - its too late for a program, that'll be for the next dog and he likes making things difficult. The only benefit to not having and following a program is that you get a lot of problem solving done!!!!

True dat! You can go BACK through a program with an older dog and start from scratch, but you sure get funny looks from folks!