I know what you want !

[FayRose]

I've been training Molly the basics most of her life, you know the stuff, sit, stay, lie down, heel and various other things, as most of us do.

In the past few months she has started to anticipate what I'm going to ask her to do. For example, I put her in a sit, look at her and before I can do anything she's decided it's 'around' so off she goes and comes back to sit in front of me with a big smile, SO pleased with herself. This has happened with all sorts of other things, like 'on' if I've put the 'stand on' thing - box, pot or whatever down on the lawn. She clearly thinks this is a big thing I should be delighted about and I'm not sure how to deal with it. I really don't want to do anything to knock her confidence or pleasure in doing what I ask but I also want her to listen and then act ... SO

She is obviously in need of more to keep her mind occupied and with this in mind, I've booked a first gun dog training lesson this Friday. I'm looking forward to it but also a little anxious about how this will work. Anyway, wish us luck please and I'll update with the outcome.

 

[HAH]

Best of luck! Hopefully you'll have an excellent time, and if it's not for you then at least you've given it a go

I remember a while ago there was a conversation on here about what we think of as a cue, and it very often isn't (just) the word we use for e.g. sit, up, on etc. - particularly as we build up history with our dog it becomes body language, facial expression, a subtle unconscious gesture... And clearly the more obvious things like putting an upturned washing bowl in the middle of the garden becomes a cue, if that's what you always use for two feet up games (we always use the log I chop kindling on, so as soon as Kipper sees that at foot height he's on it).

I wonder if playing some of those games like "run through the list of basic commands but with you lying down/facing the wall/hands behind your back/looking in a mirror" and "give a command using only your voice/hand movements/head indication" etc. might help to shake things up a bit too, and show you where your subconscious cue-ing is having most effect?

 

[JES72]

Homer was like this which gave us no end of a bad name when he was doing Agility. I would very subtly move my arm, hand, head and he anticipate the move rather than listen to the command. So I'd given him a queen but the trainer hadn't heard my voice due so we got it wrong. The only way was for me to be so careful with my own actions and stand dead still give the voice question and then use my arm. He always has been very in observant with body language and movements as well as words.

 

[FayRose]

Yes, I'm sure you're right @HAH and @JES72 These dogs are so clever when we give body language signals we have no idea we have given.

They are so pleased when they do what they think we want it's impossible to say 'NO' We'll go off to training and hope for some good guidance.

Thanks x

 

[Candy]

Yes! Joy is starting to appear to anticipate what I'm going to ask her to do and I'm sure it's due to subtle things like body language and change in tone of voice. They're just so clever and attentive! (Most of the time)

 

[JES72]

Sorry I’ve just re read what I’d written and it’s full of typing self correct errors. But I think you get what I meant.

 

[Candy]

I did, and so I'm sure did everyone else. It's Spellcheck that infuriates me!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

You'll both have a great time!

Carbon is also very environmentally cued. Pretty much anything I put on the ground is either for standing on or paw targeting. These dogs are just too smart!

 

[Selina27]

@FayRose , all the best for Friday. I'm sure you'll get the answers you're looking for, if not I'll be surprised! I bet you will both have fun anyway!

 

[snowbunny]

@HAH has it spot on
It’s about ensuring that the cue is what we want it to be, not what the dog thinks it is. That means varying everything else and keeping that one thing consistent so the dog understands that it’s the word that is the cue to move. It’s really easy to introduce little tilts of the head, lifts of the shoulder etc that we’re oblivious we’re doing!

A behaviour isn’t under proper stimulus control (so isn’t “finished”) until the dog 1. consistently performs the behaviour on that cue and 2. doesn’t perform the behaviour in the absence of the cue.

I hope you have a great time at gundog training

 

[FayRose]

Right, I've left this a bit late but, you're an innovative lot so any ideas will be much appreciated.

Our trainer has given a list of things to take tomorrow including lots of high value treats. I've got hot dog sausages to chop up which Molly loves BUT I don't have anything to put them in. We usually use dried sprats as general treats and have a small purse just for them. It will not hold enough for the training tomorrow, also the hot dog sausage will be moist so a purse is not ideal.

I'm thinking a small freezer or sandwich bag, something like that, what do you think?

 

[MrChew]

I used to just line my usual treat pouch with a freezer bag for treats like hot dog, cheese or banana (Chewie loooves banana).

 

[JES72]

I put treats into a poop bag, but have to be careful which bag I take the treats out of.
Hubby will use poop bags to take a piece of cake to work. I’ve tried to tell him it’s probably not a good idea but he doesn’t see the problem “ it’s just a plastic bag”

 

[HAH]

Right, I've left this a bit late but, you're an innovative lot so any ideas will be much appreciated.

Our trainer has given a list of things to take tomorrow including lots of high value treats. I've got hot dog sausages to chop up which Molly loves BUT I don't have anything to put them in. We usually use dried sprats as general treats and have a small purse just for them. It will not hold enough for the training tomorrow, also the hot dog sausage will be moist so a purse is not ideal.

I'm thinking a small freezer or sandwich bag, something like that, what do you think?

I used to take a pot of chopped up frankfurters in a yoghurt pot with lid, then top up into a plastic bag in my treat pouch throughout the day. This got too fiddly, so I gave up and put them in my back pocket - trousers in the wash when I got home

 

[FayRose]

A practical man your hubby @JES72

 

[Atemas]

I'm thinking a small freezer or sandwich bag, something like that, what do you think?

I use those little click and seal snack plastic bags (Tesco). If I fold the top over, I can then put in in my pocket but it stays open enough for me to get treats out quickly

 

[FayRose]

Ah, those look good @Atemas , thank you. A trip to Tesco needed.

 

[MellowYellow]

I'm trying to come up with a more environmentally-friendly alternative to the Tesco plastic treat bags...

I tend just to put cut up cheese in a washable treat bag, which is then either around my waist or else in the pocket of my dummy jacket.

 

[snowbunny]

My treats all go in my treat bag. It has a pretty good lining, and is fully washable.

 

[FayRose]

Good point about the plastic bags @MellowYellow but I re-use all those type of things. I've got freezer bags that are easily 8 years old. I can't remember the last time I bought any. They wash up well, we freeze a lot of our veg and its ideal.