Opinions please

kateincornwall

kateincornwall

Location
Cornwall , UK
I would really welcome some opinions here please . Reuben has his first training tomorrow afternoon , the trainer usually meets clients and their dogs on a small patch of moorland near our home but is happy for alternatives . The main thing he is going to concentrate on to begin with is the STOP and will have Reuben on a long line for this lesson . I then thought about it and wondered if maybe having the first lesson at a place where he does briefly take off is the better option so that he can see the issue for himself with Reuben off lead or would it be better to sort of wipe the slate clean and start off at the training ground on a long line so that he does not have the option of charging off ? I guess its either start on a negative or a positive ?
 
Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
I wouldn't worry, relax and go with an open mind, let Reuben guide both of you into the best initial approach. Longs lead are great but they can be a bit restrictive, unless you are worried he will disappear over the horizon! :)
Otter, when she was first let off lead she was a bit wild. I would just watch and wait, letting her settle down first then rewarding every time she looked at me. This has now evolved into the basics of a nice stop whistle. What I have done though is use really high value rewards for her, she loves chunks of cooked chicken and ham! So take the very best treats you have, and of course doesn't Reuben love his tennis ball? :)
"Go sniff" has been an valuable cue for Otter, just wish I trained this properly for Benson and especially Bramble!
 
kateincornwall

kateincornwall

Location
Cornwall , UK
MellowYellow said:
I definitely wouldn’t take him to a place where he charges off, Kate. You want to set him up for success, whereby he learns that the stop whistle is a Good Thing, not where he is stopped from doing something he really wants to do.
Click to expand...
Thats what I was thinking Karen , he doesnt disappear for ages, just minutes but maybe a new place, being taught not to do it in the first place is best , thanks both xx
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

The great secret to the stop whistle is that it works because the dog learns that when he hears the whistle and stops, something WONDERFUL happens. He gets huge value treats, or is thrown his ball. With a dummy-obsessed dog he learns, eventually, that you are telling him to stop because you can help him find the dummy more quickly. That is how I teach it, anyway - and both my dogs have excellent stop to the whistle. It is never, ever, a negative thing - that’s why I’m sure your trainer wouldn’t want him to associate it with stopping him from having fun.
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

Also, it’s not something that is learnt quickly, you have to build it up over time, giving your dog lots of opportunities to experience how positive the stop whistle is. It doesn’t mean ‘stop’, to the dog it should mean ‘wow, Mum is going to show me something REALLY FAB! I’m going to sit down and see what she’s got for me!’.
 
Stacia

Stacia

Location
Malvern Worcestershire
As @MellowYellow says, the stop whistle should mean something positive is going to happen, whereas a lot of people teach the stop whistle as a punishment i.e. 'if you don't stop chasing that rabbit, or running in, I will shake the hell out of you'. I taught Rourke by holding the tennis ball in my upraised right arm and when he stopped to look at the ball, I blew the stop and threw the ball for him. That is just the beginning! Also in the house would do the same with some kibble, then when he stopped to look, would throw it over his head to get. He has a super stop. Again as MellowYellow says, the stop should mean 'sit, look at me and I am going to show you where the dummy is' in other words, stop means something you really desire is going to happen.
 
Charlie

Charlie

Location
Argyll & Bute, Scotland
No expert here, but I remember when we were teaching charlie 'recall' (on a long lead) the advice was to take him to new places rewarding heavily. When on or off lead Charlie is always rewarded for any glance and heavily for returning. We try very hard to set him up to succeed. Of course rather a lot of chicken and cheese is involved. Good luck Kate. xx
 
snowbunny

snowbunny

Location
Andorra and Spain
Charlie said:
Not always and in some cases a long line is necessary to teach an absconding dog recall so he's not able to self reward :tmi: Ask Charlie! A long line can be used safely, we did for three years. xx
Click to expand...

You're talking about 'in the real world', though - what Kate is talking about is a training session specifically for teaching the early stages of a stop. I agree, long lines have their place - I use one myself from time to time, exactly as you do. But for first stages of a stop, or a recall, or any behaviour, if you feel you need to use one, then you're in the wrong place for those lessons :)
 
kateincornwall

kateincornwall

Location
Cornwall , UK
Reubs is super obedient in the kitchen , or garden or beach , his recall is superb,second to none as Emily knows and has observed many times but give him the scents of the woodlands, it all goes pants . It does not matter one jot how much we practice , he still has to have that initial burst of freedom , just for a couple of minutes , after which he is compliant and biddable . He is only very young but I need to keep top side of him as he is a very confident young lad who needs firm but very fair handling .
 
Charlie

Charlie

Location
Argyll & Bute, Scotland
kateincornwall said:
Reubs is super obedient in the kitchen , or garden or beach , his recall is superb,second to none as Emily knows and has observed many times but give him the scents of the woodlands, it all goes pants . It does not matter one jot how much we practice , he still has to have that initial burst of freedom , just for a couple of minutes , after which he is compliant and biddable . He is only very young but I need to keep top side of him as he is a very confident young lad who needs firm but very fair handling .
Click to expand...
Exactly how Charlie was. How on earth can a dog be expected to control himself if not on a long line in exciting environments? Not all dogs are the same or velcro dogs. x
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

Well, I was also going to say I wouldn't try to train the stop with a long line... I hate the blasted things, but I do understand they have their place and depending on the individual dog can be useful. Reuben I think is a very different cup of tea to Charlie (with whom you have done wonders, Helen). I didn't want to get into the 'don't use the long line!!' discussion, because the trainer Kate is going to see may have a different method.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top