Opinions please

[snowbunny]

I did, then room to room, out in the yard, the drive, then the garden, then a paddock for a year, then in the 'real' world for a further 3 years. I've been there and worn the T-shirt! xx

So, again, to reiterate, with Kate's lesson, we're talking about the very, very start of a behaviour, NOT a month or a year down the line. The very start where the dog shouldn't be fighting to drag his attention away from his environment to engage with a lesson.

Look at it this way: you're trying to teach a young child their two-times table, something they've never learnt before. Do you do this with the TV showing cartoons next to them? Or outside in the park? Do you put a screen up between them and the fun thing so that, even though the child can hear it and knows it's still there, they can't engage with it? No, you probably sit them down at a table in a quiet room with no distractions, so they can concentrate fully on the task in hand. Later on, once they have learnt that lesson, you might ask them to practice while walking through the park, but that is all building on the initial lesson - which is done in an environment where the child can focus entirely on those foundations.

 

[Stacia]

I have never used a long line, as don't believe in them, the dog learns he/she is confined and then once off, so are they. However, I can see that perhaps you can begin to install a good habit. I just disappeared and they soon learnt to keep their eye on me and when returning, then I would do the recall as that is what they were doing naturally

Edited to add that perhaps an adult dog ie dear Charlie, wouldn't be so bonded as a young pup. However, I did adopt a 13 month old German Shorthaired Pointer and the day after I got him, I let him off on the top of the Malvern Hills and if he went one way, I went the other. Looking back, I would never have the confidence to do that again!!

 

[VanillaBean]

One thing I read, I wish I could find it was that if you have taken a dog to an area where they have been allowed to play it is harder to train them initially because they know it is play time there. When I remember back this was true for Vanilla and is now also true for Honey. I used a longline on Vanilla in the beginning, specially on the beach as trying to reduce the 'I need to say hello to everybody.
Even when it was dead quiet, as after a while I tool it off. Now same with Honey.
As others have said Stop whistle it about being fun and 'what is happening next excitement'. Vanilla it took me until she was 2 to get it, same with a steady 'Sit' (stay). In the beginning I used to get frustrated, cause used to see some dogs younger who could do the 'stay, then I took a break and let Vanilla be Vanilla and few months later it worked straight of.

Somehow I think I have digressed....

 

[kateincornwall]

Reubens lesson has just been cancelled by the trainer as the weather is foul , we have thunder , rain and howling wind, so I cant say I`m sorry , didnt really relish the thought of being on the moors in this . He also said that he cant expect good results from the dogs when the weather is so awful , sensible x

 

[SteffiS]

Sorry to hear your training has been cancelled, sounds best in the circumstances though. Have you been able to rebook?

 

[kateincornwall]

Sorry to hear your training has been cancelled, sounds best in the circumstances though. Have you been able to rebook?

Probably next week now , as we are expecting yet another bad storm coming in tomorrow x

 

[kateincornwall]

I am actually quite pleased with myself that I wasnt the one to cancel , although I came close to doing so, given the conditions out there today x

 

[Heidrun]

Is it a gundog trainer you will be seeing Kate?

 

[kateincornwall]

Is it a gundog trainer you will be seeing Kate?

Yes he is a gundog trainer , all positive training x
Gardrum Gundogs and Dog Training He lives near Plymouth but has a training ground on the moors near to us too x

 

[Stacia]

Interesting @kateincornwall, I see he has GSPs, my first love. Labs are much easier!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I see he has GSPs, my first love. Labs are much easier!

Yikes, thank goodness I listened to people and didn't get a GSP, then. I think they're wonderful but when I spoke to their humans they said, "Not for an assistance dog!". Also I'm too lazy.

For me, Labs (or at least my own Señor) are exponentially more difficult than Rottweilers. Seriously, way, way, harder. I'm 100% happy with my beautiful boy, but I admit that I'm still trying to adjust!

 

[Charlie]

Yikes, thank goodness I listened to people and didn't get a GSP, then. I think they're wonderful but when I spoke to their humans they said, "Not for an assistance dog!". Also I'm too lazy.

Charlie disagrees, he says "I am a very good assistance dog, I help my mum empty the washing machine, collect her post and collect her keys. I didn't take long at all to learn these tasks. My mum is currently teaching me to take a gift bag to my dad for his birthday" xx

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Charlie disagrees, he says "I am a very good assistance dog, I help my mum empty the washing machine, collect her post and collect her keys. I didn't take long at all to learn these tasks. My mum is currently teaching me to take a gift bag to my dad for his birthday" xx

Yes, but Charlie is UNIQUE as is his mum. No insult intended, you gorgeous boy.

 

[Charlie]

Yes, but Charlie is UNIQUE as is his mum. No insult intended, you gorgeous boy.

Oh Charlie is unique alright! xx