Merlin is really calming down; I am beginning to be able to work with both of them at once. These two marks are only very short, but it was particularly hard for Merlin to wait until it was his turn. We are getting there!!!
Short double memory mark with two dogs
- Thread starter MellowYellow
- Start date
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Good work, Merly! It's so hard for them to learn that other dogs get a go as well. I suppose it's just like human kids learning it's not all about them, 100% of the time.
And don't you have a lovely speaking voice!
And don't you have a lovely speaking voice!
Oh thank you re the voice!
This was actually jolly hard for my little Maelstrom Merlin. First he had to watch the first dummy being thrown, then turn with me and Poppy and watch the second being thrown ("OVER THE STREAM!!!!! I LOVE THE STREAM!!!"), then turn back again, still without knowing which retrieve (if any!) was to be his. And then he still had to remember where the first dummy went...
And I had to throw two dummies, control two dogs, film it on my phone, and NOT step backwards into the stream!!!
This was actually jolly hard for my little Maelstrom Merlin. First he had to watch the first dummy being thrown, then turn with me and Poppy and watch the second being thrown ("OVER THE STREAM!!!!! I LOVE THE STREAM!!!"
), then turn back again, still without knowing which retrieve (if any!) was to be his. And then he still had to remember where the first dummy went... And I had to throw two dummies, control two dogs, film it on my phone, and NOT step backwards into the stream!!!
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
- Location
- Canberra, Australia
Lovely! What fantastic doggies. And great training!
It's interesting that Merlin has no problem working alongside another dog in his training class - it's just when it's me with Poppy. I'm not sure if it's sibling rivalry, or whether it's me handling another dog (probably a bit of both), but it does seem to fry his brain a little; which is why I was quite FIRM in my cues (I don't normally talk to them like that, but I had to make sure Merlin heard me clearly through all his excitement).
And normally retrieves are much tighter, with cleaner deliveries... but that wasn't the point of this training, it was for both of them to be able to work side by side. I was actually jolly pleased with the result.
And normally retrieves are much tighter, with cleaner deliveries... but that wasn't the point of this training, it was for both of them to be able to work side by side. I was actually jolly pleased with the result.
That's really interesting. My two have always been fine working alongside other dogs, but together was the real challenge for me. They would both head off for a retrieve together no matter what, until I got my son to video what I was doing. Turns out it was tiny little hand gestures I was doing which were cueing them to get back. If I stood with my hands behind my back and gave verbal cues only they were fine.
Wow, that's fascinating! Yes, the cues we give without realizing it are really interesting... When you see yourself on video it's very illuminating.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
All three of you well done! Difficult enough to control two eager dogs, let alone videoing at the same time I do miss having two dogs and am envious of your training area with a stream.
I do miss having two dogs and am envious of your training area with a stream.