I've been watching some videos of gun dogs being sent for retrieves, and thinking about the hand placement for sending them back. I use an open hand by the side of the dog's head, but I see how some people put their hand above the head, sometimes quite a long way above. I was just wondering whether they could see this? I've found graphics describing a dog's range of vision in the horizontal plane (see below), but I can't find anything about the vertical plane. BTW, I'm ignoring the fact that the numbers on the above graphic are clearly misleading!
Good question. My answer (as usual!) is Guide Dog related. They are trained to avoid overhead hazards as well as those on the ground, like overhanging branches etc - so they must be able to see them naturally, I would think. .
I thought you might have some info, Mags I wonder, though, if avoiding a vertical obstacle is the same thing as what I'm talking about - I can understand a dog avoiding an obstacle that it is walking towards, because that will be in front of him/her way before it's above their head. Whereas what I'm talking about is standing behind your dog and then putting your hand above its head, so there's no visible oncoming approach.
I use a hand signal over Charlie's head - I suppose, since it works, he either can see it or it doesn't matter. You have to have your hand high enough so the dog doesn't have to duck under it when he takes off. The blind retrieve cue means "run in the direction you are facing, in a straight line". I'm always careful to line up his body too so he is sitting straight - lots of people (with very well trained dogs) don't have a hand signal at all. They can send their dogs for a blind on a verbal cue from a straight position at heel. So for me, I think one of the main purposes of my hand is to see when his nose is lined up with his body. I'm actually looking down, waiting for his head to be aligned and that's when he gets the verbal cue to go. He is either lining up with my hand, or his body, but either way he has learned that when he does that he gets his verbal cue. I find the most important thing is to be stood behind the dog, if you are stood at the side with your dog on the left and use your right hand it is difficult to actually point in a straight line!
I use the above the head hand signal, but I stand parallel to the dog, feet together. I can see your point JulieT about standing behind the dog beccause I have been aware I have had to twist my body, will review this morning!
I once heard (a very experienced person) describe people giving blind retrieve hand cues as "that bum in the air, looking like you are on a bowling green thing". Hee Hee. I guess it still all needs to be obvious to Charlie though!
I suppose it's harder to get to the cool state of sending you dog for a blind by just saying 'fetch' with your dog lined up at heel if you start by standing behind the dog to use a hand cue over his head. Nevermind. I'll worry about that if it ever looks remotely likely!
I haven't seen anyone doing that yet on a blind except on the internet! I will continue to line my dog's body in a straight line and give him a cue with my hand I have always thought (shouldn't have such thoughts!) what pleasure it must give to some many seeing so many 'bums in the air'
I hadn't thought about the twist. I like the dog being by my heel - don't ask me why, I've never tried being behind the dog, but it seems that it would be easier to square the dog up by having him line up with his chest facing the same way as yours from the side (since he can't see your chest when you're behind). So maybe for me, it would be better to use my left hand, rather than my right to ensure accuracy. Maybe I'll have J check my lines out from above.
I line Charlie up at heel - I spent FOREVER - getting him to sit exactly straight. Then I trained him not to move as I take one step back and then one step to be behind him. SWMBO made me do this, I didn't argue.
I love how you guys make me think. Right, I'm going to try it. I'm also going to try the target stick thing when I have some time (hah) to see if I can work out the answer to the original question. You'd have thought someone would have the answer, somewhere!
I don't do any of that. If Lady is beside me I point her like aiming a gun along my arm and give her a "lost" which is my cue for a blind ....... ........ she very rarely actually goes in the direction I've pointed her. It's usually a bit to the left or sometimes a bit to the right.
