Re: Choc Charlie's training log [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9533.msg149704#msg149704 date=1426451599] The only time he will walk across me is when I'm walking away from a placed dummy, he is anticipating me turning to my right to send him back. In which case, I don't turn until he has walked 10 paces without doing this. [/quote] Do you always turn right? I only ask as we were always taught to close the door on the dog and turn left into the dog. I turn both ways now but Riley can get ahead when I turn right so I'm doing quite a bit of rotating on the spot and asking him to stay at heel as I rotate to try and help. The heart rate stuff sounds fascinating! Your training is seriously scientific
Re: Choc Charlie's training log I was just thinking that when I wrote it - I should turn left... ;D ;D ;D My trainer would like my training to be scientific - in reality, it's muddled chaos and my trainer despairs at my clumsy dropping of dummies at the worse moment, and failure to think things through...but I'm learning!
Re: Choc Charlie's training log I also turn left to close the door but usually the horse has already bolted. : ;D
Re: Choc Charlie's training log [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9533.msg149718#msg149718 date=1426452708] My trainer would like my training to be scientific - in reality, it's muddled chaos and my trainer despairs at my clumsy dropping of dummies at the worse moment, and failure to think things through...but I'm learning! [/quote] Glad it's not just me! ;D ;D ;D
Re: Choc Charlie's training log Ooo - I forgot an exciting bit. As well as slowing down the game for the easy stuff, we've still got to keep pushing on with the difficult stuff (still waiting for all the rabbit skin to dry, as the dummies made such a crashing sound in the dryer, I got caught ruining domestic appliances by OH....). So, I have a pheasant pelt. Which has got to be wrapped round a dummy and secured with cable ties, and put in a sock or something with all the ends sewn down....I got the pelt out, and Charlie has done nothing but sniff the air around it, and is now guarding the shelf where I put it. So this is going to be fun....
Re: Choc Charlie's training log [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9533.msg149739#msg149739 date=1426458749] (still waiting for all the rabbit skin to dry, as the dummies made such a crashing sound in the dryer, I got caught ruining domestic appliances by OH....). [/quote] Towels or bedding. Lots of. Or just wait for OH to go out again [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9533.msg149739#msg149739 date=1426458749] So, I have a pheasant pelt. Which has got to be wrapped round a dummy and secured with cable ties, and put in a sock or something with all the ends sewn down....I got the pelt out, and Charlie has done nothing but sniff the air around it, and is now guarding the shelf where I put it. So this is going to be fun.... [/quote] Uh-oh!
Re: Choc Charlie's training log Well, we went out today with NEW things...not dishwasher new either, new new. I had: 2 new canvas straight dummies but with toggles on A new rugby ball shaped dummy, with a toggle on it A three piece dummy, so that's sort of dummy with mini dummies on the end of it A new rabbit covered speed ball And two non flappy, but washed, rabbit skin dummies that he has had before We got greens on the new canvas at first - and toggles ignored Then I had him settle - I'm supposed to take his pulse at this point, but I'm hopeless, I have ordered a stethoscope though - really, I have! He did seem to be calming himself, he was shaking and lying down when I gave him a bit of water before we started again. So signs the settling is working...maybe. Then I tried to introduce a delay between the canvas dummies (so slowing down the reward of the second dummy) but this made him do little fly-bys, circle behind me, then give me the dummy. So I tried to shorten the delay, and think I got about 2 seconds (I need 5 by Sunday.... ). The toggles made no difference - I have long suspected this, if he is going to mess with the dummy, he'll mess with the dummy. The toggles make messing with the dummy easier, but don't prompt it. He ran around with the 3 piece dummy, and I had to bribe him to bring it back the first time, and then one more victory lap. Then he brought it back, so amber. He loved his speedball as a run around, and I did think that he was "getting" his run around cue - finally. Right now, I have no "fetch" cue, so if I say nothing, things come back. If I say "run around", he does. He didn't run around half as much with the rabbit skin speedball as I thought he would. I think because he wanted the fetch game to start again. Pretty pleased, really. It wasn't so long ago I couldn't throw a new 3 piece dummy and hope to get it back - ever. We were nearly green on the old rabbit skin dummies, just a slight hesitation when he thought "do I want to give this to you?" but he did. So that's good. We did some sit/waits watching other dogs play which went very well, and an off lead heel past a dog and owner with a tennis ball launcher. Although I feel like this is cheating if I've got new dummies about my person - it's not like he's going anywhere when that's the case.
Re: Choc Charlie's training log You are making great progress, I would say! Thanks for sharing this, it's really interesting! I feel kinda like an armchair dog trainer reading your posts....
Re: Choc Charlie's training log Thanks! I am pleased. But I do feel like it is a bit ridiculous! I have a two year old dog and I'm counting "canvas dummy..new canvas dummy...new canvas dummy with toggle...in the woods...on open ground...in cover....with 2 second delay....". I mean, just how long is this going to take? ;D ;D ;D 19th march results.emf by julieandcharlie, on Flickr
Re: Choc Charlie's training log As long as the charts don't start making an appearance in your dealings with your OH, you're probably ok. ;D
Re: Choc Charlie's training log I think most inexperienced trainers like us have one or two things that take a really long time.....months and months and months...... Riley's nearly four(!) and we're still doing things that an experienced trainer would have done and dusted by the time the dog is about 2. WGT1 (I think) recently said he wasn't sure what the rush was to put experienced heads on young dogs shoulders.....I agree (although obviously with a LOT less experience to base that on) I'm not sure what the big rush is ;D
Re: Choc Charlie's training log It's funny about the age thing....sometimes trainers say "there is no rush" but when Charlie was 16 months some started saying "oh, well, with an older dog...". I think some of the stuff I have with Charlie is really puppy stuff though. I guess so long as bad habits are not being allowed to persist, and things aren't getting worse....there is no rush. We're having a good time. That's the main thing.
Re: Choc Charlie's training log [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9533.msg150754#msg150754 date=1426842993] We're having a good time. That's the main thing. [/quote] It most definitely is ;D Forward motion is important but I think the best people never rush.
Re: Choc Charlie's training log I think it very much depends on the dog. Caddie was pretty much fully trained before she was a year old. She sailed through everything, Gundog Club grades 1-3, kennel Club working Gundog certificate and an award in a novice working test all at the age of 10 months. She was an absolute doddle to train. Ziggy on the other hand had just turned three when things were finally clicking into place.
Re: Choc Charlie's training log Very interesting about the age thing and gun dog training. A lass I meet accasionally for walks, has a wonderful cocker, now I think 2 years old. The owner had been to various trainers without any real progress, actually one gun dog trainer was quite derogatory. Recently she has been training with Helen Phillips and the change has been remarkable. Charlie (yes another Charlie! ) is now able to be off lead for the first time in two years, his recall is very, very good!
Re: Choc Charlie's training log [quote author=JulieT link=topic=9533.msg150919#msg150919 date=1426886177] Ah, I think I know Charlie! [/quote] Small world! I was with Charle (and Sarah) the other day, and was amazed by their progress!
