have fun! Don't forget to read the book first though..(.when you get batteries that is)..and we need a video!
Oh, they love it! After some hesitation about the noise at first, they're now bounding up to it for their treats. I did the very basic games from the book, up to targeting, but then started to do my own thing. It's fantastic for stop whistle training I'll try to get some video later.
That's my plan with Bramble. Just started with the stop whistle, training her by my side first to get the idea, then will use the remote trainer at a bit of distance. Was thinking of positioning the RR behind her.. so she doesn't come forward after I blow the stop whistle, what do you think?
Apparently up to 100m, but I've not tested it that far yet. Done about 20m. So, the way I did it, was put the unit out a way from us and sent the dogs to it like a mark. Pressed the button as they were getting close to it. I did a few reps of that, and then started introducing my stop whistle - first, after a few paces, before they really hit their stride, and gradually increasing the distance they were from me before blowing the stop. Remembering to do more reps where I don't blow the stop than when I do (to prevent anticipation/hesitancy on the outrun). As soon as they stopped and sat, pressing the button and releasing them to get the treat (behind them at this point). I'm trying to think whether it's better to have the volume turned on or not. If it is, then the noise acts like a click, but will they get savvy that the treat isn't there unless they hear the tone, so it's not as Premack-y?
So, here's a little stop whistle video. Sorry, you can't actually see the T&T - I promise it's there, though! Silly GoPro wide angle lens. I'm blaming that for the size of my bum, too Anyway, here I sent both dogs (one at a time, obviously!) to the T&T. We've practiced this a fair bit already at this kind of distance (about 25m) so they know the drill. I let them have a couple of runs without the stop to get the feel for it on this session, then I threw in the stop. Sorry if you can't see the dogs stopping; I promise they did! Then, I send them back again to get their treats. I'm trying to fade my hand cue so they turn and sit on the whistle alone, but they don't seem to be getting it and wait for the hand before they sit. I need to think about that a bit. I also keep forgetting to blow my recall at the beginning of the video. Duuuh. I finish off with a couple more straight runs to the T&T with no stop. You can see how quickly Shadow starts to anticipate the stop. So, from hereon in, I'm only going to do one stop in a row (can you do one stop "in a row"? Hmmm) with him. And, with Willow, I want to chivvy her up a bit - I managed this pretty well yesterday with some "races" to the T&T - me against her - which she really enjoyed, so I think I'll do more of that.
So.. I'm confused as to what this is teaching her? Is it more of a recall training with STOP included and the T and T acting as a distraction/reward?
I'm teaching them the stop whistle. There's the distraction of the food being there behind, so seeing if they can stop on the way to the food. Eventually, this will be proofed to tastier treats, dummies, balls etc. So that you can stop your dog mid-chase, or out in the field to re-direct it to another bit of game.
I'm also working on lines at the moment, so getting them to run in a straight line. Having something there, a fair way away, will help reinforce that. And, I'm working on sending them "back" when they're sat facing me. It's a game that encompasses a lot
Really good video! Love the way you recall Shadow when he is anticipating the stop. You have given me a great idea, I do struggle to send Benson further back...left and right is OK, and can (sort of) redirect with the stop whistle. so using the RT would be a great idea of getting Benson to understand there is something further back. Super impressed with your two!
Great video - fills me with ideas and goals - we are nowhere near that! I'd like to introduce the "sending back". Help?
Have you done anything like that, Sue? Anything where Coco runs away from you? If not, then targeting is a great way to start. I have target sticks which are pushed in the ground, but you can use anything - Julie uses placeboards a lot, you could use a mat, a plastic tub, anything! Just get a behaviour where he touches it/sits on it/whatever, get it on cue and then start slowly increasing the distance away from you. Eventually, you can line him up at heel, and send him to it. The real difficulty comes in where the dog can't see what you're sending him to touch/sit on/retrieve, and that's where you have to really work on trust. I can't do this over great distances yet. Shadow looks for assistance too soon (as in the video) and Willow starts hunting if I try and push it. Slowly, slowly, catchy monkey
No, I haven't done any of that yet. I think we'll try target sticks. Well I have sent him out for dummies (very short), but we've not done much of this. You've fired me up
Yay! It was people on this forum who got me interested in the elements of gun dog training, so it's really gratifying to hear that I may be passing some of that on, thank you
Love just giving Coco things to think about and learn - he seems to love it. Even if we're doing just random stuff.
