Sorry a little gloat Today I was walking across a really huge rape seed field that has a narrow public right of way path through the crop. Just ahead of us were three deer standing, Hattie saw them and started to run, I blew my stop whistle and she stopped, I held out my hand for my silent distance recall. Just as she started to make her way back to me out popped two more deer from the crop, so now Hattie is stood in the middle of five deer standing still No need to worry at all, Hattie weaved through them returned to me to complete what I had asked for She got a handfull of treats and a drink of water whilst the deer went on their merry way. You couldn't ever imagine being in that situation and apart from the seal and Charlie in Scotland training that has to be the most unique training opportunity I have ever had. I don't who was more surprised the deer or Hattie Very pleased with Hattie xx
You should be very pleased. Most of us can only dream of a recall like that. The only way I’d get that response is if Duggan thought they were baby cows. Lol. He hasn’t met a deer yet.
Brilliant work @charlie and Hattie, what a dog! You should be very proud of yourselves, thats a lovely illustration of many months (years?) of dedicated training.
Gloat away, it is so gloat-worthy! As I was reading your post I was imagining what I would be doing if that was us and I can't imagine any part of it going close to so well yet. Thanks for the inspiration
Hattie is our first ever dog, a good girl. I hadn't even heard of proofing until our crazy rescue dog Charlie a Labrador x Pointer brought me to this great forum, I needed help and desperately. I listened to forum members, learned and put everything into practise to help him, he's now a good boy What I learned to do for Charlie I do for Hattie too. I had a headstart in that Hattie wants pretty much nothing more than to be with me, we have an amazing bond she is also a massive food motivated girl which obviously helps. I started in low distraction areas with great treats then gradually building it up to calling her away from people, joggers, tractors, dogs anything really, she now looks straight at me when she sees anything and if off lead returns to me, I guess it's just automatic now. I then trained a 'stop whistle'progressing very slowly with wildlife and have just built on it every day and she can now be whistle and verbally cued to not chase wildlife, I must add this isn't always 100% successful but 99% of the time is a success. I don't want or expect her to be perfect because nothing is. Her 'stop whistle' is one of her strongest cues, I use it much more than a recall hence I can stop her pretty much all of the time. I also do a lot of "look at me" and "look at that" training which keeps her focused on me, hand touch which I have built up to a long distance cue again keeping her focus on me, I rarely use my recall whistle, she sees my hand out by my side and that's it she gets back quickly. That's it really, hopefully I've trained her correctly and positively which is the most important thing to me, for Charlie too x
Fantastic, well trained We have never met any deer, but I believe they are like hares to dogs, very exciting and chase worthy! It must have been a great experience for you as well being so close to the deer, but rather a heart stopping moment. Hattie sounds a great star.
Oh so very very well done to you and lovely Hattie! I'm really. pleased with little Joy's recall, but doubt she'd be that good unless she found the deer scarey rather than interesting, which is a possibility as she is by nature a cautious little dog. Spot on sweet Hattie!
Thanks everyone, it was a truly weird situation for Hattie, the deer and me to find ourselves in and one that's never likely to happen again but Hattie handled it so well, so calmly working it out for herself Now had that been Charlie ... xx
