Re: Charlie's July/August training I can see what I can find this week. But I have what I have in London, unfortunately, a new amazing park full of retrieving corridors is not going to suddenly pop up. Although, I have been wondering if anyone will say anything if I were to fence in the lime tree avenues in Hampton Court park with duck tape... ;D ;D ;D Tempting....bit wide though... image by julieandcharlie, on Flickr
Re: Charlie's July/August training I don't kennel my dogs and have to train on a public common, I am so law abiding (coward as afraid of farmer shouting at me!) that I don't go into fields! The training classes have now finished until next April and of course when attending those there is different land. I am sure you can find little paths between brambles, woodland paths, even a narrow Cornish street when the visitors have all gone home! Don't give up Julie, decide on one way to go and concentrate on that, whichever way you feel suits Charlie best and don't over drill him
Re: Charlie's July/August training You've seen some of what I use the first time you visited....short sheep fenced paths that run for a few metres. Are there even any paths that lead down the side of buildings or from car parks to the open spaces?.... I do agree though it's harder than people make out sometimes I'd like to be able to train near my car so that I can (eventually) train two dogs one at a time and also so I can pop Riley away if he's ignoring me in the way Heidrun described with Murffi. That's proving harder than you'd think too ???
Re: Charlie's July/August training Probably not, you only want a metre or two to start with anyway You could do memories down a bendy corridor for sure
Re: Charlie's July/August training Well...bendy corridors are available...might hit a few Japanese tourists on the head with the dummy...but still... maze by julieandcharlie, on Flickr
Re: Charlie's July/August training Haha that looks like lots of fun. Mind you I would be lost in about 2 seconds. I have a terrible sense of direction. Might be a good place for the ear cleaning business though.
Re: Charlie's July/August training Just shows you, you are never happy with what you've got. I walk Molly on The Sustrans. It is a disused railway track five minutes from where I live. The track has been lifted and Tarmac laid, so I don't regard it as worthy of a mention on "My Walk". It is dead straight, runs for miles and is mostly enclosed by hedgerow. Would seem tailor made for your purposes, but I never saw it as such. There are even items on the old station that she can play on. Thanks for pointing out this training resource right under my nose. Now if I can just learn to throw straight (cue derisive laughter from husband)
Re: Charlie's July/August training A mile long corridor...Get that girl retrieving! Take her mind off being a pain in the bottom biting the lead...
Re: Charlie's July/August training I used a very narrow bendy path in the woods with dense undergrowth, mainly brambles and nettles, on either side. If you can find such a thing at this time of year it's great because as autumn progresses and the undergrowth dies back your retrieving corridor gets naturally wider and wider and you can start throwing dummies to one side gradually further and further, but you stay in a "natural" environment without having to use temporary fencing. Worked really well for me but I reckon such a spot might be harder to find on Wimbledon Common than in the woods in Northumberland.....
Re: Charlie's July/August training Well over three miles actually, with a Nature Reserve where we are allowed to let dogs run at the end. I didn't think about it because it has always been too long a walk there and back for her and I always walk my dogs, only ever drive them when going to the Vets or classes. Just shows how your mind can get into a rut.
Re: Charlie's July/August training I very much liked the suggestions Jan was making on your Facebook question. He is absolutely spot on. That's exactly how I would proceed. Use the clicker if you want to but the most important bit is not to give Charlie any more simple sighted retrieves in short grass.
Re: Charlie's July/August training In a break from gundog training...we did a spot of petdog training. Today was carnival day in a Cornish seaside town. Was really proud of my hooligan. We might have zilch, zero, zip ability to sit still in the presence of dummies, but Charlie can sit like a statue through brass bands playing "when the saints go marching on", screaming kids, belly dancers, flour and water bombs and so on. ;D ;D ;D He got lots of pats and even sneaked a few ear licks. watching by julieandcharlie, on Flickr sneaking a pat by julieandcharlie, on Flickr people by julieandcharlie, on Flickr more fun by julieandcharlie, on Flickr fun by julieandcharlie, on Flickr crafty ear lick by julieandcharlie, on Flickr
Re: Charlie's July/August training Gosh, he's looking good the shine on that coat is fabulous. The ability to sit still while people in shiny purple outfits flit by is very important.
Re: Charlie's July/August training Absolutely ;D A very well socialised Charlie; he is certainly leading a very interesting life, lucky boy.
Re: Charlie's July/August training Brilliant! It's lovely to be able to take your dog out and about even in a carnival.
