I'm not a huge fan of New Year resolutions - they just make me feel guilty when I break them! But...this year I am setting out some broad goals for me and Charlie, training wise, and I wondered if others wanted to do the same? Commitments shared and all that....we can look back at it next year, for those who find this kind of thing motivating and as a way of measuring progress. Doesn't matter how advanced or modest your goals are, it's all just about you and your individual dog. I hope in 2016 I will have a dog that is free of health troubles, and we can stay in a sensible programme of training without breaking off to deal with surgery! So, in 2016 I'm going to: Proof my off lead heel so Charlie will stay at heel for 30 minutes with other dogs and people around (but not other dogs retrieving - that is probably too much to ask for, staying realistic) Have a steady dog to moving objects - be able to keep my dog steady while a ball or dummy are sent at speed from launchers (but not around water - ditto above) Have my dog steady around water, while retrieve articles are thrown by hand (without other dogs - ditto above) Be able to do blinds up to 100m - in new locations, with my dog staying more or less straight, and hunting on his whistle in a diameter of about 6m Stop while searching, and move left and right on cue - I'd say 50m away from me, and 20m in each direction Bring back a new dummy, covered in pheasant feathers, without doing a victory lap Have my dog settle on cue, around other dogs and people, inside and out (but not with other dogs working around him) And: Take part in two new activities with my dog: tracking and something else (probably Rally-Obedience), as these are things we might focus on in 2017 or as Charlie gets older. Plus: I might do gundog grades 1 and 2 - but these are only a might because I don't much care if I don't get round to it, it's a bit of a faff getting to the assessments at the place I train, and the practicals are in the summer evenings during the week (and I work so can't make it).
I want to keep Tatze fit. She will be three in April and doesn't run about anything like she used to. She's not one for chasing a ball at all so I need to put my thinking cap on Of course, there will be a new pup in July/ish to keep us on our toes!
My main focus is working on increasing distance in all types of retrieve and with directional work. Also, bring able to have a greater number of dummies out in more challenging scenarios (dummies closer, more interesting dummies/retrieve items) and having the dogs retrieve the one they are sent to without shopping. Working on Willow around the noise of shot to see if I can get her comfortable with it. Other than gun dog training, working on calmness around kids and recall from food, known human "friends" and other dogs.
My main resolution for 2016 is to keep Juno free from pain and limping - everything else is secondary. Other aims for 2016 are to enrol in some "proper" gundog training just for the interest and perhaps look at entering for Grades 1 and 2 during the course of the year. I've identified a trainer, just need to take some action in 2016 to start wheels turning.... To investigate Juno becoming a PAT dog. Something just for me is to look into courses to become a dog trainer, not to work on a professional basis but to be a better trainer with Juno
Mainly to keep Mabel pain free, and a little less nervous. it's definitely been a roller coaster year. 2016 starts with a trip to the specialist so fingers crossed. I'm also having a hip replacement in February. Once I'm on the mend areas to be covered are: Working on loose lead, restricted exercise has caused so many problems in this area. Re-take KC silver as we failed just before Christmas. Re- look at becoming PAT dog especially as I had to change our plans. This was supposed to happen back in August again restricted exercise and the problems it brings stopped that. Carry on with maintaining good recall, especially as she is now 13 months and far more independent. Working towards getting her to walk passed other dogs without wanting to say hello. Without doubt massive challenge. I'd also like to recall against sniffs to be honest I'll leave that until 2017. Sniffing in general I'd like to get to grips with. The trouble is sniffing can be so useful especially if enforced short lead walks are on the cards again. Happy New Year to all xx
I always intend to do more training and then never do so! Heavens JulieT 30 mins of heel work, I get bored after five minutes So, my resolution is straight lines, stop younger dog mouthing the dummy and swapping. Get him to retrieve to hand out of water.
The main thing we need to work on will be our recall. I've lost a lot of confidence in working in this since being pregnant so I'm planning to do more focussed training in different situations in the new year. I think the rest of our training will be on home related behaviours rather than formal exercises as we work on ensuring us, our human baby and our fur baby are happy and comfortable living at home together ☺
No big training plans here but we will continue to work on Charlie's recall as always, but the main training will be to continue working hard on his stop whistle and staying closer which is progressing . Hattie is perfect loves and lives life to the full, what more can I ask for! x
It's that thing that keeps your off lead dog next to you at gundog training instead of running round the pitch like a hooligan.
The thing I suppose I really should do for Pongo is to get him used to walking nicely on a lead. The issue is that he never needs to be on a lead (all our walks are off-lead from the house door) so he only gets a lead attached once a week (to go to agility) and on the rare occasion that we're walking somewhere new if there are stretches on-road. So he has no idea what a lead is for. Which means that he still just goes where he likes when he is on the lead. Which means (given that he is 40kg of solid muscle and I am 60kg of wimp) that I go too....usually in a "water-ski" position saying futile things like Pongowaitstaypongonopongopongonothiswayobluddyellpongo". Maybe some lead training round the garden is in order.
Have a delightful mental image of you and Pongo now!! Have thought hard about this. Not usually good making resolutions and even less good at keeping them. First one is to open the 1st Gundog Book and attempt to work through it. Second is to revisit Recall with OH (please feel free to interpret that how you like). OH is supposedly walking Lilly more since he isn't working but doesn't often let her off the lead as he doesn't trust her recall. Shame. She isn't great but she's not as bad as he thinks she is! I might do that with the whistle as haven't used that for a while. Third one is for me. I really really must try and get my 10,000 steps a day. I have a fitbit which I have used for more than 8 months now but really struggle with my active-Ness on work days. Particularly as I feel getting up at 6.30 before work for a walk shouldn't really be my job when the OH is at home all day......might start a step count thread???
oh go Pongo! Small resolutions for Coco & me. "Perfect" his lead walking (we're getting there). Improve his recall around distractions. Get him to a position where we can see and then pass other dogs comfortably and with this improve impulse control (currently very low). Go for a walk with my friend & her young black Labrador Isla.
If I were you, never really having to put a lead on my dog, I'd train an off lead heel. Then when he can do that, slip a limited slip lead over his head. Voila. People only get into trouble because they put a lead on a dog that can't walk on one.
