Up until recently, I didn't use rabbit skin balls - too exciting for Charlie. This strategy of avoidance backfired when he got hold of a friend's rabbit skin ball and promptly legged it to swim round in the middle of a lake where no-one could try to take it off him. Have worked on it, and he'll now give me a rabbit skin ball back (so long as i don't do something really stupidly exciting like throw it - I just gently toss it to him so he catches it). Which means I can use it as a reward. It's like magic! I bet the novelty effect wears off, but he will literally do anything for it! Gosh....feel like I've got a training magic wand...
Re: Power of rabbit skin... Too right...I was just astounded by just how incredibly effective it is. Have to be disciplined, and save it, and resist the temptation to use it for everything! I'm sure it'll wear out! ;D
Re: Power of rabbit skin... [quote author=Karen link=topic=8251.msg116553#msg116553 date=1413221628] Yeah, try and save it for the really, really BIG reward... [/quote] It's burning a hole in my training vest though! ;D ;D ;D Must be disciplined!
Re: Power of rabbit skin... [quote author=Stacia link=topic=8251.msg116589#msg116589 date=1413224287] Trouble is the rabbit balls get wet and manky so quickly [/quote] Oh yes! Note to self...NEVER.. leave one in the car overnight, car smellls disgusting! :
Re: Power of rabbit skin... Ooh I have a few rabbit skin balls in a box, I might give Charlie a go tomorrow you never know : xx
Re: Power of rabbit skin... Lots of gundog equipment websites sell them - sporting saint, for example. Before people rush out to buy though, I should stress my boy is nutty for balls even without rabbit skin - it's a reward for him just to hand him a ball. It's only recently I could walk passed a tennis court without embarrassment... Still, it was like magic...for a dog keen on balls, it's worth a try I reckon.
Re: Power of rabbit skin... Hooray for Rabbit Power! So good to have control of an object irresistable to your dog...
Re: Power of rabbit skin... I dumped the one and only rabbit skin dummy we had, as it was TOO exciting for Poppy!
Re: Power of rabbit skin... [quote author=Karen link=topic=8251.msg116747#msg116747 date=1413282288] I dumped the one and only rabbit skin dummy we had, as it was TOO exciting for Poppy! [/quote] But your girl will bring you back a duck now! Can't imagine Charlie ever doing that...we were in awe of that pic...would she bring a rabbit back?
Re: Power of rabbit skin... I think she would, yes. Actually, I am certain she would now, but she might not have done a year ago!
Re: Power of rabbit skin... The rabbit skin is turning out to be pretty impractical as a reward... His desire to be near it and then gaze at it, wishing it out of my hand, means that he recalls instead of stops, and walks backwards (which I'm training anyway though) on a back command until he gets to the place board so he doesn't have to take his eyes off it! The only thing it's brilliant for is a reward for sit/wait. He'll sit and look at me for as long as it takes to get the ball....
