I have started teaching Charlie the Stop whistle, is it OK to start doing this in the paddock as he is great at long sits/waits? We have only been doing this indoors and in our yard. Thank you as always. Helen xx
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? LOL Helen that's alot better than what I have accomplished with McQueen...He simply returns to closer range when he ventures off at the hearing of it..I have tried everything ! At least it was worth it for that..for now anyway...
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? Can't see why not! As per usual start with the easy stuff, short distance, no distractions, plenty of rewards and don't over do it. Also learn to blow the whistle softly if you are not doing it already. You don't need the full blast at short distance, safe that for later.
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? [quote author=Labrina link=topic=1637.msg11867#msg11867 date=1370343971] LOL Helen that's alot better than what I have accomplished with McQueen...He simply returns to closer range when he ventures off at the hearing of it..I have tried everything ! At least it was worth it for that..for now anyway... [/quote] Labrina, he is probably doing exactly what you have taught him to do, to sit near to you when hearing the whistle.
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? [quote author=Labrina link=topic=1637.msg11867#msg11867 date=1370343971] LOL Helen that's alot better than what I have accomplished with McQueen...He simply returns to closer range when he ventures off at the hearing of it..I have tried everything ! At least it was worth it for that..for now anyway... [/quote] Riley did exactly the same as the stop whistle is an extension of the sit which he'd only ever done right by me. Small increments of distance were the key for us and catching him while he was looking at me or about to sit at a short distance anyway. We've gradually built up and now he'll stop as he's heading towards me on a recall(about 5 - 10 metres away) or as I'm walking along(without me stopping). Next steps - building up to a jog, a bit more distance and lots of different locations for the stuff we've already established. This has been one of the most location sensitive things we've done and has needed heading back to the simplest stop every time I've tried it somewhere new. Interestingly if he can't find his dummy or ball he sits and looks at me for some help which I haven't actually asked him to do yet.
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? Thank you all Heidrun I am blowing the whistle very softly as you say saving the blasts for later Sorry some more questions from the novice , is it OK to blow the sit whistle for a marked retrieve (as per Pippa's article) as Charlie is not steady but he will sit and wait for me to throw the ball but just bombs after it immediately or should I leave this and try the whistle at heel? Or can I try all of these exercises daily in short sessions? Don't want to confuse this poor lad or reduce his retrieving Thanks Helen xx
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? .....and my question! as we are learning the "down" command at a distance in class (and I would like to use the whistle rather than my voice) should we do it as a sit to start then develop it as a down, or go straight to the down. Personally I think a sit might be more achievable for Lilly, but just wondering. Could always do the whistle sit/stop, and a voice down/stop I suppose? jac
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? We often do distance exercises - anything from 3 paces to 10m or so depending on how reliable your dog is! Do sit, stand, lie downs in sequence (and random of course ) Do quite a bit of stays and going out of sight too. The idea of the down at a distance is the early stop commands I think. With the dog facing away, use a verbal down command. Lots of the dogs struggle with this, Lilly is ok, but always turns to look to see why (which is good really ) At the moment only do this 3 paces or so behind the dog. I guess the next step will do it with the dog moving away (I think ! ). Or maybe at a greater distance? jac
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? [quote author=charlie link=topic=1637.msg11939#msg11939 date=1370376697] .....and my question, why do you do a down at a distance Jac? Helen x [/quote] Helen, I thought about this and wondered if it would benefit you and Charlie. I know a pointer handler who teaches his dogs a completely flat down, with the chin on the ground, at distance. He reckons in that position the dog is less likely to break the stay especially when there is game running. What the dog can't see can't tempt it to give chase .... I have taught Murffi to do a down at distance if required and it works very well. I haven't trained my other dogs though to do this, I need them to sit up and mark the retrieves.
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? I can see the benefits of a completely flat down but how on earth do you teach it? Anything that Charlie is less likely to see running is good enough for me Very interested now I do distance sits/waits and have just started distance downs/wait although it's just a couple of feet to start with, but behind him I don't do that so should I? Helen x
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? With clicker training you can train pretty much whatever you like. You can fine tune any behaviour. The world is your oyster You are right by starting everything close to you and then gradually increasing distance. When you start something new, like a flat dow, drop all other criteria like duration, distance, distraction to zero.
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? How do I get him to a completely flat down chin on the ground in order to C&T? This seems like quite a difficult thing to do, is there a different command other than 'down'. Helen ???
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? I guess you would do it with a treat right in front of him at his nose then C&T?? jac
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? Hi Helen Steadiness is a pre-requisite for my stop whistle programme, it mentions this in the introduction. So you will need to complete the steadiness exercises first. And no, you really mustn't blow the sit whistle before a marked retrieve if your dog is not steady, or you will be teaching him to 'run in' to the stop whistle. The reverse of what you intend. The idea is to build an association in the dog's mind between sitting still/whistle/pleasure. Here are the steadiness to fall instructions. Pippa
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? Thanks Pippa, I still have a long way to go as Charlie is not hooked on retrieving so no steadiness training yet . Does this mean I shouldn't even be doing the conditioning sit/stays or the whistle at heel etc in your first steps article? Sorry I am getting a little muddled with the do's and don'ts. Helen x
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? Jac, that sounds sensible, now why didn't I think of that? - dah : I can always tell when I am becoming 'over loaded' Will try your method. Thank you. I am concerned about all this whistle stop business now. Please may I have a reply to my previous plea on this thread, I need to know exactly what I should and shouldn't be doing Sorry to be a pain but I REALLY AM TRYING TO LEARN :-[ Helen x
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? Hi Helen, the training you are doing so far with Charlie walking by your side or very very close to you and then blowing the stop whistle is right on track and I would practise that often and in many different places. It is also easy to insist on a sit when he is that close to you. If on the other hand you blow the stop whistle as you throw the dummy and he runs in you will create a new problem. You would now have a dog that runs in and ignores the stop whistle, and you would have no way of insisting on a sit. Does that make sense?
Re: STOP whistle - Is this OK? Hi Heidrun, yes thank you that makes sense. Charlie is NOT addicted to retrieving yet, but when he is then steady training needs to be done, then whistle marked retrieves. Is that correct? So at least I am doing something right with the close work and that is going well Very sorry for my endless questions Thank you so much. Helen
