I'm looking to buy a target stick as I'm working my way through 'learning games for dogs'. Karen Pryor sells a lollipop one which I quite like the look of, I don't think it's the telescopic type but I'm not sure that I need that. My biggest concern is the strength as Ripple is a bit like a bull in a china shop with his training, he's really keen to learn but all the props take the full force of his enthusiasm . Has anyone used this or have any recommendations for a really strong target stick? Any advice on using it would be welcome as well .
Hi there In order to use any target stick effectively, you need your dog interacting with it in a calm way. It can be a challenge at first to get the dog to keep his mouth closed and I'd train this using something that doesn't matter. You can get your dog to touch anything to start off with targets. It's best to have different targets for different things. So a different target for a nose touch to a wall, that a moving target for example. People often stick different things on the end of a target stick if they want to use it in different ways for example. So, if your target stick is going to be used for something important, say training positions or heelwork, you really need to be over the stage where your dog might grab, bite, run off with it etc. before you introduce it.
I agree with what Julie says - Shadow is always a bit of a nightmare and when over-excited can mouth the target stick, which isn't the idea at all! I would say that a telescopic one is actually quite useful, as it means you can use it for positioning away from you. I have the Dogsline one.
I have three target sticks and still don't use them as Obi is too mouthy. I wanted to teach his heelwork with them but it was taking forever so i tried a different way that worked. I think it's a challenge with gundogs as they're so used to using their mouths. Nothing you can't fix with a clicker but it was too far down my list. I've got two extendable sticks(one with built in clicker) and a lollipop one. The lollipop one has a much bigger end to it which is good for when you're starting. I use a Frisbee on my lap for a chin target and that's really fun because it's flat on my knee and I'm holding it they can't pick it up
Ripple does touching a square with his paw and disc paws (so I can teach left and right), so I thought the target stick was the next move. I might get OH to make a temporary one with a cane and a ball and see what happens. I'll look at that telescopic one as well as the lollipop one, thank you Fiona. Ripple really loves learning but sometimes I find it very hard to give the correct instruction so lots get lost in translation - good fun tho' .
Half the fun is that we're learning, too! I can't believe how much I've learnt from my dogs and how forgiving they are sometimes
