Sometimes it all clicks!

[Miesque]

I've been in heel work bootcamp with my springer! Off we set today around the farm and he was foot perfect, sitting to the whistle as soon as it stopped. Not moving until I asked him to heel again and no pulling on the lead.

So I turned him loose to hunt/run loose for ten minutes in the ride (enclosed, short grass about half acre) as per trainer to reward his good behavior. I whistled a sit when he was close by to start a bit more work and to my surprise instead of running to my side to sit like he usually does he dropped to sit immediately. Woohoo...the stop whistle wil be there eventually. I threw him three marked retrieves which he went straight out and brought back without messing about. He's very lackluster about retrieving with distractions so I was very happy with those and left it on a good note.

This dogs major problem has been serial absconding with his previous owners and a complete lack of recall. He was totally untrust worthy in open spaces and ran away over night three times. With my trainers blessing we have be working through the 'Perfect Recall' book and today was the first time I was allowed to use the recall whistle outside (albeit in a small lunge pen so I could insist if necessary and there was no running away opertunities). Five perfect recalls, no hesitation. Lots of praise (and treats!) for Milo today.

[Bryn]

that's great

[suerey]

Brilliant! Well done!

[keirk]

Well done! Its these moments that really makes this whole dog training business for me.

[Miesque]

Thanks guys, we are off for a lesson with our trainer today so hopefully he keeps his halo firmly on and we can get some new homework to be getting on with.

[Bryn]

Thanks guys, we are off for a lesson with our trainer today so hopefully he keeps his halo firmly on and we can get some new homework to be getting on with.

HA!! not if he's anything like Bryn he won't, but at least he gets to see us at our worst

[Miesque]

Well he wasn't as and as I feared, he showed off his heel work without too much pratting about. He even sat steady to thrown dummies around us (yay!). He did a little heel work off lead too and staying hupped while walking away etc. Very good! Now to extend the distance I can leave him and length of time he sits we are allowed to start a few memory retrieves now too.