Reactolite Glasses

[esmerelda]

I have been wearing these type of glasses for a long time, and we have a Springer Archie he is 2 years old now. I recently changed to normal Varifocal glasses, and the difference in Archie is unbelievable he can now see my eyes. Just thought that others may not have realised that it can make a big difference. I have been going to a Gun Dog Trainer (so called) you would have thought that some of the struggles I have had would have been recognised as the glasses!!!!

[Judy]

I think this is more common that people realise, I have seen it mentioned once in a dog training book but its not something which usually rates a Comment. I have heard of dogs being nervous around people who have strong magnifying lenses in their glasses too.

The OG wears Reactolite glasses, the dogs pay scant attention to him but I'm not sure it would be much different if he took them off, they are Mummy's little darlings.

As a aside, I have read that we shouldn't look at a dog's eyes when its returning to us, I once tried looking over her head as the book recommended and she stopped dead, I now carry on staring at my dogs as they come in, its what mine are used to and I can see if the pup's attention is on me or wavering. They are all confident enough to enjoy eye contact so would be confused if I wore sunglasses. I do notice a slower retrieve if I have the camera up to my face when they are coming back.

Thanks for bringing the subject up, its not something which is common knowledge.

[trekmoor]

I have often noticed a difference in my dogs behaviour if I am trying to work them and take pics at the same time. My wife wears Reactolite specs , can't say I have noticed any difference at all from when she didn't wear any specs, she still doesn't see a damn thing the dogs are doing wrong !

Like Judy I had read or heard somewhere that I shouldn't look directly at my dogs as they return to me. I think I usually do look straight at them.

Wullie

[DesO'Neile]

Is it 1st April?

[esmerelda]

NO not and its not a wind up in 10 days it amazing the difference he's so much more responsive, Archie positively enjoys eye contact......

[suerey]

My dogs love my daughter, but one day she was sunbathing in the garden and had sunglasses on, those that look different colours depending on what angle you look at them. I went out into the garden with the dogs and one of them took one look at her, kept her distance and started barking at her! My daughter couldn't understand what was wrong with her. I told her to take her glasses off. The dog immediately rushed to her and was all over her! Think she was so relieved to find out it wasn't some strange monster!

[Canburne]

I think you have got it the wrong way around!!! When you wear sunglasses or glasses that have gone dark it makes your eyes appear much larger than normal which makes your dog 'think' you are angry. When people are angry their eyes enlarge and their lips tighten.

I learn't this long ago when I had a sensitive golden retriever who would normally come straight in and present to hand - when it got sunny I put sunglasses on and every time he would stop short and not come in until I took the glasses off.

[Naj]

Reacting/responding to signs of anger given off by an irate handler is a learned behaviour, & what your eyes might look like are only one of a number of cues that the dog will pick up on as being threatening. I would have thought that a dog responding poorly to its owner suddenly wearing sunglasses is simply a case of the dog not having generalised its behaviours to that particular scenario. I wear reactolites all the time & my dogs respond how I have trained them to, whether they are dark or clear. I do find that they can react adversely to me when I'm trying to take a photo, but that is because I am chuntering at them to stand or sit in a particular way &/or not to mouth the game (trophy shot ) & they therefore don't enjoy the procedure. If I 'perch' the camera & take a shot of me & the dog together using a remote control or timer, then the dog is perfectly happy, proving, I believe, that the dogs' apparent adverse reaction to the camera is nothing to do with the 'big eye' staring it down but is linked to my behaviour alone, when in the process of taking a photo.

Naj

[DesO'Neile]

Believe it or not but I have thought long before making this post.

I reckon that my dogs take their cue's firstly audibly and more than likely the whistle first. Is it loud or soft and then the voice? Again, is it soft(kindly) or loud(aggressive)?

I'm putting body language next on the basis that having received a whistle command they may well decide to check me out next. Again, do I look relaxed or am I closing the gap with arms aloft?

I have found that out of doors it is quite often difficult, if not impossible, for me, let alone a dog, to see a spectacle wearer's eyes, irrespective of lens colour. I have been wearing glasses more or less constantly for fifteen years and reactolite lenses for the last two years which in effect to the dog means I have been wearing sunglasses for two years. My ability co communicate effectively with my dogs has not altered in any way. The only difference I have noticed is that I can see the dog better on bright days as my eyes aren't screwed up.

I really don't believe they take any cue from my eyes when working.

[Martinp]

If wink at mine with my left eye she sits if I wink with my right eye she brews up