wrong command

[ips]

Have you ever inadvertently given the wrong command at the wrong time. ???

Yesterday dogging in I was hunting her through some rough grass and bracken that has formed a sort of hedgeline between two fields, she flushed a bird and was steady then recalled very well. I sent her hunting again but instead of my usual "get in" I accidentally said "get on" which is similar to my release command of "go on then". She legged it fifty meters down the hedge, lining a foot scent, (I think) flushed a bird and then came back.
I am wondering if this was coincidental and she just lost her head or if my incorrect command was the cause ???

[trekmoor]

Your commands are possibly unclear to the dog. ---- "get in " and "get on" both contain the word "GET" as the first word spoken . The dog is very likely to only listen to that first word and to do whichever of the two commands pleases it the most.
It's a little bit like sitting a dog at distance with a retrieve article to either side of it. Most handlers tell the dog to fetch the article they want by saying " Get on" accompanied by the appropriate arm signal.....miss out on giving the arm signal and the dog is perfectly correct to retrieve whichever of the two articles it wants to go for . Very often dogs are responding to your visual cues more than to your vocal ones.

An example of this can sometimes be seen if your dog is walking about behind you and you say sit while facing away from the dog and giving no visual cues with your head or with your hands. Many dogs will not understand the command word given on it's own and in unusual circumstances and the dog will probably not sit or it will look very uncertain as it does sit. What you do visually when giving a command matters quite a lot.

Wullie

[ips]

Um, that makes sense Mr trek.
When I am quartering her I don't give any verbal command I use a hand signal (only the left now after your observation of my changing hands with my stick, been a lot easier too ) maybe I should cut down on verbal, I will give it a go see if it makes any difference,
Thank you, that's most helpful

[newf]

Happens quite a bit, I would think. I think too, its how consistent one is in giving command cues; for instance if one is inconsistent then a dog will adapt and take the initiative and on the other hand a fastidious trainer could have a dog that will not move until it has the reassurance of both the visual and verbal. However, in both cases, if something unintentional happens it's good to be able to stop the dog and make remedial action without upsetting the dog. This is where seasoned dogs excel and good training of younger dogs are taught to be command fluent as opposed to merely going through mindless behaviors.

[vicky payne]

1) Have different sounding commands.

2) Try to link the verbal with some body language to guard against the dog taking any word as a cue to do what it was planning.

3) Why I say 'sit' not 'hup'...a couple of years ago I was just walking the dogs at heel through a grassy field. All of a sudden up got a rabbit and shot through my legs! "Shit!" I exclaimed....and my dogs all sat!!!

[crackerd]

Um, that makes sense Mr trek.

That's Mr "Star" trek to you - especially when he's talking about HPRs retrieving mourning doves!
http://gundogforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=89&t=52423

MG

[ips]

1) Have different sounding commands.

2) Try to link the verbal with some body language to guard against the dog taking any word as a cue to do what it was planning.

3) Why I say 'sit' not 'hup'...a couple of years ago I was just walking the dogs at heel through a grassy field. All of a sudden up got a rabbit and shot through my legs! "Shit!" I exclaimed....and my dogs all sat!!!

Lol. Love that last bit

Ok just got back from an hour and a bit dogging in. Used as little whistle as possible and no verbal commands only verbal praise. Early to say categorically but it seemed to make her pay more attention as she had to look for the body language / arm command no issues to speak of and she was steady to flush however its clear to see that she is more revved up on scent having not been on game all year. Obviously one assumes that is to be expected.
I think Mr star trek could be onto something

[Nickheref]

I sometimes get the names wrong, but what I have found is the hand signal and where I am looking is of far more importance- last night I wanted one dog out of the dog box that had two in it, I signalled one to stay and another to come out but called the wrong name, however the dog I wanted came out because they were watching my hands and eyes and it was only because I got a bit of a puzzled look from the dog I had named that I realised what I had done. When a dog is close I have found hand signals far more effective than verbal commands and often when shooting over experienced dog who knows its job find I do not need the verbal command at all. I never realised just how many minor hand signals I give and how much the dogs pick up on them until I saw some film of myself shooting over them. To be honest I didn't realise I was doing it.

[Judy]

I don't think we do realise until something happens which brings you up short. I couldn't understand why my dogs all launched themselves out of the car without my say so until I realised dropping my hand down after opening the crate was very similar to the downward sweep of my arm to let them all out.
Then there was the day I was working three dogs up the hedgerow looking for a pricked Partridge when the Post van came round the corner, I raised my arm to stop him and ended up with two Cockers sat in the middle of the road in front of his van.

[Springfield Pointers]

My dogs always think I give the wrong command. If I say "come here" they think that's wrong. What he ACTUALLY meant was "arse about for another 10 minutes until you open your ears again"