Sticky

[Suirway]

Hi, have a 14 month old springer gone sticky, I think I may have over done the turn whistle, Any advice on how to solve it.

[Judy]

Go easy, let the dog relax and have more fun.

[newf]

As Judy said, let the dog relax. He’s trying to figure out the limitation on range. I wouldn’t worry, instinct will begin to draw him out again. The whistle has created an inhibition, (as it should have) but now, you relax the pup by light encouragement or sometimes by not saying a thing. You can also hide a dummy or two up wind very close to your travel to allow scent to once again draw him out.

PS. Learning is the ebb and flow of confidence and being unsure. The important part, is that the pup is still free enough to ‘try’ and get something right. You bring back confidence by positive reinforcement. The time when the dog was not sticky has likely been reinforced quite a bit, so the foundation is there.

[CockerCanuck]

Agree with above. If you can get him on gamy ground and relax and let him work it should right itself.