Ginger

[newf]

A method or strategy that requires constant monitoring or asking for an alternative behaviour are no substitutes for ending it. There’s too much to learn as a dog in technical skills to be constantly nagged by doggy issues.

[PRH]

We didn't make it to the club this week, Mrs H went down to that there London in the Disco and I didn't fancy taking Ginger in the VW Up....

I've done a couple of sessions with him at home and to be honest this week it has been a bit of a shambles. He's only shown real enthusiasm for a ball or when I use the dummy launcher. He has sometimes started to pop at about 20 yds when I send him for a long(ish) blind, which is really frustrating and I'm not entirely sure what to do about it. It is clearly something I am doing, his Mum sometimes does the same. I think we go back to marked retrieves, then short blinds and slowly build up the distance (and confidence). Any other suggestions?

Paul

[Naj]

I wouldn’t be too bothered by a dog ‘popping’ when going out on a retrieve, surprise, surprise, but if I wanted to train it out I’d go along the lines of pile work (bucket training), and/or training to go out to a marker post, and perhaps long memory retrieves if the dog didn’t pop on them. You could also consider what might be causing him to ‘pop’ and there might lie the answer to your conundrum. It could be a lack of confidence, over enthusiasm, mis-timed correction or simply a superstitious behaviour that has been inadvertently rewarded in some way.

[munstyman]

Given his history, and that as you say `it's a longish blind' I would say it's probably that confidence issue he has shown before, so shorten those longish blinds Baby steps remember
Just to cover all bases, popping is usually down to those dreaded stop redirect exercises or just practicing those `stops' on retrieve exercises, so if you've been doing those ...Stop The other thing can be that lack of `enthusiasm' ( as a symptom of lacking confidence ) transforming into laziness and the dog rather than work for it constantly looks for controlled direction, which as you often give in to it, rewards that behavior. The "back, back, back .... back" narrative is a similar over use of a training aid rather than properly train the `out in a straight line' or address the confidence issue.
Popping is a symptom to a problem not an actual problem ( unless it becomes habituated ). The one positive is that it shows that the dog still considers you a good source for assurance and control. Little do they know we are not as smart as they think we are at getting that balance right.

[PRH]

Thanks both. I did some shorter marks with both of them, then a few blinds the following day and then a measured 250m blind which they both did without popping. I have made it simple, I mowed a strip about 1.5m wide along the 250m track with knee high grass on and stood the dummies on end so no hunting involved. After that success I tried again a day or so later and she didn’t pop but he did. Just need to backtrack a bit, give him 100% confidence and build up the distance again. I can tell the minute he leaves my side whether he’s going to pop, he’s 100% committed when he doesn’t pop and fizzes out, but when he’s unsure he goes at half pace. I wonder what signs I can read when he’s Sat up waiting that will give me a clue

[PRH]

We made it to training tonight and for the first time in the higher class. Great session, really enjoyable. Very clear feedback from the trainer, mostly focused on my handling and being clearer with the ask. I was pretty happy with how we went, it was a step up with a longer blind, a blind to shot with a marked water distraction, then a marked to shot and a blind water retrieve - a good challenge for a relatively young dog.

Our stop whistle was a bit poor at the start of the session but came right. I sent him along a track for the blind water retrieve and then had to stop him and send him right handed in to the water, which he did and then delivered well back to hand. That felt like a win to finish on. I probably need to find more group training, different exposure, more experience to gain for both of us.

[Stacia]

That sounds very positive with Ginger. I live every moment of your training, enjoyed it when I was there.

[PRH]

Tonight was the end of training block working test. We surpassed ourselves and managed to score zero on each of the 4 tests. As I write this I have no clue as to why what happened happened. I wasn't aware of a delivery problem or his desire to drop the dummy until the this evening, but we live and learn. I didn't feel nervous or anxious during the test, my view is that it is simply a training session to take what I can out of.

First test was a marked retrieve to shot as a distance of about 45 yds. He marked it well, went out like a rocket, picked it and came back at a great pace.....only to sit in front of me, put his head down and drop the dummy on the floor. Second test was a marked followed by a blind beyond the marked, he found the marked, returned to me, only to drop the dummy on the floor. He picked the blind and delivered ok. Third test was water and he came out of the water, got to me and dropped the dummy. Fourth test was a blind and he went out, found it and returned to me and dropped the dummy. I can only think of one time he has dropped a dummy in training either at home or at club and that was a water retrieve, but he followed up with another water retrieve without dropping it.

Dog training requires a fair degree of resilience. I shall now go from this place and work on delivery on land and water.

[newf]

The pup’s fetch, hold and release have been trained as ‘soft’ behaviors. In other words, optional. Repetition, by itself does not make something reliable. That’s why, ‘force fetch’ is prominent in American trials and in the training of pointers.

[Judy]

The pup’s fetch, hold and release have been trained as ‘soft’ behaviors. In other words, optional. Repetition, by itself does not make something reliable. That’s why, ‘force fetch’ is prominent in American trials and in the training of pointers.

Oooo, controversial!

I quickly gave up asking dogs to sit and present the retrieve, seems like a lot of them can't multitask and sit and drop rather than sit and give. Besides, you don't want them sitting during a busy drive with a few poor guns. It's great for obedience competitions but useless in the field, apart from, perhaps, slowing and calming the dog when things get hectic. Beats having a runner thrown at you then having to chase and catch it before your wretched Cocker arrives back with the next one. Especially if you put your foot down a hole and end up landing on the bird.