Place board problems

[manorfarm]

I have an cocker pup that I have trained on the place boards. She is stead on and off the boards and will sit and stay for days on and off them.

But, when I’m doing retrieving, directions and moving her board to board she will often lay down on the board. I think this is a softness off the dog showing though and perhaps and a little loss of confidence. I always walk back and make her sit up bit of praise and carry on.

Anyone else found this. I’m interested to see feedback.

[crackerd]

Think you've got it sussed with the "softness" factor - and the dog internalizing pressure. Don't use placeboards but do have an imaginary placeboard for the dogs to sit alongside each other every day awaiting their release for din-din. Of my dogs in the "chow line," the younger Lab bitch will often drop to the down position whilst I'm putting out food bowls. It's essentially her way of saying I'm not running in, I'm not running in. I tell her to "Sit!" from a distance, and she springs up to that position and waits 'til eventually her name's called for dinner.

MG

[manorfarm]

When shes condifent i whats shes been asked to do she is boob proof. If i place one board in the middle of my lawn. I put her on it "place" go back in the house make a cup of tea, she will sit there like a she made of bronze. Its amazing.
I will try to put less preasure on her I think. perhaps the retieving drills Im doing are pushing her a little too far and making her lose confidence.
Leasson Learned

[Blackjaw]

I agree that it is probably a confidence issue. Praise and maybe even a treat when she does the right thing would be my attempt at a solution. Sounds like she is coming along nicely though. How old is she?

[manorfarm]

nearly 9 months. Shes been really easy to train. On ground she knows she really can hurt. New ground she takes a minute or two to relax and show herself. That really all points to the same answer I guess.

Retieving is like a bullet

Has anyone any expernce on place boards

[Cass]

I don't think I'd be going and moving her into a sit and praising her. Continue on with the drill. Maybe shes soft, but maybe she's just figured out how to get you to stop training and give her attention. At 8 months what's it really matter if she lays down? If you are doing retrieving and directional work she'll quickly realize she needs to sit up to see properly. Don't make it a big deal and she'll probably stop doing it.

[manorfarm]

I don't think I'd be going and moving her into a sit and praising her. Continue on with the drill. Maybe shes soft, but maybe she's just figured out how to get you to stop training and give her attention. At 8 months what's it really matter if she lays down? If you are doing retrieving and directional work she'll quickly realize she needs to sit up to see properly. Don't make it a big deal and she'll probably stop doing it.

my theory was "if you not sitting up properly you wont get the retieve"

Are you suggesting that she is training me to come over to her and give some praise. I had considered that and made her assume the sit before I prasied her for sitting. Prasie is a tiny tickle with one finger on the top of the nose. She had to sat bolt upright to get it

[crackerd]

If you are doing retrieving and directional work she'll quickly realize she needs to sit up to see properly.

Cass, I wouldn't count on this outcome - especially since most retrieving drill work is done in flat featureless fields and the dog can "see properly" even if it was lying almost flat of its back. Well, that's an exaggeration, but sight is not a concern for either dog or handler on this problem. Retrievers that are handling on early blind work will often drop completely into repose at the stop whistle - at the sound of it, they will spin 360 and then go right into the "lie down" position. Often the answer is to blow a quick come-in whistle where the dog comes out of repose and back into sit with a sharp follow-on stop whistle. I've had it happen only a couple of times over the course of training (my own) retrieving gundogs - and the correction was essentially what manorfarms has done, albeit without the praise - walk out to the dog, get it out of the lie down and into sit, and blow the sit or stop whistle as it's coming into sit. There is an easy way to accomplish it, though I'm reluctant to share (disclaimer: it does not involve the e-collar nor animal abuse of any kind, but a gentler, kinder reminder).

MG

[manorfarm]

I ll crack on as I am then

[crackerd]

I ll crack on as I am then

Advisable - sans treats and praise, and don't "storm" toward the dog in what it could perceive as a threatening manner, either. Just be very casual in your approach then get the dog to sit up however you choose to go about it. But be aware that your questioning whether "the dog is training you" to come out to it for attention could also be accurate.

MG