Gundog Training Forum

I was reading recently that dogs can only do one thing at a time. Because of this fact, it was suggested that giving a command such as 'get back' for example, one should first give just a silent hand signal and then follow up with the delayed verbal part of the command. The explanation was that the dog can get confused when it receives two messages for the one action simultaneously, that being in this case, visual from the arm motion and the verbal 'get back'. The author, claimed that when given together they have the effect of cancelling each other out. Any truth to this ?

Nope! I read that too, have often tried to give a hand signal without "back!", for example, and the dogs just stand there like melons, say "back!" and they twitch, both together and they go. I guess its down to habit and training but it doesn't appear to confuse them.

Its how you train and what you train for. I would expect my dogs to take left right and back by hand alone, also stop if on the recall.

Just look at your own dogs, Newf, does it confuse them? Presuming that you give more than one cue at a time.

Naj wrote:Just look at your own dogs, Newf, does it confuse them? Presuming that you give more than one cue at a time.

True Naj. An example given at the time, illustrating was that many pros will give a slow and deliberate arm motion singly, and then follow and enhance the dog's correct response with the verbal encouragement. The author then put that up against an amateur that waved and shouted all at once thus sending out cues from different mediums that would serve to confuse in most cases.

I must have clever dogs then, have always done both at once, usually works just fine even though its likely that one or the other is superfluous.

I don't know about only doing one thing at a time - but I do think puppies learn faster if you stay quiet, then add a verbal cue once the dog has started to respond consistently to a hand signal.

So according to what you read, Newf, if you do your hand & verbal cues simultaneously then the dog won't move but just sit there with a confused look on its face?! You reading Robert Milner again?

Naj wrote:So according to what you read, Newf, if you do your hand & verbal cues simultaneously then the dog won't move but just sit there with a confused look on its face?! You reading Robert Milner again?

Nah Mills and Boon

Naj wrote:So according to what you read, Newf, if you do your hand & verbal cues simultaneously then the dog won't move but just sit there with a confused look on its face?! You reading Robert Milner again?

No, one of your own I think ...Wilson Stephens, Gundog Sense And Sensibility Don't tell me he is full of BS too ?