Am I doing right?

[yellow dog]

Zoli did your trainer discuss FF with you or do any FF training with your dog ?

[zoli 16ga.]

Nope, not that I'm aware of. He's on holiday right now, so I'll contact him next week. He is still very involved with me and the mutt, albeit via emails. His puppy training is geared to him having fun, and learning at the same time. Always stressing that he is still only a pup, and let him be a pup, while I continue with what he has learned so far.

While fetching, sometimes he would not see me throw the ball, stand there and look at me, so I used that opportunity to teach him the 'back' command (arm thrust out while saying back). He follows that now, and will take the command to direct him to the ball. He was taught 'overs' by the trainer, with one blow of the whistle and arm thrust in the direction I want him to go. This works very well in the park. I can direct, and do direct him several times while on his run. His come back is very good.

His sit was great with the trainer, he just snapped his fingers. Unfortunately my 'snap' is not as loud, so I'm using a single finger and sit command. Stay with the open hand, and two taps on the head to release. He pretty good on the stay and release.

Heel went from the pulling my shoulder out to now just a slight tug on the lead. I will tune that up slowly, as his environment is still quite new to him, with so many smalls and birds about. So I try to let him explore but still slightly in front of me. A 100% improvement, from a few days ago.

When we trained our black labs, 35 years ago, things were very different. No ecollars, no force fetch. They did win 28 field trial ribbons, nonetheless, including a third at the Sportsman Show.

Always feel free to advise.....or even correct me....sans ecollar!

D.

[sambo]

3 Black dogs has the right advice

[3 black dogs]

sounds like you have a nice bidable dog if you are curently useing a trainer continue with his advice he knows your dog better than any of us. good luck with your pup!

[yellow dog]

Zoli deffinately talk to your breeder trainer about his method because he has the most experience with your pups temperment. Every dog is different and he would have the right advice because he knows your dog best.

[ebenezer]

I just dropped my pup off at the pro's last week. She turned 6 months the end of July and has her adult teeth. She was at the sassy teenage stage so it was time. Her marking is great and she has a ton of go. We had some basic obedience in place so now is the time to lay a firm foundation. She will stay there for Aug and Sept and we will see how the weather holds for Oct.
I know from his posts that Zoli left his pup with the trainer for introductory training. The training programmes seem very different for a lab and an upland or versitile dog. It got me wonder how others, if they use a trainer, work it into their programmes and what expectations they have for the pro. I know that I want an excellent basic programme that will enable me to carry on through the transition. Lord knows I can undo the good the pro has done but he is always willing to discuss problems and help with any issues that arise. He likes us to spend at lest 3 or 4 days with him when we go to pick the dog up and always sends us home with a list of next steps and exercises (drills). With my last dog he even showed us how to build a monthly training shcedule so that one skill built on to the next.It is going to be a long 2 months but I know I will have a great dog when she comes home.

[yellow dog]

Seems you have a great trainer,awesome.

[yellow dog]

If anyone needs some great training dvd's for spaniels I have the David Lisett series and my mentor Ben Martin training dvd. Ben has a segment on FF and if any of you would like to borrow them just PM me.

[zoli 16ga.]

Thanks for all the info folks. Yah, I can see how the tennis ball could become a problem. So I'll curtail it till my trainer gets back from his Alaskan cruise....luck guy!

I bought about a $100 bucks worth of stuff for the mutt. A good kong rubber bone with holes in the end to stuff treats in...he loves that. Two flavors of shed antlers....he loves those, treat sticks...to put in the Kong, and a decent everyday dog collar.

We rotate the chew toys three times a day, mixed in with chasing bugs in the grass, a 'few' retrieves and nice long points on back yard birds....can't wait to see him in the covets and at the game farm!

The 'heel' is going to be an issue, probably more for me trying to train him. He has so many city made distractions.

Should I really worry about getting him set in quality heels at this age? Are pointers harder to teach heel then labs etc, due to their search drive?

D.

[Sharon]

I don't think so. At 6 months he should be heeling imo. I use my e collar . Correctly timed and amount of correction when the dog passes my knee and voila! in a week or less he's heeling. For me it is much more "humane" than jerking on a choke/barbed collar for weeks.