country joe

Lablover He started on the way back. Simplified everything. When I took him back to a trial I had him recall through part of the exercise area. then retrieve from the exercise area. I have never had a dog that had a deep seated problem with this. If I did I would use the same process and keep the maintenance up. I would possibly try using a checkcord. Depending on the dog. Country joe.

I have had a dog that started to show the marking trait when working. I did the following steps. Took the dog out of run and onto lead. quick bit of healing then released and told toilet. After a couple of minutes back on lead and more heal work. Then moved up to healing past distraction "where he had marked when released". Then recalled passed distraction point. Next retrieve past distraction point. Moved to area when other dogs had been to toilet. Same process. Out of car on lead quick heal work, toilet and then more heal work. Heal work past distraction, (a bush or tree that had been used by other dogs.) Progressed to recall past and then retrieve past. I think it took me about 3 weeks to get to this point and I had a weekly session at it for another month or two. The dog had only started to show this trait and it was stopped quickly. If the dog had had this trait for any amount of time I think this it would become a maintenance issue. (Something you continue to work at the keep the desired response) Country joe

Sorry to read about Pepper Julie. Keeping my fingers crossed for her. Regards Wayne.

Hi, Country Joe, darling, um..........what is your interpretation of pack drive??? and how is this achieved, bonding when young, brushing, clear fair obedience? Peppa LOL??? My simple interpretation (I have never completed a dog training course) of pack drive is a pup that wants to be with you. There is prey drive but it is tempered with biddability. There is a natural inclination of the dog to check back, to show awareness of you. Steve Hall and I have discussed this in the past. Charlie Ball was of the same opinion. He told me 25 years ago get a friendly pup the breeding will take care of itself. It only took me 20 years to listen Yes, Pepper has it. (and she is certainly no slouch in the field working) The breeding is there. For how it is achieved, as I said I now look for the friendliest pup in the litter. then we should try to apply all the things you mention. You have a great dog in Pepper. I saw that on the weekend. It is the first time I have really stood there and watched what that girl is really about. I think she may be getting a bit overwhelmed in the pack. I know you like the high drive and there is no doubt you have it in the boys. My personal view is. If Pepper was taken to some trials on her own, you would in very short order have a retrieving trial champion. Wayne P.

I am with Erny and Tangwyn on this one. On balance I want the pack driven pup. If you have the right genetics they will come through with all the drive you want. Once you get past a certain drive the rest is wasted. In retrieving trials they give ten points for style eagerness and action after that its just wasted as its not a speed competition and more oppotunity fo rthings to go wrong. Speed is very different to drive. Persistance is different to drive. Slow to learn is different to drive. You need a balance between prey drive and pack drive. I have tried all the puppy testing, had the crazed retriever, (Zephie)now I look for the pup that gets under my feet. If the genetic base is there you will have a hard going pup anyway. country joe.

I went through the keep the pup seperate stage. Now it is a modified version. Pup gets some time with the rest of the mob. Pup gets some time alone. Pup gets some one on one time with me. The pup is not in with the other dogs when I am not around. The pup will be penned next ot the other dogs. The pup gets one on one time with me when first let out of the pen. I have not had any bonding issues. If I did I would modify my methods and increase seperation from the other dogs unitl I was happy with the pups response to me. But I wouldn't start from that position. I would however recommend that people who are just getting their second dog start with keeping the dogs seperate. Country Joe

My old dog Cindy in a retrieving trial. 12 dogs had been up to the pegs before her without any trouble. The run was a double mark. She got the first bird without a problem. I asked her were the second bird was and she indicated she knew where it was. I said fetch and she took of hard left and dove into the bush we passed on the way to the line. Pulled a sausage out of the bush that someone had disgarded at lunchtime, she ate the sausage and then ran out and got the bird as if nothing had happened. :D I think we got third in the end with the judge mentioning that we didn't get higher because our entry included a free lunch. She was a black lab. In another trial She had gone out of sight after a bird. After a couple of minutes scanning the area I saw her in the bushes looking at me for direction and I blew the whistle and gave her a right over. She didn't move, I blew the whistle harder and gave her a bigger over. She didn't move. After four of these I said to the judge I will pull her out as she wasn't listening. He said ok and told me my dog was now 200 yards away and still taking commands as I had been trying to handle a black tree stump. He still laughs about it when we meet. Country Joe.

You can lead a dog or is that a horse to water but you can't well you just can't. We had a good time in S.A. Great people and great trials. Just got to train now and fix the things that didn't work. Ran Leanne's Razz for her and he finished AA on the Saturday (did a good job). On Sunday he decided I wasn't his owner, enough said. Jock got wound up like a spring. Restricted Stake on Saturday he held it together. Sunday I siad fetch and I think he is still running. Whisky well he just was Whisky enough said. Contry Joe.

Well done. Country Joe.

I hope everyone had a great time at the SAR training day. Do we get a rundown on what you all got up too? Country Joe.

A big WELL DONE. Sounds like you had a great time. Give them all a pat from me. Country Joe

They were not on paper although they both came from UK backgrounds. If I get a bitch and use Woody's semen I may get some more non-lickers. To my mind it looks like a genetic, stability or temperament issue. I agree with your line of thought. Does that make me intelligent? From what I can remember When she was young I would get her really tired until she wanted to fall asleep. Then I would get her to lay down beside me. If she licked I would sit her back up. Eventualy wanting to fall asleep would win out. I taught her the leave it command. This was used to good effect when she wanted to start licking. Never cured, but managed. Country joe

We have had a few Flatcoats. I was a licker. The other wasn't We bred and ran on a pup until he was 18 months. He wasn't a licker either. The one that licked was managed. She only licked people not other dogs. country joe

My dogs love me. That's it. end of subject. I can prove it. Every morning after their walk they stare at me with love through the back door. I then feel guilty, no make that love and then go and make them toast because they love me. They love the toast and they love me for making the toast. The whole exercise is full of love. I think my dogs may be using mind control on me. In a loving way. Country Joe.

To tell the truth I tried to win the trial in the first run with Jock. As the judge said at presentations. It didn't come off, but it was worth trying. There was a fair bit of rust on the whistle as I hadn't run a dog for a couple of years in a trial. There were some dog mistakes and some handling errors that we now have to work on. I thought I had better run in one or could start being accused of being an internet dog trainer. To keep things in perspective, it was only a restricted. I was very impressed with Sonic. Ran two dogs in all age on the Saturday and finished the trial with both. country joe