British Labs/No force
After more than 30 pages on this thread it would appear that like most things when you get a topic that is either based on supposition or another’s opinion you will get controversy ,such is a forum.
I took an early interest in this thread for obvious reasons , being as I from Scotland. At the time of my insertion to the thread it was clear that the perception from many that ‘No-force’ related to either clicker’ or positive only training, and that a ‘few’ in the same camp swamped us with testimonials and accolades.
I therefore ‘tried’ to introduce a bit of ‘British humour’ with pictures and light hearted response.
Which,In my opinion resulted in the same response you get from UK Gundog forums ?..We ain’t all that different after all!
I come on this forum to learn from what you guy’s are doing with your dogs. It has already been mentioned that there are two sets of rules which guide us apart, yet we achieve the same goals, whether they are in competition trials and tests, or just hunting/shooting!
You guy’s are actually pretty lucky! We aren’t allowed to use e-collar, or FF, or caged birds or many of the other tools available to you!? , we have to work with what we’ve got ! under the law and rules before us, for that we rely heavily on the decades of selective breeding for the traits that are best shown for the purpose we strive for, the most important being that of game finding! and line manners , No matter what theatre of gundog work you enter.
Let me give a few facts about how we train and the type of trainer in the UK, that I can truly state regarding the original post of Brit Labs/No force.
99% Of all UK Professional handler/trainers do not use ‘clicker’ training
There has never been a FTCH in the UK that has been trained with ‘positive only’ training.
There has also never been a FTCH in the UK that has been collar conditioned and FF used as a programme for retrieving.
So that said?, if the UK /Brit Labs don’t use e-collar or FF ,and also don’t use positive only or clicker?
Then how the heck , do we get these dogs to do what they do.
My post/reply is not to promote or advocate what we do ,or condemn what others on your side of the pond do!..Merely to point out the differences that we all work with, and why the same differences in each camp ,whether positive only or CC, or using a Ken Dodd Tickly stick? (Many of you won’t know what that is, but you can Google it)
I know it’s a long post, for many to read!..I make no apologies, it was necessary to explain what I have read and interpreted on the forum from ‘all you guy’s’!
Therefore, if you are not interested in some of the things we do in our shooting field without the use of everything You guy’s have at your disposal then you not need see the following home made clips.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQfo5ZdSCcE
This is not a test or a trial,but it could be?,because they are asked on a daily shoot to perform the same. And more often with other dogs at their side.
Over here, on a Shoot day, whether walking up in a line, or driven game there primary function is to retrieve wounded game ‘first’!..to the exclusion of all else.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VanUIPniNhc
Now there were more than 50 birds shot in that sequence ,with more than 100 shots fired!
Multiple marking?>
In our game the dog must remain steady with no collar and no noise, and honour others around it, with the same determination as one who wants to retrieve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WMaztF2gaU
The dog must also be soft of mouth! and take direction on Blinds , with control and direction in the field full of scent and distraction.
This last clip was more ‘proving a point for many on this side of the pond,on my part ‘, but you get the idea?..so sorry for the comments!
In all cases the dogs are non slip!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPvUQVgzTSE
Let me confirm, that none of these clips are intended as a promotion to field trailing in the UK! More to show what the dogs in the UK have to do! Whether they trial or not.
I do hope ,that the next posts on here regarding British Labs, and the next post I see in the UK regarding US retrieving is perhaps seen in a different light?
I wish you all a very Happy new year.
