So as not to hijack the "interesting article" thread, here's a new thread.
The question is specific to my dog. I truly am curious how the "purely positive" trainers would have trained him.
Background...golden retriever. Never saw a bumper or bird until he was 3 years old.
At that time, when we began field training, he was already trained/shown at a high level of competitive obedience (UDX). He was trained "mostly positive" for obedience. Never wore a prong collar let alone e-collar, never force fetched, relied on quite a few treats, praise, etc. Very sound on basic (and advanced) obedience commands.
Now we begin field training, and I see a side of my dog that I never knew existed as soon as the birds come out. Remember, he was already 3+ at this time.
When there are live birds around, I might as well not exist. If I try to give him a treat, no matter how "high value" the treat is, I will have to shove it in his mouth to get him to take it, and then he will literally spit it out and remain focused on the birds.
If I attempt to pet/praise him, he will literally shake my hand off his head or body, and remain focused on the birds.
If he flushed a bird, and the shot was missed, he would take off after the bird full speed ahead and, as I said, I might as well not even exist let alone turn him back.
So my question....to the "purely positive" (or maybe even "mostly positive") trainers....how would you train this dog to stop, and come back?
(BIG NOTE---WE HAVE SINCE FIXED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE E-COLLAR and he is steady to wing and shot now...this is a curiosity question, not looking to fix the problem).
The question is specific to my dog. I truly am curious how the "purely positive" trainers would have trained him.
Background...golden retriever. Never saw a bumper or bird until he was 3 years old.
At that time, when we began field training, he was already trained/shown at a high level of competitive obedience (UDX). He was trained "mostly positive" for obedience. Never wore a prong collar let alone e-collar, never force fetched, relied on quite a few treats, praise, etc. Very sound on basic (and advanced) obedience commands.
Now we begin field training, and I see a side of my dog that I never knew existed as soon as the birds come out. Remember, he was already 3+ at this time.
When there are live birds around, I might as well not exist. If I try to give him a treat, no matter how "high value" the treat is, I will have to shove it in his mouth to get him to take it, and then he will literally spit it out and remain focused on the birds.
If I attempt to pet/praise him, he will literally shake my hand off his head or body, and remain focused on the birds.
If he flushed a bird, and the shot was missed, he would take off after the bird full speed ahead and, as I said, I might as well not even exist let alone turn him back.
So my question....to the "purely positive" (or maybe even "mostly positive") trainers....how would you train this dog to stop, and come back?
(BIG NOTE---WE HAVE SINCE FIXED THIS PROBLEM WITH THE E-COLLAR and he is steady to wing and shot now...this is a curiosity question, not looking to fix the problem).