[caglatz]

Hello everyone - I have a question for the more experienced than I out there who have FF their dogs. Currently I am following Evan Graham's SmartFetch work and we have successfully made it through ear pinch Walking Fetch. The dog has already been collar conditioned to HERE. However, when I spent my last session CC'ing to FETCH I've noticed the dog "bugging" more than usual and making a hesitant FETCH at the bumper. Is this normal or does the dog just not understand the process of turning off the electrcal stimulation? I have a hunch that my problem might be the e-collar (TT Pro 200 EXP) that I'm using. I only have 3 settings of continuous that I've been able to use. The dog is a "2" - but on this collar there is no low, med, high for each continuous level- Rather its 1-contnuous, 2-continuous, etc. I am a little concerned at this "hesitant" behavior, but the material that I'm using says it should only take a session or so. Should I continued on to WALKING FETCH (w/ collar) and then to FETCH-no-FETCH, or would you reinforce with another session of CC to FETCH? Prior to CC to FETCH, the dog had tons of drive for FETCHING the bumper with ear pinch. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Tall Gunner]

STOP.........if your dog is only CC to here, STOP.

Go back and read Evan's steps........you will do a full CC after the pile work. You don't CC to fetch until after the pile work and CC is complete.

Your dog is very confused, and he should be.

 

[caglatz]

Shame on me and thanks for the advice. I will go back and reread the material and video. Somewhere along the way I got confused to the steps thinking that after ear pinch walking fetch and prior to fetch-no-fetch was where I would take one session of CC to Fetch (prior to Force to Minipile or FTP) -- Maybe I misunderstood his "flow chart". http://www.rushcreekpress.com/page3flowchart.html In any event, I will go back and reread/review. Thanks for the smack in the face because I need that if I'm ever in jeopardy of doing something incorrectly while training my lab. Regards.

 

[Tall Gunner]

What you may have confused is that you can go ahead and CC to Fetch, IF and only IF your dog was completely CC'd before you started FF. I sure Evan will jump in.......

 

[Evan]

Shame on me and thanks for the advice. I will go back and reread the material and video. Somewhere along the way I got confused to the steps thinking that after ear pinch walking fetch and prior to fetch-no-fetch was where I would take one session of CC to Fetch (prior to Force to Minipile or FTP)

That is confusing! There is no portion of the process that requires only one session.

I don't think your timing is all that critical, as long as the prior work on ear pinch was thorough. You mentioned you have the video (DVD). Plug in disc #2, and click on chapter 2; "E-collar condition to fetch". You'll find the timing of CC-to-fetch different than in the text. That's because I was able to show the process in live action on DVD. I felt I had to rely too much on reader's interpretation in text, so I gave the reader more time with other corporal steps to prepare for CC.

Pay particular attention to the dialogue, as well as the technique on the DVD. It would be difficult to imagine getting this done in a single session unless you're very experienced. Even then significant follow up would be needed to solidify it.

Evan

 

[Tall Gunner]

Now I'm confused Evan. CC a dog to fetch that has not been CC'd except to here?

Isn't that sending mixed signals? Confusion?

I would assume the dog would be very confused to the collar since all he has been taught prior is CC to here. Now you are telling him to fetch with collar pressure when it doesn't understand it? Your saying fetch, nicking, and the dog would want to come to you, wouldn't it? Because all you have previously taught him is to get his butt quickly to you when you say here. I guess you have to be really careful with the collar pressure here, and make dang sure you dog understands what you are asking him to do.

I'm not questioning your system, but I surely don't understand this one?

Please explain.

 

[George C. Tull]

caglatz, if you done it wrong then, I did too :? . That's the way I saw it on the dvd also.
I noticed mine 'bugging' a little also. It didn't take but a few sessions for her to figure it out though. I had to back it up with the ear pinch a couple of times to start with. She picked it up pretty quickly.