[7pntail]

This is a Hobo update. For those of you that don't know, I acquired a Pit back in November. Sweetheart. No mean bones (except he does not like Chessies), a lover that changed my mind about the breed. After some great advice from Chris, I worked on basic OB and other suggestions. He has turned out to be a great pet. Not that I need another one though;-)

So, decided to FF. Why not? Or a better better question: why FF a dog you will never take in the swamp?




What I have found from from FF PROCESS, is a bond that sharpens OB, and gives the dawg a clear set of expectations that transcend basic training regardless of your goal to have them retrieve. I have seen that in my hunting dogs, and I can't quite define it, but there is no question that communication improves.

So, why FF Hobo? I believe when the UPS man shows up in the driveway, it is all about training----even though a tail is wagging-- I do think ff helps, could be wrong.

He is a pit bull, and my neighbor, has already given me ultimatums. My labs have been frisking the country hood for about for 15 years. Pit Bull, no frisking --bad rap, and I get it.

Picture on the "bench" is session number five.

Thoughts? Wasting my time? I will say, he has been the easiest to FF so far. That will probably all change with more pressure and walking fetch.

Thanks all, John

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

.......

Thoughts? Wasting my time? I will say, he has been the easiest to FF so far. That will probably all change with more pressure and walking fetch.

Thanks all, John

never wasting time if your working with a dog and you are both learning.
and the more dogs under your belt, the more things you see and know how to deal with. I say good job! Is he still leaping the fence?


.

 

[Dman]

I agree with Ken. Keep up the good work.

 

[2tall]

Is there ever a down side to training a dog to understand your word is law?

 

[Dale]

Well let me see? Part of FF is give/drop and another part is hold not bite. So therefor I don't see a problem here. I have a neighbor with a pit. Had incident a few years back. Summer time he had the dog on lead walking past my house, I walked up to him and he rolled over on his back and did everything except urinate himself. A few months later helping with a big snow fall in his driveway dog running loose with the young boys, dog came over and I petted him on the head he was fine. When I slid my hand down and touched his side he growled. OK didn't want me touching him there and only the dog knows why. Me being the dummy I am did it a second time to because it seemed a strange behavior for this dog. Yep you guessed it he put the clamp on me. However I wish my labs had that soft a touch. You knew by the way he held my arm he could crush it, but you knew by his light grip and his eyes he didn't want too. Sort of I told you once I am telling you again don't touch my there. He let go I petted him on the head and he was fine.

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

Is there ever a down side to training a dog to understand your word is law?

never,
and let me tell ya team
Carol knows of what she speaks



.

 

[7pntail]

never wasting time if your working with a dog and you are both learning.
and the more dogs under your belt, the more things you see and know how to deal with. I say good job! Is he still leaping the fence?


.

Fence days are over. Conditioning nicks with regular collar, and per suggestion, a perimeter wire have kept the Hobo in the yard. Lot of effort, and I do feel guilty---could be working on lot's of things with the meat dog. Only so much time in the day. But, If I am going to have a pit--I will put my by best foot forward.

Thanks Ken!

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

... Lot of effort, and I do feel guilty---could be working on lot's of things with the meat dog.....

change your mind set
you could look at it as getting Hobo set to be your set up dog for your land series training. To HELP train your meat dogs. Since I started using psyco, rescue, Scooby Do as my set up hound I have noted a marked decrese in my "Do-overs" after first dog runs. Every training group needs a set up dog. Hobo don't know he ain't a retriever. Teach him, love him, USE him. And he will love having a job to do.


.

 

[jmonte35]

Yes!! There is a guy that hunts the same area as me at my local refuge. He uses a coffin blind. He has his pitbull drag the blind out and he does a fantastic job retrieving. Pits can be trained just like any dog. They love pulling too which is a big bonus. That dog loves pulling that coffin blind. He has a harness and everything. It's really fun to watch.

The great thing is he can hunt him year round here in California. The weather never gets real cold so as long as he has a vest on and keeps him out of water he does good.

If you live in a cold area you'll want to be extra careful with pits and dropping temperatures. That would be my only concern.

 

[BonMallari]

Here's an idea......get your new training partner to FF Hobo...I am sure the RTF would have major betting on both sides of the outcome

 

[mostlygold]

I PM'd you a ways back about my first pit bull. At age 6 I decided to do competitive obedience with him and did the FF to insure a good working retrieve in the ring. He was a serious retriever, got his CD, CDX with Dog World Awards and 2 legs of his UD before he become ill with hemangiosarcoma. He also ran on a Scent Hurdle team with 2 Dobies and a Dane and we were State Champions one year. My current pit bull loves to retrieve and is my set up dog when I go out to train. I'm certain Hobo loves the attention and the training is never a waste of time.

Dawn

 

[Jennifer Henion]

John, sounds like you may be qualified to make an instructional DVD for other pit bull owners! Keep up the good work.

 

[Chris Atkinson]

John, sounds like you may be qualified to make an instructional DVD for other pit bull owners! Keep up the good work.

Heck yeah, I might buy one!

I'm on the fence about force breaking one of my pits. She loves to retrieve but her delivery is not too solid. She's already cc'd and her obedience is decent.

 

[7pntail]

Here's an idea......get your new training partner to FF Hobo...I am sure the RTF would have major betting on both sides of the outcome

That is very funny! Even I ain't that dumb. When I bet, I do like a sure thing though. I will take the first bet--no collusion here....

 

[7pntail]

I PM'd you a ways back about my first pit bull. At age 6 I decided to do competitive obedience with him and did the FF to insure a good working retrieve in the ring. He was a serious retriever, got his CD, CDX with Dog World Awards and 2 legs of his UD before he become ill with hemangiosarcoma. He also ran on a Scent Hurdle team with 2 Dobies and a Dane and we were State Champions one year. My current pit bull loves to retrieve and is my set up dog when I go out to train. I'm certain Hobo loves the attention and the training is never a waste of time.

Dawn

Dawn, Chris, Ken and others thank you for the positive energy. Perhaps, you could talk to my neighbor for me.

 

[Andy Carlson]

Good deal!! I think that is a great idea to FF and use Hobo as a set up dog - a busy dog is a happy dog.