Have you done swim-by?

 

He has been with a different trainer for the last month to freshen him up and work iwth him on this. He said that he can do the swim-by drill, but then when its a "cold blind" I guess, he won't take the back command. He will on land, but not with the water. That's why I was looking for some other drills, etc. Trainer said he could keep trying to work through this but hasn't got experience with a dog that does the drill and freezes up. Would like to try to work through this myself now I guess.

 

If the dog has been through water force you could force him back. Keep in mind to be very careful with the use of force. It is a blind though and if he is rufusing casts collar corrections are warranted.

 

Well, I'm sorry to say this but this is a huge problem. Obviously, the dog is not properly FF/CC or else that would be the simple solution. You could go all the way back and start over, but that seems stupid with a 4 yo dog. You are going to have to coax him to go into the water and hope he "gets it." I would start by having a friendly assistant across the water where the blind is and, as you send him, have the friend call him excitedly. Hopefully, in he goes. Then, gradually, you can give less and less help. Good luck.

 

If swim-by has been reviewed along with water force,,, I would move to a tune-up drill. I would make it slightly more complicated than a standard tune-up. There's all sorts of versions. Once that is done and your trainer or you are sure he understands that he must enter the water on a directed retrieve I would probably force the subject. Sometimes dogs do need to be forced to use their training. Back means back, no matter what. Keep that part simple. They have to use skills that have been taught to them on the next concept their learning. It possibly sounds like he understands the parts just isn't transferring them.

FWIW

Angie

 

Sounds like a water force situation to me if he's been FF'd and CC. If this is the case, there's no reason to me why you couldn't get this dog to take water with correct and proper forcing. $.02.

 

I'm going to go back through swim-by and use less pressure on the collar and more praise. I think part of it might be an ego thing. Yesterday he ran test dog in senior land and had to be handled a little on the second mark. Then on the blind, he no goed the first back. Then the handler praised him a little and he worked beautifully. I think maybe my expectations have been a bit much and I probably got a little trigger happy with the e collar.

 

Try placing a small white flag by the blind so he can see it about 40 yards out. Make it easy so he will succeed at it, while increasing the distance. Each time he does well increase the distance and praise the heck out of him. Once he gets confidante with the flags or white bumpers out there. Start making easy 40 yard blind that he can see with no white flag or just gray Dokkens. Build up his confidance while making just a little harder each time. That is what I did and it work well for me. Good luck

 

Thanks Saabisil. I was thinking of that but had not mentioned or thought of using the flags or visible "mark" . Great website by the way.

 

Thanks Saabisil. I was thinking of that but had not mentioned or thought of using the flags or visible "mark" . Great website by the way.

I thought you already stated that if he knows his destination he goes just fine? How would marking the destination point help you? Since we already know he'll run to something if he can see it?

Angie

 

I feel his real trouble is a confidence issue and that since I am learning to train and he has had some professional training....in some ways, he is ahead of me. I need to back up the trianing and start over with some basic building blocks for a couple of reasons....so that I'm sure he knows what I expect-to build his confidence....to build my confidence so that I am sure of what I'm doing, etc. Then as time progresses he will hopefully trust me and go when I say back, no matter what-so that he won't think about whether or not to go.....does that make sense?

 

I feel his real trouble is a confidence issue and that since I am learning to train and he has had some professional training....in some ways, he is ahead of me. I need to back up the trianing and start over with some basic building blocks for a couple of reasons....so that I'm sure he knows what I expect-to build his confidence....to build my confidence so that I am sure of what I'm doing, etc. Then as time progresses he will hopefully trust me and go when I say back, no matter what-so that he won't think about whether or not to go.....does that make sense?

Yes it does..... Is there someone in your area that can help you get through the process?

Angie

 

I have quite a few contacts but my work schedule usually doesn't lend itself for working with the trainers, etc. I usually train by myself. Most of what I've learned is from the internet or books, and its usually not quite as easy when going through the steps for real.....