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May 28, 2009
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Ever have one of those days? One of those days when you get the boss to let you knock off a little early. You rush home, grab the pooch, throw her in the truck and make a beeline for your favorite training spot. So what if you hit a little traffic. You’re out of work, it’s a beautiful afternoon, and you have a pup in the back of the Jeep.
Speaking of the pup, she seems ready to roll and been doing just fine on her retrieves. In fact, you think, what took me so long to get another dog? Hell, your mind wanders to the dove shoots you’ll both be hunting in the fall.
On the first toss your pup runs full speed to the dummy, picks it up, starts running back for you, then drops it in favor of a clump of marsh grass that she attacks as if it were a peanut butter and bologna burger. No problem, you get her attention again and toss another dummy. This time it’s worse. She makes it half way there and turns her attention back to that marsh grass clump. Okay, you know what to do. A short toss. A real short toss away from the distraction. She heads for it with the speed of a turtle with diaper rash, loafs back, and then trots off in search of better action before you correct her with the check cord.
Today you’re beaten. And you know it. No need to spend any more time creating bad habits. You pile back in the truck, which is still cool from air conditioning that had been blowing when you got out just a few minutes earlier. And before you know it, you’re back in traffic.
You ever have one of those days? I just did.
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Comments (13)
I'm sure we all do. If only the pooch could tell us..."okay bro, I'm ready to go out and do some great training!!" To borrow a line from an old fishing bumper sticker.....a bad day in the field with your dog beats the hell out of a good day at work!! Stay the course.
Glad to hear it's not just me. Toby and I had a day just like that last Friday, except you forgot to mention the ticks he brought home to show my wife!
I have a pup myself, I have consulted many people with training process, I have had these day but never NEVER end on a bad note go back to basic obedience and when they do a simple sit stay and come praise the dog and love on it. This leaves the dog on a good training note and makes it feel successful and be in a good mood and never get mad or frustrated.
One thing I would recommend is wait for the retrieves and get fetch, hold and drop down to a science. I used a piece of 1/2" pvc pipe (Put t's on each end and turn them so Pritch can get her mouth under it) when Abigail was really young, then went to paint rollers and other small things before actual dummies. Get her comfortable walking around, sitting, laying down healing etc. while holding something before expecting her to bring it back. Again, my boykin can be rather stubborn and it seems when she has something in her mouth it acts as a stubborn multiplier.
I don't allow those days to occur,for there isn't any profit in it for hound or master.
My pup likes to train, but when his attention span begins to wane and decrease in intensity, I allow him to dictate what comes next.
Training?
Yes it's part of the reason I have the pup, but relationship with Pup is far greater than going through the motion of training. I let him explore the woods,creeks and even the turtles that slowly roam the forest floor.
This is where I become an observer and watch what makes my pup tick.One of my greatest loves in owning Pup,(sometimes I think he owns me)is the exploring and discovery we both find, just being together.
The next time out, he appears more eager to train/study and go exploring. His response becomes greater, making my job easier and less frustrating.
After we begin the discovery and exploring phase, I look for ways to incorporate the lesson we just learned/practiced. Inevitably,the lesson of the past becomes quickened into Pup's daily grind!
Where else does one become educated in unconditional love?
Yep, dogs can have their own career paths chosen sometimes.
if anybody who's training or has trained a dog tells you this hasn't happened to them, they are FULL. OF. IT. so welcome to the not-so-exclusive club.i know you know this but, yeah, just like us they all have their days. although (at least in my mind) i'm generally productive at work, some days i may as well not show up. no matter how much i like my job, i just can't get motivated. same goes with pritch. my bet is next time you get her in the field, she'll be back to her old self. keep the faith. she's going to be a damn fine hunting partner.
I thought it was just my dog. She'll have days where she's all gung ho and could retrieve all day then there's days like this where she'll just run to it sniff then walk away.
Sounds a little unproductive... I am not dog whisperer or trainer or anything but wouldn't you correct something like that that way they learn. Letting your dog do such things is what creates the bad habit. Showing the dog that you are not going to give up, persistance seems to be the best method when training some of my friend's dogs. Persistance pays off.
FloridaHunter1226, What I've been told by some pros is at this stage of the pup's training you have to keep things fun and make sure she's successful. Forcing her to retrieve when she's clearly not zoned in on the game will only make her less likely to learn to love it. After realizing she wasn't focussed, I stopped the session short to prevent bad habits, especially since we had been making some vast strides leading up to this day. Could i have done some things differently to make the session more constructive? Probably. But I'm happy to report that we're back on track now.
J.Jones was spot on about ending on a positive note and showing them some love. Obviously, the process will change a bit when she's older but for now the key words are "fun" and "success."
BigBlue0827, Appreciate the tips. Some good stuff there. -D
Have been following this new blog, just registered today. I am getting my first gun dog(Brewer) in one month and can hardly wait. My wife and I decided to get a German Shorthair. We have waited and searched, and waited some more for the timing to be right. It finally is and I have never been more excited. This blog has been a great source of information as well. Just wanted to make my self known on here. look forward to keeping up with the Pritchster.
My brit was a great grouse dog and as good of a companion as anyone could ever ask for(even when he locked me out of the truck)but there were days that he simply wasn't on the same page as me. All I could do was head back home and prepare his favorite meal and wait until the next day.I sure miss him.
trying to catch up on Pritchard's training.. just picked up F&S and saw it had a pic of a Boykin.. I am all in now. I watched the early trainin videos of Pritch and reminded me of my Boykin( Mic) who is now 3.. in his early sessions.. My Boykin is all world to me in the Duck hunting fields.. Of course i am biased and trained him myself. I wish i would have done a few things different of deliver to hand. He does everthing perfect, but drops dummy or bird at my feet. is this bad or could he still be taught to deliver to hand.. I force broke my lab, but found out that Spaniels will have no part of ear pinchin. He was like try to handle a mad cat.
Maybe my question will be answered when Pritch gets to this part? Looking foward to all comments on Pritch and will be getting F@S now !!
Post a Comment
I'm sure we all do. If only the pooch could tell us..."okay bro, I'm ready to go out and do some great training!!" To borrow a line from an old fishing bumper sticker.....a bad day in the field with your dog beats the hell out of a good day at work!! Stay the course.
I have a pup myself, I have consulted many people with training process, I have had these day but never NEVER end on a bad note go back to basic obedience and when they do a simple sit stay and come praise the dog and love on it. This leaves the dog on a good training note and makes it feel successful and be in a good mood and never get mad or frustrated.
I don't allow those days to occur,for there isn't any profit in it for hound or master.
My pup likes to train, but when his attention span begins to wane and decrease in intensity, I allow him to dictate what comes next.
Training?
Yes it's part of the reason I have the pup, but relationship with Pup is far greater than going through the motion of training. I let him explore the woods,creeks and even the turtles that slowly roam the forest floor.
This is where I become an observer and watch what makes my pup tick.One of my greatest loves in owning Pup,(sometimes I think he owns me)is the exploring and discovery we both find, just being together.
The next time out, he appears more eager to train/study and go exploring. His response becomes greater, making my job easier and less frustrating.
After we begin the discovery and exploring phase, I look for ways to incorporate the lesson we just learned/practiced. Inevitably,the lesson of the past becomes quickened into Pup's daily grind!
Where else does one become educated in unconditional love?
if anybody who's training or has trained a dog tells you this hasn't happened to them, they are FULL. OF. IT. so welcome to the not-so-exclusive club.i know you know this but, yeah, just like us they all have their days. although (at least in my mind) i'm generally productive at work, some days i may as well not show up. no matter how much i like my job, i just can't get motivated. same goes with pritch. my bet is next time you get her in the field, she'll be back to her old self. keep the faith. she's going to be a damn fine hunting partner.
FloridaHunter1226, What I've been told by some pros is at this stage of the pup's training you have to keep things fun and make sure she's successful. Forcing her to retrieve when she's clearly not zoned in on the game will only make her less likely to learn to love it. After realizing she wasn't focussed, I stopped the session short to prevent bad habits, especially since we had been making some vast strides leading up to this day. Could i have done some things differently to make the session more constructive? Probably. But I'm happy to report that we're back on track now.
J.Jones was spot on about ending on a positive note and showing them some love. Obviously, the process will change a bit when she's older but for now the key words are "fun" and "success."
BigBlue0827, Appreciate the tips. Some good stuff there. -D
Glad to hear it's not just me. Toby and I had a day just like that last Friday, except you forgot to mention the ticks he brought home to show my wife!
One thing I would recommend is wait for the retrieves and get fetch, hold and drop down to a science. I used a piece of 1/2" pvc pipe (Put t's on each end and turn them so Pritch can get her mouth under it) when Abigail was really young, then went to paint rollers and other small things before actual dummies. Get her comfortable walking around, sitting, laying down healing etc. while holding something before expecting her to bring it back. Again, my boykin can be rather stubborn and it seems when she has something in her mouth it acts as a stubborn multiplier.
Yep, dogs can have their own career paths chosen sometimes.
I thought it was just my dog. She'll have days where she's all gung ho and could retrieve all day then there's days like this where she'll just run to it sniff then walk away.
Sounds a little unproductive... I am not dog whisperer or trainer or anything but wouldn't you correct something like that that way they learn. Letting your dog do such things is what creates the bad habit. Showing the dog that you are not going to give up, persistance seems to be the best method when training some of my friend's dogs. Persistance pays off.
Have been following this new blog, just registered today. I am getting my first gun dog(Brewer) in one month and can hardly wait. My wife and I decided to get a German Shorthair. We have waited and searched, and waited some more for the timing to be right. It finally is and I have never been more excited. This blog has been a great source of information as well. Just wanted to make my self known on here. look forward to keeping up with the Pritchster.
My brit was a great grouse dog and as good of a companion as anyone could ever ask for(even when he locked me out of the truck)but there were days that he simply wasn't on the same page as me. All I could do was head back home and prepare his favorite meal and wait until the next day.I sure miss him.
trying to catch up on Pritchard's training.. just picked up F&S and saw it had a pic of a Boykin.. I am all in now. I watched the early trainin videos of Pritch and reminded me of my Boykin( Mic) who is now 3.. in his early sessions.. My Boykin is all world to me in the Duck hunting fields.. Of course i am biased and trained him myself. I wish i would have done a few things different of deliver to hand. He does everthing perfect, but drops dummy or bird at my feet. is this bad or could he still be taught to deliver to hand.. I force broke my lab, but found out that Spaniels will have no part of ear pinchin. He was like try to handle a mad cat.
Maybe my question will be answered when Pritch gets to this part? Looking foward to all comments on Pritch and will be getting F@S now !!
Post a Comment