barry581 (11-29-2017)
Aye Mates,
Around November 9th I posted that ALLIE MAE was to begin HOLD conditioning, that having progressed very nicely to this point. ALLIE just reached the 7 month mark and we are most happy with the overall development of this TRAD X MAGGIE puppy. She has been doing very nice single marked retrieves (with marls being thrown from remote locations). ALLIE has demonstrated good marking abilities and we will continue drills to promote those abilities once we have concluded the upcoming process of FORCE FETCH conditioning. Though currently solid in her stationary and walking HOLD, I look to commence FF conditioning with her on 12/1/17. Given her approach and adaptation to all of the skills development exercises she has undergone to date, I am anticipating her doing the same with FORCE FETCH conditioning. ALLIE should be in a really good position to move onward to intensive gun dog training in the spring and we will go to work in focusing on remotely thrown single marks on both land and water and the development of skills relative to multiple marks. ALLIE will also be introduced to live flyers launched from wingers. Given her love for clipped wing live birds from very early on, ALLIE MAE should be a most enthusiastic trainee in regards to live flyers. 👍
I'll post on ALLIE MAE's progress as we move through the FORCE FETCH conditioning process and again later as we move onward to her further development as a gun dog.
Cheers,
THE DOG WHISTLER🍀
ALLIE MAE - Gun Dog In Training.
TEAM TRAD PRO STAFF
DUBLIN DUCK DYNASTY
Joanie Madden, Mary Bergin, Adrea Coor, and Nuala Kennedy, each an Irish whistle goddess in her own right.
barry581 (11-29-2017)
Looking forward to hearing about her progress!
IRISHWISTLER (11-29-2017)
Aye Mates,
So we have started ALLIE MAE on FORCE FETCH conditioning. Our start on this process was a few days delayed due to a trip I made to Maine to hunt birds and having just returned earlier this week. We are now two days into the process and ALLIE MAE might likely be the least troublesome pup I have yet encountered in this regard. I am using the ear pinch method and had ALLIE actively reaching for and HOLDING the bumper on the FETCH command at the end of the first session (about 10 minutes) on the table. NOTE; Not once did ALLIE vocalize, nor did she wince due to excessive pressure applied. Lots of praise at the end of the first session.
Today was the second session and as I called ALLIE over to the table with the in tent of lifting her up and on to it, ALLIE willingly jumped up on to the table with a "LET'S GITTER DONE" attitude that assured me that she was ready to get to the task at hand. Another session of approximately 10 minutes in duration with multiple exchanges of FETCH - HOLD - GIVE. ALLIE was eager and accurate in this chain of desired behaviors and demonstrating a great reach for the items ordered FETCHED (these included a paint roller, a training buck, and a small DOKKEN training bird. I have already started ALLIE moving up and down the table in small increments as she reaches for the item ordered FETCHED.
ALLIE is demonstrating a solid hold with no excessive mouthing, no hard mouth issues, and a retention of the item until issuance of the GIVE command which results in her softly presenting to hand.
So, pinch me ear I think I am dreaming as this Lass has been much more easy in this process than I could possibly have hoped for. I fully realize that things can potentially take a hard turn and that we are just two days into the process. Me experience has been that those dogs most resistant to the process are quite expressive of those reservations right out of the gate.
I am convinced that the time I spend getting any pup trainee comfortable on the table long before starting the HOLD and FORCE FETCH conditioning processes is critical in the development of self confidence and trust that make the process much less stressful on both the K9 and the trainer.
ALLIE is now tipping the scale at 55 lbs. of lean, mean, retrieving machine.👍
Cheers,
Irishwhistler 🍀
TEAM TRAD PRO STAFF
DUBLIN DUCK DYNASTY
Joanie Madden, Mary Bergin, Adrea Coor, and Nuala Kennedy, each an Irish whistle goddess in her own right.
barry581 (12-07-2017)
Seems she is rolling with the flow!
IRISHWISTLER (12-08-2017)
oh how i wish you lived closer!!!! Trigger has at least the concept of FETCH and HOLD, but we need to improve those skills. in field work, he is sometimes dropping the bird/bumper/dokken short of me and commencing to either sniff the ground, or to swing into HEEL position wanting another retrieve. I give the command FETCH, and he is getting much better at going to what he'd dropped, picking it up, whereupon i give the command HOLD then HERE. My training group is understanding of taking the time to get it right, and not rushing us to move on, so i can consistently insist/reinforce his FETCH before we move on.
someone suggested as he is getting close on his return to start telling him HOLD HOLD HOLD while giving the handsignal to the heel position, or alternating HOLD and HERE.
Allie Mae sounds like such a happy, willing girl!
Hidden Content Hidden Content
Scout CD RAE6 WC March 6, 2007; Tullemore Browning Superposed PCD RN RI "Trigger" Nov 11, 2016
Missing:
Castelleja's Dual Mags "Mags" March 1993 - March 2008
"Pocco" the chocolate wonder August 1993 - December 2007
IRISHWISTLER (12-08-2017)
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