Handling Confusion - anyone do obedience AND field work?

[TuMicks]

Labradorks... how is his sit whistle coming? Are you using the trill or multi-tweet for come-in?

I agree with Dobbs mostly. These dogs are smart. If you keep it fun, they're going to play the game and enjoy getting it right.

I might have to defer to Anna... for us, a straight up back is usually verbal (some variance with water... but not germane to this discussion). If I want RD to dig back, I try to push her back with a percussive "BACK". That would be different from the Ob ring, right? Aren't the signals in the ring silent? (Shows you how ignorant I am.)

That Dobbs thing about the hands in the center of your chest is absolutely dead on. Too much extraneous movement and you get flash-casts.

I honestly think this is one of the funnest part of moving up into Senior.

[Labradorks]

Labradorks... how is his sit whistle coming? Are you using the trill or multi-tweet for come-in?

I agree with Dobbs mostly. These dogs are smart. If you keep it fun, they're going to play the game and enjoy getting it right.

I might have to defer to Anna... for us, a straight up back is usually verbal (some variance with water... but not germane to this discussion). If I want RD to dig back, I try to push her back with a percussive "BACK". That would be different from the Ob ring, right? Aren't the signals in the ring silent? (Shows you how ignorant I am.)

That Dobbs thing about the hands in the center of your chest is absolutely dead on. Too much extraneous movement and you get flash-casts.

I honestly think this is one of the funnest part of moving up into Senior.

Whistle sit is pretty good. I'm using the multi-tweet for the recall. One long trill for sit.

In a trial, for signals you only use the signal, no verbal. For drop on recall you can use verbal OR signal, not both. Though you fade the verbal, you might use it in training, if for example something is "broken", you find a hole in your training or the dog needs extra support, say in a really distracting or stressful training environment or during proofing. You may not ever actually retire the verbal, just bring it back for training when needed. Again, depends on the situation, trainer, dog, etc.

I did the signals with my obedience trainer in front of the mirrors tonight and I think I can make them different enough and just do baby dog foundation training with casting to start, to give him a solid foundation. I'll add verbals back to obedience, too, for the extra help during the transition. I think he'll be OK.