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Thread: Where to start?

  1. #11
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    Many, many people (me included) got started on this journey with Richard Wolters and Water Dog. Since the 70's, however, there has been a massive evolution in retriever training and consequently, parallel evolution in the field sports. Wolters was there at the very beginning of HT's, but I'm not sure he'd recognize the sport now. I still have a copy of the book on my shelf, however.

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  3. #12
    Senior Dog IRISHWISTLER's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TuMicks View Post
    Many, many people (me included) got started on this journey with Richard Wolters and Water Dog. Since the 70's, however, there has been a massive evolution in retriever training and consequently, parallel evolution in the field sports. Wolters was there at the very beginning of HT's, but I'm not sure he'd recognize the sport now. I still have a copy of the book on my shelf, however.
    TuMicks,
    Ye have this correct. I still have me original copy o' Wolters WATER DOG with all kinds o' notations I scribbled on it's pages in the early 80's. Many o' us that have been around these dogs for the larger number o' years o' our lives got some o' our earlier "training" via Dick Wolters. A whole lot has changed since those way more simple times, but not me love for the retrievers.

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  5. #13
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    I live in the DFW area in Texas, and thanks, I'll check that out and see when those trials are.
    Yeah, I had a shock after years of training my yorkie and then getting a german shepherd and learning how to train him, so I definitely understand how different breeds can be very different to train!
    I have already started to go over groundwork as far as leadership stuff with my friend and handed him a few articles and things I have written as well. I know how important that is in dog training and living with a dog.
    Thank you for all the replies!

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  7. #14
    House Broken Jdog's Avatar
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    sounds like you are off to a good start

    I realize very much the evolution since Water Dog, and the other book recommended about the pack. Not knowing where your roots were, I couldn't tell by the original post. My only point was to go back a little old school, and then see how training methods have evolved, and to get your feet wet. Also, to see how the pack mentality was discovered and yes, any evolutions to those theories also. Seems you already have a grasp on your goal, and with a library for refrence.

    I wish you well in your training

  8. #15
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    The "Gold" book called Retriever Training (put out by TriTronics back in the day) was really very good. Dobbs had a lot of input. Honestly that and Evan Graham's books are the tops on my shelf.
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  9. #16
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    God Bless Richard Wolters. His book came out when there wasn't a lot of literature out there for earnest people wanting to train their retrievers. Can you imagine not having DVD's???? As I recall, back when almost everyone was using "Amish training" (non-ecollar) the only other comprehensive book was by James Lamb Free. That's another classic. I think I had both once upon a time.

    Rose County Retriever Club is having their Hunt Test in Bullard, TX on Dec. 9th. That's East TX. Don't know how far a drive that is. You could maybe google their website for details.

  10. #17
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    Looks like Bullard, TX is a little over 2 hrs away from me. I'm sure I could find a closer club, though. I will definitely be buying a few of these books, but until then, does anyone have any websites or articles they recommend as well?

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  11. #18
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tuliprox View Post
    Looks like Bullard, TX is a little over 2 hrs away from me. I'm sure I could find a closer club, though. I will definitely be buying a few of these books, but until then, does anyone have any websites or articles they recommend as well?

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    TuMicks and I are both on the RTF: RTF - Retriever Training Forum . It's not as active as it used to be but I bet you'll find a lot of good info.
    It's pretty much a fact of life that I have to drive 2+ hrs for hunt tests so dont be too surprised!
    There are lots of great youtube videos out there--- TuMicks probably has some links of interest w/ Hillman, etc.
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  12. #19
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    Ahh alright. We'll see how much my friend works toward this goal before I make that drive. I'll drive that far for a Schutzhund trial, but I'm only doing this because my friend wants to teach his dog this. If he does work with the puppy at home and really try to work toward this goal, then I'll probably drive out there in December

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  13. #20
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    I am not sure how you use the e-collar in Schutzhund or if you use it at all. There is a school of thought (Hillmann's methods) that use a very low buzz (low 2 on a Tritronix/Garmin) and use it to reinforce the RIGHT behavior thus conditioning the dog. The other school is to use a higher level to punish a dog for giving in to behavior that he knows is incorrect. (Thus, being fair to the dog requires a lot of skill since you really have to be sure you know the dog's mind.) This would typically be what we would refer to as the Lardy method (though actually it goes back to the father of the e-collar and training wizard Rex Carr. Many outstanding pros use variations of this method. Lardy, Graham, Farmer, Dobbs, etc.

    I think Hillmann's method makes most sense to me and is a bit more idiot proof. Hard to screw your dog up with a low buzz. Plus I'm seeing good results.

    You can get a flavor of what Hillmann is all about by going to his youtube channel

    https://www.youtube.com/user/hawkeyemedianet

    (PS: If ONLY there were HT's within 2 hours of me. Hell! I drive that far to just train my retriever on water most of the summer.)

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