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Thread: MAC On Return

  1. #1
    Senior Dog IRISHWISTLER's Avatar
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    MAC On Return

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    Posted 15 hours ago


    Aye Mates,

    I captured this image o' me 10 month old gun dog trainee MAC during a training session I held yesterday afternoon. MAC had been sent on retrieve across land, into the water, up onto land and had to take the same course back on returning with the training bird. The water here in New England is very cold this time o' year, but MAC was not deterred by that. As ye can see, MAC had a very dynamic re-entry into the water on his way back to me with the bird. MAC is coming along very nicely and I will start campaigning him in AKC and HRC licensed hunt tests in the spring o' this year.

    I am obsessive with keeping the retrievers I work with highly motivated. As ye can see here, no lack o' motivation to be seen in young MAC.👍

    MAC has been conditioned to come to me left side and to sit at heel before presenting the bird into my hand in classic style.

    Cheers,
    THE DOG WHISTLER 🍀🇮🇪🇺🇸

    MAC ON RETURN
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  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to IRISHWISTLER For This Useful Post:

    barry581 (01-07-2019), lovemylabby (01-07-2019), POPTOP (01-08-2019), SunDance (01-07-2019)

  3. #2
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    Good job MAC!

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    IRISHWISTLER (01-07-2019)

  5. #3
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Question: At any point in the training you do with your dogs (and others' dogs) do you use food as a reward for correct performance? I'm thinking at some point you definitely do not, but you mentioned a 3 month old pup that you are working with and I'm just wondering. With much of obedience or other sport/performance work and conformation, I get the impression that treats are pretty commonly used to mark proper behavior, or some people use clickers for training but I think that even that is initially linked to treats. Are "huntin' dawgs" trained with treats at any point in their training? And I use that term fondly, I don't envision your dogs as good ol' boys' huntin' dawgs but rather retrieving machines.

  6. #4
    Senior Dog IRISHWISTLER's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smartrock View Post
    Question: At any point in the training you do with your dogs (and others' dogs) do you use food as a reward for correct performance? I'm thinking at some point you definitely do not, but you mentioned a 3 month old pup that you are working with and I'm just wondering. With much of obedience or other sport/performance work and conformation, I get the impression that treats are pretty commonly used to mark proper behavior, or some people use clickers for training but I think that even that is initially linked to treats. Are "huntin' dawgs" trained with treats at any point in their training? And I use that term fondly, I don't envision your dogs as good ol' boys' huntin' dawgs but rather retrieving machines.
    Smartrock,
    Different trainers use varying approaches. I start a dog by focusing on foundational obedience training, that being the cornerstone of all sequentially advancing training. During the early stages o' foundational obedience work I use high frequency reward for positive reinforcement o' desired behavior exhibited and I make use o' the clicker to mark desired behaviors whilst delivering high value edible rewards. I also use these methods to intensify the pup's visual focus on me as it's trainer and source of all things good. As training and behavioral proficiency progresses in the trainee K9, I gradually start transitioning the pup to less frequently and intermittently delivered reward whilst focusing on keeping the pup highly motivated. As I decrease the delivery of edible reward, I carefully balance that with the substitution of verbal praise and positive contact (human touch) with the trainee, not overdoing it so as to have it lose it's value. I gradually start decreasing the use of those rewards keeping their delivery on a random schedule of delivery whilst phasing in the act of retrieving as a reward, that eventually becoming the ultimate high value reward for my trainees. Balance is critical and each dog is individual in it's specific needs. a combination of behavioral science and art that translates to predictable success has been the general outcome formed via many years of careful observation coupled with practical application.

    As for the term s "good ol boy" and "hunting dawg", I take no offense to both, and rather consider them badges o' honor in me own way o' thinking. And ye have it right Mate, the dawgs I train are indeed bird retrieving machines.😁👍👌

    Cheers,
    THE DOG WHISTLER 🍀🇮🇪🇺🇸
    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.

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    smartrock (01-07-2019)

  8. #5
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    What a wonderful picture!!!! Beautiful!

    Shows the true spirit of a Labrador!

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    IRISHWISTLER (01-07-2019)

 



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