2nd dummy distraction

[hitfreshairagain]

Hi Guys,just wonderd if any of you could help with this.

Today I sent the dog to retrieve a thrown dummy and when he was returning I threw another dummy to the side hoping he would come to me to deliver the 1st then i could send him for the 2nd.Instead he took a diversion towards the other dummy and promtly dropped the 1st one.I did try to be clever and give him two pips on the whistle as i threw the second dummy hoping this would reinforce what i wanted him to do but no joy.

Any ideas guys

Lee

[FalconFN]

I'm just doing the same for my 9 month cocker but I'm getting her to sit by me while I throw tennis balls in opposite directions, I then send her for 1 and get her to bring it back, then I send her for the other.

 

She's pretty much there now so my next move will be to throw the first, send her for it then throw the second (in the opposite direction fron her) whilst she isn't looking, that way I can send her out for it without giving any chance for her to make a mistake.

 

I'll then do the same but throw the second when she's on the way back, again in the opposite direction, so if she's tempted to go for the second before bringing the first I'll be between her and the second, so I should be able to get her back to the first.

 

This is just my plan, and it may not work, but I want to avoid giving her the oppotunity to do the wrong thing.

 

Good luck.

Edited April 11, 2011 by FalconFN

[Benellimelody]

Hi mate,

 

In order to carry out exercises like this i would advise that the dog understands the stop whistle so that it can be corrected if neccesary. You didnt say how old the dog was or what type which may help with advice.

[hitfreshairagain]

Hi mate,

 

In order to carry out exercises like this i would advise that the dog understands the stop whistle so that it can be corrected if neccesary. You didnt say how old the dog was or what type which may help with advice.

Thanks Falcon ,I may think about having a go at that too.

Benelli I have a 1 yr old black lab,who understands the stop whistle as well as a good recall thtas why i gave 2 pips as i threw the 2nd dummy.

Cheers Lee

[Benellimelody]

Hi lee, i would have blown the stop whistle instead of the recall to have made sure he never got the reward of pickin the 2nd dummy.

 

IMO when you re using a few dummies i think you need to make sure that the dog can be stopped if going to get the incorrect one.

[pegleg31]

A couple of things that i would try to steady your dog

 

1: If you can get a mate to help, get them to stand 20 yds away to one side of you slighty infront.Send your dog away as you would for the first retrieve as it's coming back throw a dummy out over it's head just infront of your mate.If your dog sets off after it, your mate needs to get to the dummy first and pick it up. You need to get after the dog and scruff it.Then take it back to where it dropped the dummy and call it back to you with the dummy and praise it.If the dog gets to the dummy first do not scruff the dog you need to chuck it closer to your mate or get a faster mate

 

2:If you have no mates or can only train on your own.walk your dog down a track and drop two memory retrieves.Walk what you feel a comfortable distance back and send your dog for the first dummy.When your dog returns sit it up and throw that dummy to one side of you 5/10 yds out.Now send your dog for the second memory, if your dog pulls for the first dummy you need to stop it before your dog gets to it by whatever means you can (without hurting it).Again if your dog repeatedly gets there first don't punish it you'll need to place the dummy closer or lose weight .Once your dog gets this and is going back comfortably for the second dummy start throwing one out to the side as it's coming back and not letting it get there first.

 

 

Before trying this i'd make sure my dog was rock steady, i'm sure you've seen people sitting their dogs down and throwing dummies around it for steadiness training.I do this but i also roll/bounce tennis balls as close to them as possibly, if your dog is going to break a tennis ball will do it.

 

Goodluck

 

Russ

[mudpatten]

Stand at a choke point, i.e.a low gap in a hedge, narrow gate etc.and throw the second dummy BEHIND you, away from the oncoming dog.

 

Your dog will, in any event, continue towards you where, if necessary, you can physically prevent it from passing you.

 

When the dog shows little interest in the second thrown dummy because it knows it cannot get to it,gradually alter the angle of the second dummy until it is being thrown at 90 degrees to the returning dog, but still on the "wrong" side of the low hedge/fence.

 

Once thoroughly inured to the second dummy continue to rotate the throwing angle until the dummy is passing over the incoming dog which will now ignore it.

 

Theoretically....

[hitfreshairagain]

Thanks so much for the replies guys,theres plenty there for me to think about,I will put these ideas into practice and let you know how things progress.

Thanks again Lee