Gun Dog Forum

Alright guys and gals I need some help here. I have an 8 mo old pup that I have been working with for about 3 mo now and the question is this.
I have been working whoa with her on short leash and CC and she does very well with it. I can stop her and walk around and away from her as far as I want and she will stand until I give her the command to break, Now I have moved up to working on her at a distance off CC and when ever I tell her to whoa she will come back to me and stop. What have I done wrong and what can I do to fix this problem. This is my fist attempt at training a pointer and the first of many mistakes I'm sure

Steve

Sandhill,

It doesn't sound like you made any mistakes, just back up one step for a while longer! You may try walking out of your pups sight when you have her at Whoa and when she has it down, go back to where you were trying her at a distance, but use a long lead or let her drag a short one. Another idea, have her walk at heel and tell her to Whoa while you continue walking. If she continues, set her back and Whoa her and walk away or around her. Just some thoughts....

Thanks for the insight Bruce, Has of now I can heel her off leash and whoa her and she will stop and stay until I give her the break command I can walk 100yds away and she will stay no problem, Its just that when she is working out in front and I give her whoa she comes back to me and stands?????

Its a very common mistake to stop walking when you whoa your dog. The dog is cueing off your actions as well as your commands. You taught her to whoa at your side, similar to the heel command. It is only fitting she returns to you before whoaing.

You need to change up your training a bit. Try using a stake in the ground and loop the CC around it to stop her as you walk on.

You can check my site for a pictorial on how to whoa break on the whoa post, if you like.

Phil

Steve,

From what you wrote, your dog is good at obeying whoa from a standing position. In her mind, she is already whoa'd when you give the command. It's kinda like asking her to stay.

Also, you wrote you have been practicing walking at heel and then whoa. When she is out in the field and you say whoa, she may be coming in because she thinks you want her to heel and whoa.

The problem is in trying to stop her when she is away from you and moving. Dogs see this as a different thing. When she is moving and told whoa, she may be confused and is treating the whoa command as a come command. Often, when they are confused, they revert to something they are comfortable with and already know.

I'd go easy on her. I don't think she is being stubborn, just a little confused.

Just a few ideas.

Brad Higgins
www.higginsgundogs.com

You could also use a buddy stick for this. Put her at whoa, get in front, release her, and keep putting her at whoa as she is coming at you. This will teach her it is not at your side. Is she cowering at your side when she runs to you? If so this is because she does not know what you want.

Man, I am just not quick enough.

Are you by chance releasing her by calling her to you? Or do you just give a OK or go back to her and tap? I have seen dogs come to you out of insecurity because they are getting petted immedieatly after release. When I release a dog I mostly will just give a OK. Sometimes I will go back and stroke them before release, but I never call them to me as a release. Just a thought...Or you might just take a break and let her grow up some, she may just be real immature.

Okay everyone thanks for the input. sounds like maybe I need to slow down some with her.

Higgins
When I whoa her she has always been at heel with us walking I will tell her whoa and she will stop as I continue to walk and she will stand until released with a break command.

Snips
I have never released her by calling her to me always break command and I will continue to walk in the direction I'm headed.
When I first started I would whoa her then walk around and then release with apatt then command, But I do think she is confused because when I whoa her now while out in front she will turn and come back to my side and stand, could be she is confusing it with come all the advice I can get is very much appreciated.

Phil
I will look in to the post technique and try if you think that's what I need to do to fix this situation I have created.

Thanks Steve

Phil
I checked out your site very nice by the way, one question though do you give whoa command when use this type of training or do ya just put the tape on the handlers mouth.

I dont use the command until the dog knows what the stimilus means.

Also, if you think the dog is honestly confused, and is slightly nervous, you might want to change the command as well. It is hard to telll what you will run in to by a discription here......just giving you more food for thought!

Let me know if you need any more help,

Phil

Welcome Ted
It's nice to have you here