Words of Wisdom

Post by **grant** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:23 am

Might be cool if everyone shared a few words of wisdom in regards to training your dog. We all might pickup a few good hints????

Post by **grant** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 10:25 am

15 Min. a day of training can be more productive than 2hrs on the weekend.

icefire · Post by **icefire** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 2:11 pm

you cannot properly train a bird dog without lots and lots of birds

Post by **Ayres** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 2:48 pm

Two days of training will be forfeited with two seconds of a lost temper.

Colleen · Post by **Colleen** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 3:15 pm

Don't EVER say "Find a bird" (or whatever your equivalent of that may be) if you are not in fact out trying to find birds.

QCBirddogs · Post by **QCBirddogs** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 4:48 pm

In training..............never give a command that can't be inforced!

Phil
QC

tfbirddog2 · Post by **tfbirddog2** » Wed Aug 18, 2004 8:03 pm

Teach commands or try things three times and rewards of treats an praises along with everyone having fun, is better than beating a dead horse.

sudiegirl · Post by **sudiegirl** » Thu Aug 19, 2004 12:54 am

a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush

Rubyspal · Post by **Rubyspal** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 12:13 pm

Follow a sequential program and when things don't go right simplify!

Duane M · Post by **Duane M** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:21 pm

PATIENCE

snips · Post by **snips** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:28 pm

Thats the very BEST one Duane. I like to tell people this about e-collar use-"When in doubt, don`t."

sdgord · Post by **sdgord** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:24 pm

Don't care how you do it, you just have to be smarter than the dog, and unfortunately I am not.SDGORD

Country-Side Breeders · Post by **Country-Side Breeders** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:37 pm

Always end on a postive note and quit while it's still exciting and fun for them!

Kevin · Post by **Kevin** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 8:25 am

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

Gregory · Post by **Gregory** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 3:27 pm

Dogs learned what we allowed them to learn

Greg

birddog · Post by **birddog** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 5:18 pm

Always make sure you set your dog up to succeed at the task presented him.

Janet

doublea · Post by **doublea** » Sat Mar 05, 2005 8:04 am

Never give a command you're not in a position to enforce.

Higgins · Post by **Higgins** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:31 pm

RULES OF TRAINING

1- Dogs are pack animals. Be the leader.

2- Stop talking.

3- Be patient and consistent.

4- It takes birds to train a bird dog (no birds = no bird dog).

5- Quality dog work is not between you and your dog. It's between your dog and the bird.

6- Let your dog learn to manage the bird.

7- Instead of trying to get your dog to point, allow him to learn
he can't catch the bird. Staunch, stylish pointing will follow
naturally.

8- Don't teach whoa around birds. Whoa has nothing to do with
birds.

9- When working birds, your dog has not made a mistake until he puts a bird in the air.

10- The dog must know what the command means before he can be corrected for mistakes.

11- An electric collar is not used to teach a dog to perform a
command. It is used when the dog has a complete understanding of the command and chooses not to do it. An electric collar is for reinforcement only.

12- Give the command once, don't raise your voice, and always use a release command.

13- Never give a command you can't or won't enforce.

14- If you ignore or don't correct for an unwanted behavior, you are agreeing with and encouraging that behavior.

Our goal is to create a well mannered hunting partner that, through minimal pressure or correction, has maintained all his natural style, desire and birdiness.

Brad Higgins
Higgins Gun Dogs

gsprescuewi · Post by **gsprescuewi** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:54 pm

COME IS NOT AN OPTION!!

Lockhard · Post by **Lockhard** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:38 am

Every time you start teaching your dog a new trick, take is slow, never give your dog a chance to fail

12 Volt Man · Post by **12 Volt Man** » Tue May 17, 2005 12:51 pm

9- When working birds, your dog has not made a mistake until he puts a bird in the air.

I like that one.

Birdhunter1 · Post by **Birdhunter1** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:45 pm

I neve end a training r a hunt on a bad note. I always make sure the dog does somethign correctly before we are done. Even if that means the dog has to do something as simle as "sit" I always end on a good note.

My favorite thing to do is throwing tennis balls in a dimly lit yard and they get hot dogs upon retrieve.

Dave Gowdey · Post by **Dave Gowdey** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:40 pm

Duane took the single most important word when it comes to training dogs.

I guess I'll just add - never train angry. If you are getting frustrated or out of sorts, it's time to stop. Once you get angry, you can pretty much only do harm when it comes to dog training.

Post by **grant** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:03 am

Great point!

Duane M · Post by **Duane M** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:05 am

Dave as the old man told me 25 years ago:

"When your feeling frustrated or just plain POed go get the puppys and leave the big dogs alone that day. Cant nothin but bad happen to the big dogs and puppys are the best cure for a foul mood."

Same man who told me lack of patience has screwed up more dogs than any other tool ever has.

versatileguy · Post by **versatileguy** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 8:16 pm

For starters.....Don't believe the training advice you get from clowns on the internet. If you do some digging, you will find most of them have never trained a dog to any level of competence. They are phony trainers. :roll: :roll:

Higgins · Post by **Higgins** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:57 pm

Tough training dogs wearing these floppy shoes.

Brad Higgins
www.higginsgundogs.com

unsunghero23 · Post by **unsunghero23** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:39 am

Training is simply the process of decreasing the uncertainty in any given situation.

Deer Hunter · Post by **Deer Hunter** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:42 pm

If your dog does not want to come to you, do not chase him. Walk away in the opposite direction and, if necessary, hide. Never punish your dog when he finally decides to come to you.

Post by **pear** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:00 pm

gundogguru · Post by **gundogguru** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 11:10 pm

The more your dog loves you. The more they will do for you.

Sergeant Hunter · Post by **Sergeant Hunter** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:26 am

Trust the DOG!
Several times this year both in training and in the field I have come up on my brittany on point and thought no way there can be a bird there, sure enough up it flies.

Post by **Ayres** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:40 am

Sergeant Hunter wrote:Trust the DOG!
Several times this year both in training and in the field I have come up on my brittany on point and thought no way there can be a bird there, sure enough up it flies.

That one catches all of us. There's nothing more humbling than having to apologize to your dog, all the while they're giving you that "I told you so!" look.

GSP4619 · Post by **GSP4619** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:14 pm

Deer Hunter wrote:If your dog does not want to come to you, do not chase him. Walk away in the opposite direction and, if necessary, hide. Never punish your dog when he finally decides to come to you.

So what do I do when she does come back, just keep on going like it never happened?

Post by **Ayres** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:40 pm

Either do nothing or lightly positively reinforce. Pet on the head a couple times. Good boy. He did come back.

GSP4619 · Post by **GSP4619** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:10 pm

sounds good lol

NVgsp · Post by **NVgsp** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:31 pm

when training it always comes down to K.I.S.S. : Keep It Simple, Stupid. its amazing how we can make things so difficult.

ViniferaVizslas · Post by **ViniferaVizslas** » Wed May 17, 2006 9:35 am

Deer Hunter wrote: Never punish your dog when he finally decides to come to you.

A couple weeks ago my dog brought me a chukar.

I had kicked up the planted bird and it flew a short distance into the woods. My dog remained steady while I fired a blank (I'm in the process of breaking her). I called her off and directed her to hunt the field we were working, which she did for about 50 yards before cutting right into the woods, round to my right, tracked the running bird out of sight for several minutes and delivered it to me. She was a bad dog, she did what I told her not to, she knew it, but I accepted the bird with a "good girl".

What else could I do?

Ridge-Point · Post by **Ridge-Point** » Sun May 21, 2006 10:19 am

Use quality good flying birds for training, don't waste time with junky birds. Homers and launchers also work great. Wild birds are best.

Don't put your dog on birds everyday, once or twice a week is great. If you are breaking them maybe 3 or 4 days a week max. If they start getting bored take them off birds for a couple weeks. Just helps keep them intense.

Justin

Ruffshooter · Post by **Ruffshooter** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:33 pm

Watch your dogs body language. The Pup will tell you alot.

Is he confused?
Does he get it?
Is he going to break?
Is he going to try to blow you off?
Has he had enough?

Short successfull training sessions make a confident dog.

If you are hitting a wall, go back a few training sessions and do something that your pup understands and does. End on a good note. Then try again in a 2 or 3 days later and the light will usually come on.

Make sure you go to the bathroom before you go afield. No sense in hurrying things.

Hotpepper · Post by **Hotpepper** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:49 pm

I have found that when you put a foot in the stirrup and get up on a horse to handle, 30 minutes or 1 hour or 3 hours.

"I will be totally devoted to the dog, nothing else" not a time to visit, talk or whatever, totally devoted to what "your" dog is doing.

Pepper

Post by **ezzy333** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 1:51 pm

Patience man, patience!

Breton13 · Post by **Breton13** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:46 pm

Don't spray on bugspray right after you shave!
(Happened to my legs yesterday, ouch)

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:53 pm

Breton13 wrote:Don't spray on bugspray right after you shave!
(Happened to my legs yesterday, ouch)

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am glad I don't have to worry about that Breton13

Mav.....

Post by **ezzy333** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:19 pm

Gee I do that all the time and hadn't noticed a problem!

Ezzy

GsPJustin · Post by **GsPJustin** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:08 pm

The Lower the level you are willing to drop to, to embarass yourself to train your dog, the better your dog will work with you.

So get out there with those exctied puppy voices.

Don · Post by **Don** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 1:00 pm

I have no word's of wisdom. I'd have to credit other's for what ever it is I think I know. But one of my favorite's I read in Amer field and is a quote of Dr. Alvin Nitchman.

He was watching a handler (?) screaming whoa at his dog that was busy running off. He turned to the guy next to him and said"

"I wonder what he tell's that dog when he want's it to stop and stand still"? Think about it.

A hint from Delmar: "pay attention to what your training".

rnbiii · Post by **rnbiii** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:59 pm

Read lots and lots on this forum. If your questions haven't already been addressed at some point, there are plenty of people ready to give advice about anything. Just be careful not to believe anything as absolutely always true.

Goosehunterdog · Post by **Goosehunterdog** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:33 pm

Duane M wrote:PATIENCE

Lots & Lots Of PATIENCE!!!!!!

Thor · Post by **Thor** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 5:52 pm

It is o.k. to loose a battle every now and again as long as you win the war.

An ol'timer once told me," You can always give a dog brakes but you can't always give'em gas."

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