bkirsch
JH
Posts:36
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| 12/17/2012 7:22 PM |
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Hello - Josie is 3 now and has always had plenty of energy on our daily off leash walks in two different wooded areas near our house. Over the past month or so she is showing even more motivation to work. Is this normal? It is like she is possessed. Additionally, I have been a little uncomfortable at times because she will get out a little too far and I lose sight of her. Her recall is good and she always comes back. Is there any specific training I should be doing with her now? We do not hunt her. She is a family dog and Mom's running partner!
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Bill
Elm Grove, WI |
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sevans9793
Hickory/Charlotte NC
Posts:10
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| 12/17/2012 8:25 PM |
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Yeah they are just getting some exercise. Mine used to run miles away in our neighborhood and we had to drive around to get him back. That happened several times when he got outside the fence but he has gotten better at returning home.
Once he even chased our car halfway to my school and then ran back home and was waiting on the doorstep. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1217
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| 12/17/2012 8:55 PM |
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| Bella ranges more in fields that she knows the area. Stays a bit closer on new trails. I have noticed her to range a little more with age though, which I think just comes from more self confidence. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7929
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| 12/18/2012 11:52 AM |
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| Her instincts have kicked in and so has her confidence so she is more comfortable being further away from you. This breed was developed to work independently, but in cooperation with the hunter. If you want to pull her range in, then when she gets at a distance you are comfortable with tell her good girl (that marks where you want her), and when she gets past that distance call her back in to you. If you are consistent she will figure out about where you want her. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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GSPCRNA
Pennsylvania
JH
Posts:32
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| 12/18/2012 4:35 PM |
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| I've been using a whistle with my pup and it's working well so far. I use it to call her back when I feel she's too far away when I take her into the field to run. |
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bkirsch
JH
Posts:36
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| 01/31/2013 4:51 PM |
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Sorry to resurrect this thread. I have been working with Josie as advised. She does a fine job (100%) in the open field and will come back immediately when I call or use a whistle - Even at 200+ yards. Now, when we go into a wooded area sometimes she will get where I can't see her and not return after call or whistle. Sometimes I am afraid that I lost her. On one occasion she was gone for almost 20 minutes and I was very worried. Can anyone advise me on the next step? Many thanks -
Bill |
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Bill
Elm Grove, WI |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1217
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| 01/31/2013 9:56 PM |
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| Honestly, I'm not sure if this is just an issue my dog has...but as good as her nose is, her sense of direction is absolutely terrible. I have been meaning to look into this as a breed trait as in my mind a hunting breed should have a superb sense of direction, but then I think maybe not since they rely so greatly on the nose. Bella is almost always very aware of where I am, but in woods she often follows that nose...and before she knows it she has weaved her way out of sight. Since she isn't an avid hunter yet and the main work she needs is learning to shut off run and play, and to stay on scent, when she realizes I'm gone (despite hearing me call) she panics (I hid once and watched her). Rather than using her nose she is running all over the place. Where we have been, where I last was, where she thinks I should be... This often is the result of her failing to return immediately. So, my best method is prevention and making sure I can see her or at least hear her. If I doubt a full recall, I won't give it (she may be learning she can stall a few minutes in the woods if you are repeating). Bear bells are an option, so you can always hear her direction. I trained a "stay close" command which means she is to stay within a certain range (about 30 feet in any direction). I also whistle for her to fall back, giving the release of OK when she is close enough for my liking. A whistle and a "here" mean all the way to me. My secret weapon when she starts ranging a little far (she always goes further on the hike back in since she can follow our scent back and feels confident of the way we will take) I start playing hide and seek which she loves and it makes her keep a closer eye on me ultimately staying closer. Bella has a lot of little quirks showing face as she builds more confidence in herself and her world. Some are cute, some require a little extra training |
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Max2
Oneonta NY
MH
Posts:1123
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| 02/01/2013 5:35 AM |
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| She may have been on point someplace. |
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Chris |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7929
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| 02/01/2013 1:24 PM |
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| I only worry about my younger dogs loosing there way when out of sight hiking or hunting. And frankly that is me worrying as they have never shown an issue. My male is fantastic in this respect. He ranges far and very fast and is almost always out of sight when we hike, but I am comfortable in letting him go because he always comes back when called. It sometimes takes several minutes, but he is flying when he gets to me. The funniest thing is he often comes from the opposite direction he left in so he is evidently able and does make circles around me out far enough I don't even see him. I let my youngster go with him as she is learning from him and she will stay with him which makes me more comfortable. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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NixiesMark
Texas
MH
Posts:129
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| 02/01/2013 3:52 PM |
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I don't know if it's because Nixie is still young that when we go in a wooded area she'll run way ahead of me and out of sight for a bit but always returns to "check up" on me. I've had yet to recall her except for the time she got out of the yard and I went searching for her.
I hope you're able to find a solution that works for you! |
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gharner
Middletown, PA
MH
Posts:565
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| 02/01/2013 3:52 PM |
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| Smatulewicz- Im glad Im not the only one...Dax does the same thing. He usually stays close and returns immediately when I call him. If Im out of sight he will run around looking and barking in a panicked high pitch bark until he finds me. I figured he would use his nose to find his way back but he just seems to panick and run around lost. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1217
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| 02/01/2013 11:08 PM |
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| Yes, she seems to forget she has an excellent way to find me (nose) when she thinks im lost. She too often comes from the opposite direction I thought she was. They are so darn fast. Ultimately, I really just require her to check in and if so I'm happy. On populated trails I do keep her in vision as we encounter many bikers, joggers, skiers...etc and I require her to return to me until released to approach someone or to continue on after those have passed us. But, poster is talking dog gone for 20 minutes, I agree with your concern as I don't let Bella range like that and would also panic if she were out of sight that long as its not her character. Try working on the stay close command I mentioned. It works very well for us. We taught it when she was a pup and exploring on a flexie leash so I think that's why it carried over so well (snow terrain makes a flexie in the woods doable.) |
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bkirsch
JH
Posts:36
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| 02/25/2013 5:49 PM |
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| Sorry to bring up this old thread. I am still having some problems with Josie. We have worked very hard in the open field - We have a very large area at both parks we go to. When I call her she stops on a dime and sprints to me - Every time. This will work when I call her or use a Fox 40 whistle. Now, when we go in the woods the hunt is on and it is EXTREMELY difficult to get her back. She will not run away but I don't know when she will return. I have tried to call her back in the woods periodically when she is getting an uncomfortable distance away and this works until she gets just too far away and then she has a mind of her own. I feel like kind of a dope but I am not a pro and would appreciate any suggestions you may have. Many thanks - |
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Bill
Elm Grove, WI |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7929
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| 02/26/2013 1:33 AM |
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| I think it is time to use an ecollar on her. She knows now that you can't correct her and when she is somewhere exciting she is just blowing you off. One of my girls was very similar. In most locations she was great, but when I took her somewhere hiking and would take her off leash she would take off. She would always come back, but sometimes it would take several hours. Once I introduced the ecollar and she realized I could reach out and touch her the problem was resolved. It only took one time and she was a different dog. If you know someone who knows how to use an ecollar ask them for help. Or get an ecollar and read the instructions. For this type of correction, timing is everything. Basically you want to let her off leash and after she wanders too far, call her if she doesn't respond press and hold the stimulation until she makes a move back to you. As soon as he moves toward you, even if it is just a head turn, release the button. She will keep coming. Do not repeat the command. Be sure you follow the collars instructions on collar conditioning and finding the proper stimulation level before working on her recall. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3155
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| 02/26/2013 5:36 AM |
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| I was gonna say you are at the point for an e collar... she needs to realize you can still correct her when she is in the woods at a distance and the e collar will do that... |
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bkirsch
JH
Posts:36
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| 02/26/2013 6:00 AM |
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What is your favorite resource for the correct way to teach the use of an e-collar? Many thanks again - |
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Bill
Elm Grove, WI |
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Max2
Oneonta NY
MH
Posts:1123
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| 02/27/2013 4:20 AM |
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| I think an e-collar probably would help as it sounds like your pup is saying ( " I 'm hearing ya but I ain't feel'n ya " ) The most important thing to remember when using an e-collar is never correct the dog if you can't see him/her. I think many people may get frustrated at pup's non response & hit the correction when they can't see them & that could be bad. Pup could be stuck somewhere or eliminating when he gets the correction. The worst thing to do is purchase an e-collar not fully understanding proper use. It's not a hard tool to use & I am sure you will be able to do it. Like all tool's buy a good one ! I like dogtra many like tri-tronic's. |
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Chris |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7929
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RyanGSP
MH
Posts:446
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| 02/27/2013 12:16 PM |
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Posted By bkirsch on 01/31/2013 4:51 PM
Sorry to resurrect this thread. I have been working with Josie as advised. She does a fine job (100%) in the open field and will come back immediately when I call or use a whistle - Even at 200+ yards. Now, when we go into a wooded area sometimes she will get where I can't see her and not return after call or whistle. Sometimes I am afraid that I lost her. On one occasion she was gone for almost 20 minutes and I was very worried. Can anyone advise me on the next step? Many thanks -
Bill
Garmin Alpha or start singing. Right bow the dog is blowing you off because she knows once you are out of sight there is nothing you can do to correct her to come back.
the singing will let her know where you are. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7929
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| 02/27/2013 4:55 PM |
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RyanGSP-
Had to chuckle at the singing. I think if I sang it would scare the dog and everyone else away. LOL |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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