I have a 7month old GSP. My first dog, I've trained her myself using "Tarrant traings gun dogs" by Bill Tarrant. It's a good book, but i haven't finished it yet.

Sadie (my dog) used to train by receiving treats, but she doesn't really care about food or treats, she just likes playing fetch. And when she disobeys i scold her, or pick her up by the scruff of her neck and hole her in the air and scold her face to face. This works some, but she hasn't improved a ton, and I think she knows whe can get away with not coming right away. So im thinking about a training collar. I am wondering if this is a good thing to try and what type of results i can expect. And after she is trained can i ween her off of it and should she just obey better? Or do you just always keep it on em?

And as far as a beeper collar goes, i want to use one when we hunt. And if anyone knows of a training coller w/ the beeper function that would be great.

thanks for your info,

w00t

Let me try to clarify some. Sorry I don't have the i-net at home so i wasn't able to respond.

1. She knows the commands and obeys 85-90% of the time.

2. All training is off leash commands in my back yard.

Things she does.

Sits off leash when 25yards away, stays off leash 25 yards away, comes off leash 25 yards away. She does all of these fine.

To increase the difficulty of the training I also use a tennis ball that she loves to fetch. I will make her sit before I throw, or sit/stay and i will throw the ball then when I am ready (still off leash when she is 25yrds away) I will command her to bring the ball. I will also have her sit/stay, I will throw the ball and then have her come to me instead of getting the ball.

The main issue is sometimes I can't get her to just come to me and leave the ball, she wants to get the ball and she doesn't respond very well to just praise (I'm always praising her when she's good) and she doesn't care about treats either.

I'm just looking for another incentive to listen to me, instead of her just getting the ball. I want better control of her off leash.

And i didn't ever think that the collar trains her for me.....

thanks for your replies,

w00t

It isn't that she isn't retrieving it's that she is too tempted by the ball and won't come straight to me. She wants to get the ball then come back. I would also be using to collar just to make her work better. She's a good dog and smart, but i want to be confident when i take her running or to parks off leash. I will try the long check cord, I think that will help.

Anyone have any other ways to "praise" besides just words/treats? Do you think she just got sick of the treats she was getting? It almost seems she's just so focused in the task at hand and doesn't want to be interrupted w/treats.

thanks again,

w00t

You just said you have never finished a dog with an ecollar now you are saying you use one. Get your facts straight this, along with your constant trolling, is why you got booted from the DK board.

I never said it was about how good I can use an ecollar.

Notice I gave and recommended a different route before throwing on the ecollar. So sorry once again you are wrong.

Francicne are you fully reading these posts at all? She doesnt want the dog to retrieve she wants the dog to ignore the ball and just come straight to her. Throw the pinch collar and CC on her. If she goes for the ball give her a jerk. Dont say anything. A simply pat on the side is all the praise you will need. You might want to try throwing somthing different and use the tennis ball as the reward if she loves it so much.

I am Commanding from 25 yards away. She will anticipate my throw and run up the hill and stop and turn i then command her to sit/stay/come whatever. I appreciate your tips on training.

thanks for your help

w00t

oh, and im male....just fyi for future reference, my dog is famale.

Having her obey at 75' is pretty good for a 7 month old puppy. Her anticipation is getting the best of her. You have already taught her that she can disobey. She needs to be taught to be exicted but in control.
I would continue to command her at a distance, walk over to her, throw the object, then send her adding distance between you. You should give the retrieve some times.As a reward.And other times walk away from her and then call her to you,starting a few feet at a time so she knows what you want.
A game I played with Haiko was I would whoa him, stand in front of him some distance and roll a ball past him and between his legs. I went to dead birds and then live birds walking around and fluttering. Adding shots (cap gun at first) will add to the excitement and really test a dog's control.

Francine