I posted up a bit ago about working my dogs to be steady to the flush, shot and fall.

Brittany 3 years old,  GSP  2 years old.

Here is where im at.  Been working yard work with the Whoa command for a solid 6 weeks.  Started simple while healing and worked to a farther and farther in front of me on CC.  When a good level of compliance was gained that i could stop them from running while a solid 40 yards out off CC and toss treats and balls and stuff around so  i moved on to birds.

Status:  Brittany is well composed and shows little desire to chase the teathered birds.  I think the Brittany will just need more reps to become solid.  GSP....gonzo! Holds for treats, etc...but birds tempt him and he takes a step or two.  Not sure if its his age, genetic drive, personality or what.

Im working to desensitize him to the flush with birds every few days.  I would like him steady by late April...leaves me about 2 more months. Should be ample time i would suspect.

My question is...does anyone know of a force whoa method?  I force broke him to fetching and he responded great at only 11-12 months old and is fantastic at that.  I have a feeling his bullhead may need more pressure for the whoa/steadyness issue im having.  I do have a EC and I do nick him as well has place him back when he steps.  Currently i teather a bird...he hunts, goes on point, i whoa...i flush the bird and he will move.  If a EC nick is appied he will stop.  Should i just keep going with this process? Maybe increase the EC level a bit, and keep going with the exposure hoping it will click soon.

Any help is appreciated

Bob

oh yea...just shows how different dogs can be, breeds, age, personality, etc.  The Brittany was a issue to FF and the GSP a snap...now whoa....other way around.

His FF was not incorporated with steady to flush or such.  More so related to blind retrieves, etc.

The dogs are 100% compliant with the fetch command.  The way it was used in hunting situations was after the bird was shot as the dog ran toward the bird or was searching for the bird he was given the signal and command....."fetch".   The dogs will search the directed area until item is found or the search is called off.

The FF process was done with dummies, dead birds, dead rabbits, etc.

The FF was not incorporated with the steadyness process....though i now wish it were.   But they are compliant with the search process and the return to hand 100%.

As it stands im just working to realy reinforce the whoa several times a day inside the house, in the yard and the field.  And exposure to birds several times a week in the field and yard while steady to whoa.   The gunfire does not stimulate the chase its the flush.

Thanks for the input.

I wouldn't say there is a "Force Whoa", but there are many ways. Whoa Barrel, Whoa Post, Buddy Stick, Stylin Beam, Place Boards, etc...

A better idea though, might be to incorporate the Whoa into your Retrieve. While walking the dog at Heel, Whoa the dog and at the same time pitch a bumper off to the side. Re-enforce the Whoa if pupper thinks about breaking. Do not let the dog retrieve, but every so often. Send him on the Fetch 1 out of 3 or 4 perhaps, IF he Whoa's and stands until released with the Fetch command. Build on that by incorporating the blank gun on the pitched bumpers, continuing to only allow a retrieve every now and again. Build on that with pitched dead birds and an occasional retrieve and then build on that with pitching live birds, eventually transferring to the field with pitched live birds and then killing birds. DO NOT go to pitching dead birds or beyond, until the dog has it down on the bumpers.

This is a very abbreviated and hacked explanation, but I hope will give you the jest. Let me know if you need a better explanation.

Thanks for the input!

What you described is exactly what we have done over the past 1.5 years.  All went well up to the live birds; its that flush it excites him so so much.  Im coming to the conclusion that im just at a point of more reps with more birds and more corrections.  The "light" should click on as to his understanding that chase of the flush is not what we want.  Ill keep you all posted.

Bob

First, I don't like teaching steadiness on tetered birds but since you have gone that far this might help. Begin with a checkcord and a pinch collar (wearing the e-collar). You will eventually transition to the e-collar. Put a tetered bird in grass tall enough the dog can't see it, heel the dog in upwind (not downwind) and "whoa" the dog. You will need a helper at first, have the helper go in a flush the bird. When the dog breaks, pinch and give the "whoa" command at the same time. You can get several flushes out of this routine but don't over do it. I would repeat this drill until the dog stands without breaking and then move to free flighted birds in front of the dog to eventually birds thrown right at the dog. You are looking to create enough temptation to make a correction.  What you want to teach the dog is " a bird in the air means "stop". Lastly, take the same drill and introduce a blank shot, when the dog will stand through that distraction then move to another step and kill birds using the same drills. Repeat the same routine but transition to the e-collar. The next phase eliminates the helper.

Hope this helps....

Coveyrise64

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Coveyrise64