i have a 12 week old GSP pup i am going to introduce him to birds this week my question is how do i introduce the whoa command i watched the richard walters bird dog video and they show a method using a beam, the only problem with that is that not every one has the ability to teach it that way i was thinking of a check cord or something of that nature but i figure i would ask first.

Dont lay down your training with time because every dog is different. I would take your puppy our for a walk on a 15 or 20 foot checkcord. First you want pup to be dragging this Checkcord around so make sure you buy a lighter one. Once puppy is used to dragging the checkcord around let puppy run around one side of the tree while you walk around the other side. When puppy hits the end and stops command whoa. You may have to change the length depending on your puppy. Some may fight the pressure and not stop. In that case you want to be able to stop them as soon as they get around the tree so you can use the tree as a stopper.

One of the best ways I have found for young dogs is to use it in the house. Put down puppy's food then grab puppy and hold her up her head and have one hand underneath ther flank. Dont let her move. Once she has settled down and is standing still command whoa, hold it for a second, then say alright and let her go. She will soon que in that she must stand still before she gets to eat.

Last but not least I would personally wait another 3 months until she is a little older and go to the chain gang. Once she has learned to stand still on the chain gang, take her to the whoa post. Once there have a 20' CC with a loop on it all prepared. The looped end will be looped over the whoa stake and straightened out on the ground. Bring your dog up and wait for her to stand still (proper work on the chain gang will ensure she does this). Now take the CC that is on the whoa post and bring it up between her hind legs and make a half hitch on her flank, then take the brass snap and snap it to the collar. Make sure the ring on the collar is down. Do not use the ) ring on the collars you are going to want to use the D ring. Ok so now connect your other CC to the dog and stand the dog up with enough slack in the whoa post checkcord so that if the dog takes half a step forward it will tighten up cause pressure. Now back up about 10 feet not saying anything and just stand there. The dog will try to walk forward and the pressure will be put on the flank. If the dog wants to fight it let them but dont let them get tangled, also DONT let the dog sit down. This is what your cc is for.

So now that the dog has calmed down for a few seconds you are going to want to wait till the dog shows you he is accepting the post. Look for a swallow, the dog looks around, a blink. These are all signs the dog has accepted the post. So now that the dog is still approach the dog while saying nothing, give it a pat or a scratch then back away again. Wait for that acceptance sign and go back in. 2 times is enough take him back to the chain for a while, do some different exercise, or end your training session. You can come back and do this again in a few hours or that evening.

i would like to thank everyone for the input i did just as said i am starting off in the house due to the weather being horrrible the last 2 days in Pa. i started in the house with a check cord during feeding time. i know it has been only 2 days when i say whoa when he is going to eat (with the check cord off) he stops in his tracks but then he sits and i do not want him to think that whoa means sit he already know the command sit. just wondering if i am doing something wrong or will this come in time, maybe i shouldnt have tried it without the check cord so fast??????