Gun Dog Forum

EvanG

What specific training have you done with this dog. Are you putting her through formal Basics?

EvanG

EvanG

You've gotten some good input. If you would like to talk about this I have a treatment for this issue that has been very successful with client dogs over many years. 816-213-9397

EvanG

EvanG

Wow, thanks for all the tips! I don't know what half of those training commands are but I'll research it. Please keep in mind I have next to no experience with training. Some follow-up's: 1. What is "tee" as in "mini tee" and "single tee"? T drills are handling exercises where your dog will learn t...

EvanG

I have never trained a hunting dog before and have a 6 mo chocolate lab I rescued about 3 weeks ago. I want to get her to retrieve ducks, and possibly point, flush, and retrieve upland birds. She pays attention to me well, typically follows me around, and seems to be picking up training, but I have...

EvanG

gonehuntin' wrote:I have NEVER changed methods, only varied the pressure. Hold on jowls, ear pinch, stick fetch, ecollar. Same program for every dog.

Exactly. Same proven program, adapted for the individual dog, not for the breed. Breed generalities are over rated. Train the dog you're training.

EvanG

EvanG

Please bear in mind that you can do extensive damage to any dog with any aversive, if improperly used. An angry verbal tirade, or a rolled up newspaper can be abused and cause lasting damage to some dogs. You're approaching this correctly by seeking out experienced guidance. The modern e-collar is t...

EvanG

At 6 months I would just train and hunt him next year. He's very young. You got your answer in this post. He's just reached the age to begin formal training. Don't lose that. Keep him home this season and training him. Give him his life's tools, and take a well trained dog to the field next year. D...

EvanG

Just received this letter Dear Evan Graham, On Saturday morning, AKC agreed to appear on Fox & Friends to discuss our thoughts on the use of e-collars for pet training, a buzzed about subject triggered from the release of a recent study. The AKC has never called for a ban on e-collars. The AKC suppo...

EvanG

Someone help me out here. I've read on forums all over the Internet about this issue. What is it that the AKC is actually proposing to do? They are not a law making body, so they can't even introduce a bill, much less ratify it. They can't sign a bill into law. Exactly how will they ban e-collar use...

EvanG

I am wondering if there are other venues for gundog competition besides AKC? and if so what your thoughts are on them? Also curious what peoples thoughts are of the AKC hunting trial/test programs? With specific regard to retrievers, there are several test venues: AKC, HRC, NAHRA, all alive and act...

EvanG

I am wondering if there are other venues for gundog competition besides AKC? and if so what your thoughts are on them? Also curious what peoples thoughts are of the AKC hunting trial/test programs? With specific regard to retrievers, there are several test venues: AKC, HRC, NAHRA, all alive and act...

EvanG

When you actually HUNT and untrained or partially trained dog and do NOT reinforce or correct mistakes, you then reinforce the mistake making finish training far more difficult. If you try to correct a partially trained dog in the field, you run the risk of making him apprehensive of hunting situat...

EvanG

When you actually HUNT and untrained or partially trained dog and do NOT reinforce or correct mistakes, you then reinforce the mistake making finish training far more difficult. If you try to correct a partially trained dog in the field, you run the risk of making him apprehensive of hunting situat...

EvanG

I appreciate your points. It's not often safe to assume anything in these discussions. But this time we have a guy posting under "Lab Commander", and asking a question titled "Retriever Training Question", about hunting a dog that is not finished with FF, nor steady. I confess I made an assumption t...

EvanG

Is it a good idea to hunt with a dog that is not fully steady or not completed with force fetch? No. Not in either case. Finish FF, finish formal Basics (of which steadiness is a part), and hunt next season with a dog that has the tools to do his life's work. To do less is to do your dog a disservi...

EvanG

[DELETE] Duplicate post

EvanG

Sounds to me like you haven't completed any step you've started: You started the ear pinch and have backed off, not finishing it. Don't go to the collar until the ear pinch is done. The dog is NOT collar conditioned nor even close. You have to start back from square one after getting advice from a ...

EvanG

I have a Yellow Lab Female 13 months old. Following Fowl Dogs. Hold went really well moved along faster then I expected. When i went to the ear pinch she seems to "get it" but is slow to actually fetch, if she decides to fetch at all. I keep putting the bumper in her mouth and release the pressure ...

EvanG

I have a 2 yr old Portuguese Water Dog house pet. She's great - energetic and obedient. I'm getting so odd behavior I don't understand though. Choose a proven program and get started on formalizing obedience. Thoroughly force fetch this dog, but learn what that entails first. You really need to und...

EvanG

At the very least, get a modern sequential training program. Also, avoid programs that enforce a schedule for your pup; "By this or that age your pup should be finished with thus and so". Your pup doesn't know how to read a calendar. Train the dog you're training, and not on a time table. https://m....

EvanG

Evan, I am familiar with 1-5 in theory and some practice. 6-10 not so much. Looking to learn and not in a rush. I want to make this a long-term investment of time. Okay, WolfeMan, I'm going to take you at your word. Your objectives have requirements. All the higher skills you want need a foundation...

EvanG

I bet that if I used treats with the heeling and led walking that he would do better, but I don't know if that is frowned upon so I have not done it. Any help is appreciated. Thanks. The decision about what you do is not a matter of whether or not it's frowned upon. It's a matter of its being fair ...

EvanG

jlegros wrote:Dog is a year old ,I read Tom Dokkens book and going through Evan Grahams DVDs

Study more thoroughly, and proceed more carefully. Which Smartwork DVDs do you have?

EvanG

EvanG

jlegros wrote:Dog is a year old ,I read Tom Dokkens book and going through Evan Grahams DVDs

Study more thoroughly, and proceed more carefully. Which Smartwork DVDs do you have?

EvanG

EvanG

I've been looking on the internet and book store for a basic how-to book for basic obedience. Every book I see on the internet says "last book you'll ever need." Though, I look at them at the store and it isn't what I am looking for. I am just looking for a book that simply tells me how to teach ba...

EvanG

I've got a question regarding the smartfetch program and working with hold. I've been working with my lab a couple days now on "hold" and when I give the command and work the paint roller into his mouth he doesn't fight back and seems to accept it fine. The problem is that he will continue to mouth...

EvanG

I can only speak for me but I " sing" to them. They learn distance and direction and yes depending on the terrain, they hear you. That doesn't mean they are always that far out, the good ones check in without coming all the way in. Boy, if ever a post cried for video this is it! :D EvanG I will wor...

EvanG

Brazosvalleyvizslas wrote:I can only speak for me but I " sing" to them. They learn distance and direction and yes depending on the terrain, they hear you. That doesn't mean they are always that far out, the good ones check in without coming all the way in.

Boy, if ever a post cried for video this is it!

EvanG

EvanG

There never has been nor ever will be, a retriever trained to a championship level without multiple people in the field. ...at the very least! http://www.evan-graham.net/SaberAugust2013.jpg Ask Chris Hatch, owner/trainer/handler of FC-AFC Teal Creek Patton's Saber who is currently running this year...

EvanG

With that criteria, the retriever will be far harder. When it comes to the handling, land and water, it can take a long time and lot of work to develop. Much of what you list for a pointer is natural with the exception of the honoring on the retrieve. I agree. Even with a willing, tractable dog, as...

EvanG

Sharon said : Once again Evan wins the prize for the best post. :) Thanks Sharon. But in fairness to others, I'm probably the only one with a library of video clips to make my explanations easier! :D Doc and I are saying the same things in slightly different ways. Training a pup to sit won't do a t...

EvanG

I have a 12 week old Black lab and she has no interest in retrieving. Does anyone have any ideas to get her excited to retrieve. I have trained several Labs and never had this problem. She is very smart and already listens to sit, stay, just not fetch.... This is the subject; a 12week old Labrador ...

EvanG

Speaking of baseball for retrievers, did Wolters invent the game or was it already in practice amongst Lab trainers before him/his writings??? Richard Wolters had nothing to do with it. In fact Richard Wolters was a writer, not a trainer. D.L. Walters was a Hall of Fame retriever trainer who traine...

EvanG

Thanks guys. It is a fun drill, especially for the dogs! I've never had a dog that didn't love it. I hope we can do another even in Michigan when my wife and I get home.

EvanG

EvanG

Here is a great little drill you can do alone with a minimum of gear; 2 large orange bumpers. It's called "Walking baseball". Let's talk training.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCRAFRDksAs

Ask any pertinent questions you like.

EvanG

EvanG

To me any type of pressure is a correction. I have had dogs that if I took 1/2 step towards the dog the dog felt the pressure and I considered that a correction. I had one dog that was so soft that I constantly had to take pressure off her or she felt she was being corrected (a very difficult dog t...

EvanG

Evan, Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your time and expertise regarding my previous post. I agree I was not clear in my description. I will do my best to explain myself. 1. I have finished hold. He is holding reliably with and holding with distractions for as long as I ask - we have gone 3-4...

EvanG

Like everyone else said, smart works, fowl dawgs, duck dog basics. Even better, find a pro. Big tip, join duckhuntingchat.com if you want more in depth retriever advice. There are good retriever folk on here but a lot more on the other site. This primarily caters to pointer and flusher folk. Kind o...

EvanG

"Positive - only" is a myth. It's just English. There are no hidden words. No pressure means no pressure, and it's a myth. The absence of certain type of pressure? Okay. The lack of any pressure, mental or physical? Not so much.

EvanG

EvanG

I have successfully used the Smartworks for our chessie. I like the DVD's and I find myself going back to them time and again. Evan uses this site and when I have had issues, I have PM'd him and gotten a quick response. Send me a PM, or email me to rushcreekpress@aol.com . You can also call: 816-21...

EvanG

Is there a "positive-only" method of training a retriever? - never heard of it and d*mned sure never seen any quantifiable results that would promote it. MG Thanks for asking directly. The answer is "No". If someone believes they are training a retriever without any pressure they are kidding only t...

EvanG

What kind of corrections are you guys giving your dogs when they drop on the hold. I have a very stubborn dog that tap under and over the chin for hold becomes useless Each dog is individual. The type and amount of pressure that will be effective will be up to that dog as to how he responds. But le...

EvanG

All of that being said, your dog is your dog. Train the dog you're training, not the breed, not the reputation, not any preconceived notions about them. Train the dog, and find out for yourself how that dog trains. Stereotypes can adversely effect the training of a dog that may very well be very nic...

EvanG

My mistake. I initially called this Walking fetch. It's Walking Hold.

Here's a clip to give you a look at the correct application of Walking HOLD. http://youtu.be/qvZcWzZ5TCo

EvanG

EvanG

Here's a clip to give you a look at the correct application of Walking HOLD. http://youtu.be/qvZcWzZ5TCo

EvanG

EvanG

Evan what's your suggestion for getting a dog to begin walking without dropping? I've got one now that will hold for 5+ minutes and acts rooted to the spot. But one step and trys to spit. Don't feel bad. That's really a classic behavior. Movement tends to disrupt a dog's concentration on a task, wh...

EvanG

If he's not dropping it at all, go do some walking fetch for a few days. Vary the pace. Usually the quicker the pace, the more likely to drop. Let me know.

EvanG

EvanG

From the "Smartfetch" book, try going back to having your dog hold the bumper, dowel, whatever. Then do the tapping routine - it should be held pretty loose if he's cigar holding and it will come out fairly easily. Use the negative response (ear on the collar tang) immediately when it comes out of ...

EvanG

You'll be glad you worked with them. Give my best to J. Paul!

EvanG

EvanG

http://www.loneoakretrievers.net/ J. Paul Jackson, actual retriever trainer

http://www.northforkretrievers.com/about/ Scott Greer, the same

Get your retriever trained by someone who knows how.

EvanG

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