Whoa Training Progress

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:05 am

I have been making some progress over the past month with my dog. We have been working about 3 nights a week for about 15-20 minutes and I am up to the point where I can drop the lead and walk around her for like 5 minutes. I know in the grand scheme of things that does not seem like much, but this is my first bird dog and my first time training these new functions. It is rewarding to say the least!

I have been using a rather un-orthodox whoa board kind of thing to get it done. I use an 18" x 30" 3/4" plywood board placed on top of a deck chair's arms. Stable enough to hold her weight, but if she moves too much it wiggles , etc. A couple more weeks and we will start to transition to the ground and then maybe the field with birds, etc.

Just wanted to share that things are going well with Whoa.

Now, the pointing is a different story.......

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:31 am

I think the board is too wide. You should get down to working on 4-6". Wider doesn't seem to hold their attention.

Best,

MNGSP · Post by **MNGSP** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:39 am

Sounds like you're doing a great job.
Have you tried moving further away from her to test her limits? You should try leaving her sight and have a helper correct her if she moves. Once she's got that down, then take it to the next step...the yard...the field.

Just some ideas to keep your dog thinking.

Jon

NVgsp · Post by **NVgsp** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:23 am

I agree with Jon...but i would start adding little distractions too. pick up something and give it a toss, make noises, sudden movements, just try to get a correction so that she knows that standing still is required with any distraction, this will help a lot when he/she gets around birds. it sounds like you are on the right track...just keep it up.

MNGSP · Post by **MNGSP** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:44 am

Good point NVgsp.

I used an empty milk jug and would kick it around her on the floor. It makes a nice loud noise when you kick it, and when it flies by the dog it's very tempting for them....Should eventually handle birds in front of her, let it flop around in front of her, let it fly away in front of her. If you have another dog around, have it walk by her. Do anything and everything you could think of that would make her want to break, and test her with it and correct her appropriately.
Stay calm if she moves and whoa her calmly.

Keep up the good work, sounds like you've got a great dog on your hands.

Jon

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:00 pm

Greg:

I may have to go that route, but for now she seems to be doing well.

I have tugged on the lead and she seems to hold pretty well. I stand about 6-8ft away and circle around her. I talk to her trying to see if she will break. I've tried some other minor distractions. There are ball games going on behind my house when this happens, etc.

I plan to up the anty here within the next couple of weeks before moving to the ground. I want to be sure that she is dependable on that board before I move the location.

Overall, I have been extremely pleased with her!

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:55 pm

I would not add distractions until you can walk inside for 5 minutes and the dog wont move once the whoa is given.

The dog should know the command and not move until instructed so before you add distractions.

Buckeye_V · Post by **Buckeye_V** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:24 am

I travel a bit for work and while I am gone my wife is kind enough to give the dog some repetitions on the who board to make sure the training is continuous. I know, I know - I am a very lucky man!

Anyhow, when she trains with the dog she says that when the lead is snapped on and she takes it out back to the board she jumps right up on the board. Is this causing a problem? Is it just the repetitions have conditioned her so she knows what is coming? I just do not want to form a bad habbit.