That sounds so simple, doesn't it? So what do you do in the field? I kinda thought that one of the (other) important tenants of it was no fetch work outside of the FF program til the dog has been through it and thoroughly proofed.Kiger2 wrote:Jonov,
I ALLWAYS approach giving advice towards the newer trainers. I have given new trainers one more tool to use to make a decision on when they can FF. Should they let pup munch birds all season or can one do both??
I wouldnt for a minute tell someone to do something that would harm the dog or training progress. No one else has stated they have actually done FF during season or given any real issues that would develope. They have only provided speculation. I have actually done it, on more than one occaision.
Do it or dont do it, but dont choose not to because you think something bad will happen. You wont have issues doing it during season that you wouldnt have doing before season.
Once again , the rule is simple, FF at home, dont enforce anything in the field until it has been proofed in the yard.
So, take a situation of someone with their dog. The dog has some issues with the retrieve like you describe and needs the FF program.
Do you:
A)Not hunt the dog while FF'ing it, which for many of us (me included) would mean, no more hunting?
B) Let the dog go hunting with you one or two weeks into the program. Keep in mind, a working person has finite days to hunt every year. In my state, its Saturday or whatever weekday I chose to burn vacation with
Personally, I'd put up with sloppy work that recovered my ducks rather than no duck hunting at all.
Kiger2 wrote:Dogs are place oriented . What we do on a training table has to be transferred to the field. We can do 2 or 3 sessions one day, then go hunt the next. Then go back and train. We just do not enforce anything in the field that hasnt been fully proofed in the yard. The dog wont care. He doesnt care because he does not associate training at home with hunting. Its totally different things.
Doesnt matter what stage youre at. Pup will pick up right where he left off. Ive been FF a lab for months. He belongs to my sons sister in law. Its taking months because hes only here when it works for both of us. Due to vacations, hunting, dogs in heat etc..... He has been gone for weeks. When he gets here, I put the collar on and walk towards the table and he runs and jumps up and we pick up right where we left off. Theres nothing confusing. He knows the drill.
I have done this with other dogs.
I'd agree...but don't you think that you're setting yourself up to confuse the issue when you move it to the field, if you do it simultaneously? I think the "Table, then Yard, then Field" logic has some real merit, and that there's a good chance that you can confuse the issue doing both at the same time, force breaking the "right jaw" while the "left jaw" gets to screw around.
Kiger2 wrote:One other really important factor to consider. The parts of FF where the dog may be stressed we dont even use birds. The dog doesnt get Forced on birds until its competent with bucks, bumpers or ??
So your advice is not to do it, even though you have no personal experience trying it. I have experience doing it, Whose giving better advice??
I have experience doing a lot of things that worked well for me, that I'd probably do again in the situation I was in, but that doesn't make it good advice.