Hold the Line

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Loads of great listener questions this week! If you have a question, email jo@forcefreegundog.com 

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 You only really get to know the dogs you own in the deepest detail, and Ren (our GSP) is an interesting one!

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I talk about how to introduce water to your young dog or puppy.  And I waffle a bit about what different dogs bring to the table and the importance of understanding that there are limitations determined by what they bring.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 How do we achieve reliable split retrieves whilst maintaining confidence?

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I answer some questions listeners have and also chat a bit about headcollars.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk in some detail about how we raised our Labrador litter in 2019 and our 'keeper' pup, Fyr. I discuss the evolution of her behavioural issues - which there was no sign of at all, before the age of 9wks and 3 days(!). And how eventually we made the difficult decision to rehome her at 6 months, to a home and a dog sport which suited...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I catch up on some listener questions about getting into trials; the value of different reinforcers and jackpots; fixing a turn whistle problem and how to introduce puppy HPRs to birds.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about the 'Baby 3-handed casting' (3HC) drill using platforms (instead of bumpers/dummies). I also chat with Emma Filby of Anglian Dog Works about platform or placeboard training - and how to make your own platforms.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about the 'drop' behaviour - and how to train it so that it functions even around high value items like dead, decomposing rabbits. That smell of death. And make you want to throw up. 

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I look at a few ideas for progressing from a behaviour indoors (like a sit or a stand) to a behaviour on cue around game and at moments of high distraction. 

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about how to train the first stage of the remote stop - ' Capturing Stillness' .

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about some difficulties I'm experiencing with my 7 month old Weimaraner, Roche - and I go through a list of suggestions for people who are also struggling with this especially challenging time with their dog! This info will also be useful for people whose dogs are very interested in the environment, whatever their age.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I answer a couple of listener questions: Working with a dog which is gun-shy and dealing with a pup about the house - how to prevent them from harassing other dogs and getting into stuff they shouldn't... 

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I chat with Hannah Woods and Ian Clark about a minority breed - the Stabyhoun. For more info see the website for the UK Stabyhoun Association at stabyhounuk.com

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I talk more here about the importance of developing reinforcers which are going to function in the field and in the presence of game - before introducing a pup to game. And I problem-solve (or at least waffle about) issues a listener is having with a lack of enthusiasm. 

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk (in brief!) about attachment theory and wonder why we don't apply this to baby puppies more. And I answer some listener questions about preventing resource guarding and raising a pup which wants to hunt (whatever is available!).

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 A juicy episode with loads of different bits and pieces! What does exercising a gundog look like if we stop 'walking the dog'?  Is it okay to play tug with a gundog or does it encourage hard mouth?  How can we stop a dog visiting the dummy thrower on the way back from a mark?

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I answer some listener questions about crate training, walks versus training and how to train the turn whistle. (We covered the turn whistle a few episodes ago, but here's some more info :) ) 

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I answer a listener's question about positive interrupters - and whether using them can actually reinforce the unwanted behaviour preceding them. When is a chain being formed? And I share some thoughts about food motivation, after battling low food motivation with our GSP for a year.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I address some listener questions about marked retrieves, shot, the sequence of events during a mark (how to communicate to the dog that you don't want a retrieve) and also dealing with male dogs who want to pee on everyone else's pee... 

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 How to introduce your dog to shot, so that the shot comes to cue 'sit' (and not 'run in and Get The Thing!'). And - what exactly can you get involved with, if you're a vegetarian and you own a gundog?

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I pull out some threads from earlier interviews with Jane Ardern (Episode 39) and Leanne Smith (Episode 9) to flesh out some thinking about developing control in the presence of game... 

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I answer the questions of a few newbies and also give some equipment recommendations for folks who are getting ready to start training. 

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I talk here about my new 5 week course, Steady! - control at the point, flush and fall - available from forcefreegundog.com I also answer a listener's question about 'happiness' in dogs trained using force-free methods and issues around walking young dogs on leash for extended periods of time.