Hold the Line

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I answer a question about training the Remote Sit.  And I cover Phase 7 of the clicker retrieve - putting the hand target and pick-up together.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 My book, Force-Free Gundog Training:  The Fundamentals for Success , is now available on Amazon (world-wide!).  If you do pick up a copy, please do leave an Amazon review to give me some click and treats and make it more likely that I will be motivated to get to work on the next book!!  I have a proof left over - a copy of the book which is exactly the same as t...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I chat with Anne Taguchi from Touchstone Weimaraners in Los Angeles. Anne is a seasoned and accomplished field trial competitor and breeder of working Weimaraners for the field and for hunting purposes.  Anne also runs a popular website called Just Weimaraners - which is about everything-Weimaraner.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about why it's important to plan your training sessions. I also mention a great free template you can download for planning your training, which is available from Hannah Branigan's super website .  You can listen to Hannah talking about planning training sessions on her own podcast (Drinking from the Toilet) here .  It's ep...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I look at Phase 6 of the clicker retrieve process:  Proofing the hold against food.   If your dog can master this step, you will have an extremely reliable retrieve.  Your dog will be unlikely to drop in the presence of distractions and you will be able to use this when your dog exits water to achieve a reliable hold and to avoid the dog droppin...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I chat with Dr Gayle Watkins about what Avidog has to offer us as breeders, puppy owners and handlers.  If you'd like more information about Avidog, please email info@avidog.com Gayle is based in the US and she has been a breeder for over 40 years.  She breeds multipurpose golden retrievers under the Gaylans affix.  Her dogs have been super...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I attempt to cover several heelwork exercises at breakneck speed.   I also answer a question from Ally about over-arousal during heelwork.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I discuss the difference between heelwork and loose-lead walking .  I conceptualise heelwork and what it is (a moving stay, with a beginning and an end - and duration in between).  And I discuss one huge consideration for training specifically retriever heelwork, when using positive reinforcement:  How do we prevent the dog staring up at us, and...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk with Nick Benger about two completely different subjects:  Training dogs to focus on their handlers in distracting environments (otherwise known as 'engagement' training), which is a special interest of his - and we also talk about how (and why) to have conversations with trainers who use aversives. Nick himself has a podcast -...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about Phase 4 and 5 of the clicker retrieve.  Phase 4 is the Hand Target and Phase 5 is Introducing Slight Distance and a Mini-Hold. Be sure to check out my YouTube channel for some free videos giving an overview of the clicker retrieve process. If you'd like to join us on the 5 week online clicker retrieve course (costing £35 and ac...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I cover Phase 1 (just a touch) and Phase 2 (pick-ups) of the clicker retrieve process. We now have lots of people, the world over, taking a 5 week clicker retrieve course which follows these methods.  If you'd like to join us, please email me at galody@mac.com for more information.   The clicker retrieve is the force-free alternative to force-fetch.  

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I chat with force-free gundog trainer, Jules Morgan.  Jules is a full APDT (UK) member and an accredited trainer and assessor for the Gundog Club .  Jules' training organisation is called Dog Training Naturally and she's been a professional dog trainer for about 25 years.  She is entirely force-free and she is also a crossover trainer,...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I cover Phase 1 of the clicker retrieve.  There are eight phases and I'll be covering these at various points in upcoming podcasts. The clicker retrieve is the force-free equivalent to force-fetch.  If you have any problems following these steps or you have any questions, feel free to email me for help and I will cover the issue on a future...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 After a question from a listener, I talk about the clicker retrieve and how to get things set up to begin a clicker retrieve session.  The plan is to continue, in future episodes, to talk listeners through how to train the clicker retrieve(!).  There are eight 'phases' to the clicker retrieve process I use.  This episode is the first in the series on t...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I interview Leanne Smith .  Leanne is a force-free gundog trainer and handler, based in Devon UK.  She is a full member of the APDT (UK), holds a diploma from COAPE, and is a Gundog Club trainer and instructor.  Leanne owns and works three cocker spaniels.  Leanne's training organisation is called Dogs R Dogs  and, via Dogs R Dogs, she also...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I talk about the Really Bad Thing that just happened with the book I've written and the manner in which what's happened reflects the conflict between mainstream training and force-free training. Then I talk about 'arousal levels' and frustration-based behaviours - and what we can do, to help gundogs with these. For more information on the &ap...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 I talk about harnesses :  Back-fastening harnesses and front-fastening harnesses.  Harnesses which have a Y-front, versus those which barricade the chest.  Fit.  And gape-age (I made that word up!) at the shoulder, as something to avoid. I discuss the recent history of harnesses - and how the force-free dog training scene has been transformed by the appearance o...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk with Dr Claire Brand .  Claire works springer spaniels and is a trustee of the Gundog Club .  The Gundog Club is a UK-based organisation which offers a graded testing scheme for gundogs.  It is a force-free organisation, with all Gundog Club instructors and assessors being committed to force-free gundog training.  You can find out more ab...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about how to train the  Sit (or Stand) to Flush , using force-free methods.  (You may also want to listen to Episode 2 - my interview with Elsa and Lena - for more on this subject.) At the end of the podcast, I talk about how to get started with training the Back casts - Back-Left and Back-Right.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk to UK retriever trainer, Collette May .  We talked in some depth about UK retriever working tests, in a bid to encourage more people to dip their toes into mainstream competition.  Collette competes with her three black labs in UK tests and trials, as well as picking up on shoots.  She is a full member of the IMDT and an accredited Gundog...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I talk about marking.  What is good marking and why do we need it?  How can we establish good marking habits?  Why should the dog not look away from the location of fall unless cued to?  And a few other bits and pieces.

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 In this episode, I interview Swedish force-free gundog trainers Elsa Blomster and Lena Gunnarsson.  They are the authors of the book 'Retrieving for All Occasions' - which is available from their website retrievingforalloccasions.com They also offer online gundog training courses, which we discuss in the podcast.  Their organisation is called Klickerfö...

🙃 Text me (Jo) at Hold the Line 🙃 Hello to you all!  This is just a quick intro to let you know what the podcast is about and what you can look forward to hearing, in future.