A comment on my footwork. Do notice I do NOT move my feet at all as I bend way forward to get the 12" retrieve distance. You will notice I DO MOVE forward with my right foot once the dog has its mouth on its dumbbell. Why? Because at that point, the dog has moved forward on its own with command of "Fetch" and I am seeking to imply 'Stay' here now.
The distinction to remember is that when doing the "Fetch", should you lose your balance and need to step forward to stay upright (this happens more often than you realize), at this point in the dogs understanding, step forward with your LEFT foot. This communicates to the learning dog that it is appropriate to stand and go put its mouth on its dumbbell.
Seems like a minor thing to you but realize we have invested many months training these dogs to 'read our foot'. If you lose your balance and step forward with your RIGHT foot BEFORE the dog has its mouth on its dumbbell, the dog is getting very mixed messages. So, to be fair to a learning dog, in addition to everything else you are doing, be careful with your footwork.
A comment on my footwork. Do notice I do NOT move my feet at all as I bend way forward to get the 12" retrieve distance. You will notice I DO MOVE forward with my right foot once the dog has its mouth on its dumbbell. Why? Because at that point, the dog has moved forward on its own with command of "Fetch" and I am seeking to imply 'Stay' here now.
ReplyDeleteThe distinction to remember is that when doing the "Fetch", should you lose your balance and need to step forward to stay upright (this happens more often than you realize), at this point in the dogs understanding, step forward with your LEFT foot. This communicates to the learning dog that it is appropriate to stand and go put its mouth on its dumbbell.
Seems like a minor thing to you but realize we have invested many months training these dogs to 'read our foot'. If you lose your balance and step forward with your RIGHT foot BEFORE the dog has its mouth on its dumbbell, the dog is getting very mixed messages. So, to be fair to a learning dog, in addition to everything else you are doing, be careful with your footwork.
Piece of cake, right-:)