Motivator training "problem"

[andrew007]

Hi folks, it has been a while since last time I wrote. So I had a more recent picture for you :)

I have moved far from the city so Logan can have more space. He now has like 600 sqr yards of green space, and I can see how happy is he now :) I still work from 9-18 so he spends lots of time alone, bu he has plenty of space to run, birds to bark to, and all the things that dogs do ;)

Now to my question, when Logan was a puppy, I had a trainer come to my house and give him basic obedience training. That went well, but, he used motivators all the time, so now, Logan is crazy about anything you have in your hand. Thats not a real problem with a house dog, but now, I am trying to further his training in hunting. He is a nice retriever of things that are in your hand, but, when I want him to retrieve ie. a pidgeon, he just goes and grab one, brings it to me and waits me to throw the pidgeon so he can go and get it again. There are scores of pidgeons dead in the field, but he just wants mine. Same thing happens with ducks, but it is easier, because when he hears the splash of the bird in the water he can be directed to go and fetch, but when he came, if there are more birds in the water he does not care, he sits and wait for the duck in my hand or bag to be thrown.

Now, if I dont have a motivator in my hand, he does not even respond (most of the times) to my here, sit, stay or down. Things he does pretty well when I have a motivator.

Now I started retraining all the basic commands without a motivator other than "good boy" and some love ;). But I am having serious attention problems with him, I always keep the lessons of less than 15 minutes, lots of play and such, but he seems to much interested in motivators than anything.

Anyone had this same problem? I know he will never forget the motivator, but at his age, can a I retrain him as I am wanting? Anyone had any similar experience or can give me some insight? :054

Sorry for the long post, and TIA for any help.

[Tailer'sFolks]

I will enjoy hearing all the responses!

[Soda]

Pretty good focus there! After Rusty is reliable on whatever behavior we're working on we use the treats intermittenly. Treats meaning ball, food or believe it or not...the water hose. He never knows when there might be a treat coming. We did this gradually starting off every other time then every third time...etc. It took patience in waiting for the correct behavior and sometimes we really had to start from scratch. Some people use clicker training which conditions the dog to expect the treat but understand that the exact behavior that is reinforced by the click is the correct one.

As far as the field work and hunting techniques you may want to enlist the help of an expert in that area. My experience which is limited is that the teaching methods may need to be different since the dog is working away from you. I've also found the terminology is very different from the experience I've had so far with competitive obedience. If you've found a good obedience class or GR club they maybe able to give you a referral.

[KATERINA & TSOUFI]

I will only talk to you about the hunting training...Get an expert...I trained Tsoufi as a hunting dog with the help of an experienced trainer. Its difficult, requires a lot of time and before you even begin to train him to retrieve birds he must be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT in obedience. There are several steps that he must go through before he brings you the bird...

Furry Hugs from Greece...


Katerina & Tsoufi & Keagan

[andrew007]

I will only talk to you about the hunting training...Get an expert...I trained Tsoufi as a hunting dog with the help of an experienced trainer. Its difficult, requires a lot of time and before you even begin to train him to retrieve birds he must be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT in obedience. There are several steps that he must go through before he brings you the bird...

Furry Hugs from Greece...


Katerina & Tsoufi & Keagan

I am back, thks all for the answers/insight.

About getting a proffesional trainer, here in Uruguay, it is impossible, there are no professional trainers at all, imagine getting a hunting dog trainer...

Acctually I am thinking about starting something in that line of work... but we will see in the future, because computer work and field training does not mix well ;)

I tied fixating his responses in something else than the motivator, he was never trained with treats, but he behaves like a saint when he has his food in the plate and is waiting for the order :), but it seems that he still thinks everything is about the motivator. Even, when you give him a bone, sometimes, he thinks it is the motivator, and starts running behind you with the bone and leaving it at your feet to throw...

That may be very annoying if the bone is the size the one you see in the picture ;)

[sabydoo]

Wow, what kinds of bone is that?

[andrew007]

Wow, what kinds of bone is that?

I don't know the exact translation of the name of the bone, but it is the upper part of the rear leg of a cow.

He is still trying to figure how to chew it :)

[happygold]

Check on the 'hunting with goldens forum' here.
Do a search.
Also i beleive 'Ducks Unlimited' site has a hunting dog section.
good luck!