Upland Retriever - Page Four
Page Four: Home is Where the “Bark” is.
We are nearing the end of our initial two-week training period for Cooper - and me. As predicted, Cooper has been the perfect first retriever for my training practice and has been making very good progress; Cooper’s owners sufficiently blazing a trail.
It has come to my notice that Cooper is a rather insecure pup and tends to bark at new or strange people, dogs, and such - even barked when startled by the pigeons flapping about in our coop. At (his) home, Cooper comes out barking, with hackles up, each time I pick him up. Some might misdiagnose this behavior as, “That’s Cooper’s way of greeting”. No, truly, that’s not the case.
Cooper had sat quietly while a stranger in a vehicle stopped to chat about Cooper and dog training. I was very pleased with Coop’s behavior but, at the same time, took note that it wasn’t upsetting him in the slightest. Again, I’ve tucked that observation away.
One of the reasons I have been training in busier environments is to build Cooper’s tolerance and acceptance to all that is around him. In addition to the airport park, we have held short training sessions in a few mall parking lots that remain half empty due to failing businesses - signs of our times. There are vehicles and people moving about in the distance; just far enough away to be registered but not attractive. These lots have long curbed parking structures that are excellent for keeping a dog next to you while training heel off-leash - so to speak.
Using a curb has helped Cooper maintain a line during off-lead training.
Cooper heels wonderfully as long as you hold the leash. When the leash/cord is allowed to trail behind, Cooper seemed to recognize the difference and even showed signs that he wanted me to take back the reins. He would leap-up along side me and nuzzle my empty hand above his head as we walked. And, of course, if a smell got his attention, he tended to stop to investigate. This undesirable activity has almost completely disappeared.
The fix for the nosing around for scent is to keep Cooper’s head up while on walks; not allow his sniffing about. Do this by jerking his head up with the leash when he drops his head to sniff. I add a loud and discussed sound - “Aah!” - along with the jerk of the leash. It’s the noise I’ve used to replace “No!” in my training; some often use, “Leave it”! To further the process along, I began holding the retrieving bumper up near my chest as we walk to keep his eyes up and on me. (Well, “up”, anyway!)
Minding his manners back at home.
To instill good behavior at his house, I have begun working him a little in the owner’s driveway. The first release from the travel kennel produced an anxious bark as he leaped from the vehicle. “Ah-hah, it’s a conditioned response at home”! The matter of barking, itself, is not really a concern for our goal of creating a mannered field retriever. However, it is an interesting observation regarding his personality - his psyche, some might say - and useful in our training “toolbox” for Coop.
As we began working in the driveway, Cooper was slightly off his game and exhibited goofy - excited - behavior. By applying a reasonable level of insistence - showing Coop that he couldn’t wriggle out - he soon calmed down and worked honestly. Eventually, I had Cooper wait in the portable kennel until the dog-sitter arrived. All to replace chaotic behavior with calm acceptance.
Cooper in quiet reserve.
Indeed, Cooper has improved in every category of training that I have required from him. It even appears that Cooper can be calm with the application of consistent and insistent training along with managed exercise. Just what one might expect when dealing with a rambunctious teenager!
Well, Cooper is a ways from being released in fields full of birds but that goal is almost within sight! Was Cooper’s owners happy? - Check the Testimonial page. And, how long before field work and birds? - Please, Stay Tuned!
