To use the program described in this book, you should have a remote training collar with
continuous stimulation, variable intensity, and selectable intensity at the transmitter.
When and how to use your Tri-Tronics collar for each stage of training. Over 200
photographs plus detailed handling drill diagrams. Covers field work, marking skills,
hunting situations and handling program.
To use the program described in this book, you should have a remote training collar
with continuous stimulation, variable intensity, and selectable intensity at the
transmitter. We prefer the Tri-Tronics Pro 100 and Pro 500 models for this type of
training because these models have lower levels of selectable continuous stimulation than
the Flyway Special, Pro 200, Upland Special, Sportsman or Companion.
Continuous Stimulation - The stimulation stays on as long as the transmitter button
is held down up to a maximum of 8-10 seconds.
Variable Intensity - The trainer can change the level of intensity of stimulation
by changing an intensity plus, a contact point, a dial on the transmitter or selecting a
different key (button).
Selectable Intensity at the Transmitter - The handler can modify the stimulation
level by pressing different buttons or keys on the transmitter.
Tri-Tronics Retriever Training presents, for the first time, a thorough explanation
of the proper use of Tri-Tronics electronic collars in training retrievers. The techniques
emphasize humane methods based on a solid foundation of canine psychology.
Jim and Phyllis Dobbs and Alice Woodyard
take the reader through their step-by-step program for retriever training which
emphasizes, above all, "making it easy for dogs to learn."
Included are sections on how to select a
pup with good working potential and how to get started early with "puppy
headstart" training that awakens the pup's desire to learn. The reader is then
carefully educated on the proper introduction of the Tri-Tronics collar. The collar
introduction program utilizes Jim and Phyllis' highly successful techniques for teaching
reliable responses to commands, while not impairing the dog's enthusiasm and style.
The book covers in detail how to proceed
with the young retriever's field work, develop its marking skills, prepare it for hunting
situations and finally advance it through a handling program. The important question
of when and how to use the Tri-Tronics collar and when not to use it is answered for each
stage of training. Over 200 photographs, together with detailed diagrams of the handling
drills, are also included.
This book is written particularly for the
retriever owner who wants to train his own dog for hunting, hunting tests and field
trials. In addition, anyone interested in knowing more about how electronic training
collars can be used to enhance effective dog training will want to take advantage of this
book.
Jim and Phyllis Dobbs were the directors
of the Tri-Tronics Training Center in Marysville, California. They are expert dog
trainers who train many types of working dogs to advanced levels, and have competed
successfully both nationally and internationally. They work with handlers and their dogs
in such fields as pointers, retrievers, spaniels, hounds, schutzhund, police dogs,
assistance dogs, stockdogs, companion and competition obedience dogs.
Based on their extensive knowledge of dog
training and the adaptability of the Tri-Tronics products, they have developed training
methods that are logical and extremely effective. With their students at the Training
Center, in their seminars, and now in this book, Jim and Phyllis demonstrate how
electronic training collars should be used to produce happy, confident and willing
retrievers.
Alice Woodyard has been working with
the Training Center for nine years, and has co-authored several articles on electronic dog
training with Jim and Phyllis. She has titled retrievers at all levels of the AKC and
NAHRA hunting test programs and competes successfully in licensed field trials, utilizing
training techniques developed by Jim Phyllis and now described in this book.
"Tri-Tronics Retriever Training covers training how, when, where and why in more
detail and with greater clarity than any book I have read or any video I have seen."
-- Charles Breslin
"Don't let the word 'Retriever' fool you, this book is an excellent book for many
facets of dog training including conventional methods." -- Art Rodger
"Spaniels in the Field," Cincinnati, OH
CONTENTS
About Jim and Phyllis Dobbs xvi
About Alice Woodyard xvii
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
Why Dogs Work 1
A Step By Step System 2
Chapter 2 The Tri Tronics Training Collar 3
The History of Electronic Collars 3
How Tri Tronics Collars Work 5
Features of the Tri Tronics Collar 5
Why Use Different Intensity Levels 5
Continuous vs Momentary Stimulation 6
Praise Button 7
Chapter 3 How to Pick Pup 9
Socializing the Pup 11
Chapter 4 Beginning Training 13
The Puppy Headstart Program 13
Why Use Food Rewards for Pups 13
Teaching the "Sit" Command 14
Teaching the "Down" Command 15
Teaching the "Here" Command 16
Teaching the "Kennel" Command 16
Puppy Retrievers 17
Introducing the Leash 18
Teaching the "Heel" Command 19
Teaching the Meaning of "Break" 20
The "Good Dog" Reward 20
Teaching the Meaning of "NO" 20
Teaching the "Sit Whistle" 20
Teaching the "Come In Whistle" 21
Teaching the "Look" Command 22
The Training Table 23
Teaching the "Over" Command 23
Is the Pup Left of Right Handed? 25
Teaching the Left and Right Hand "Back"
Commands 26
Chapter 5 Lessons for the Hunting Puppy 27
Teaching the "Find It" Command 28
Teaching the Hunt Whistle 29
Look Where the Gun is Pointed 30
Retrieving Underwater 31
Introduction to Boats 31
Teaching the "Shake" Command 32
Chapter 6 Developing Retrieving Desire 35
Chapter 7 Introduction to Water 37
Chapter 8 Introduction to Gunfire 41
Chapter 9 Unwanted Barking and Other Misbehaviors
How to Stop Barking 43
How to Stop Unwanted Behaviors 44
Chapter 10 Completing the Teaching Phase 45
Chapter 11 Beginning Electronic Training 47
Train to Develop Willingness to Obey 47
Always Teach the Command First 48
Start with the Three Action Introduction 48
Guide the Beginner 50
Make Training Fun for the Dog 51
Have the Tri Tronics Collar on the Dog 51
Chapter 12 The Correct Timing of Stimulation 53
When to Start Stimulation 53
When to Turn Off Stimulation 53
When to Phase Out Stimulation 54
When to Increase Stimulation 55
Use of the Timing Monitor 55
Chapter 13 Fitting the Collar on the Dog 57
Chapter 14 Choosing the Correct Intensity Plug 59
Determining Sensitivity Level 60
Using Higher Intensity Plugs 60
Chapter 15 Conditioning Praise Tone 61
Chapter 16 The Three Action Introduction 63
Week One - The First Action (Moving Toward the Handler) 64
Training the Dog to Bend with the Collar 64
Training the Dog to Come with Collar 65
Training "Heel" with the Collar 66
Teaching the Dog to Respond to "Break" 68
Teaching Changes of Pace and Turns 69
When to Increase Intensity in the First Action 69
Increasing Distractions 70
The Avoidance Response 70
Teaching the Dog to Respond to the "Come In Whistle" 71
Week Two - The Second Action (Moving Away from the Handler) 71
Training "Kennel" with the Collar 71
Teaching the Dog Accept Praise 73
Teaching the Dog to Turn Off Stimulation by
Leaving Your Side 73
Teaching the Dog to Turn Off Stimulation by
Taking a Cast 75
Transition to the Avoidance Response 76
The "Place" and "Stay" Commands 76
The "Place" Command 76
The "Stay" Command 77
Week Three - The Third Action(Becoming Stationary) 78
Training "Sit" with the Collar 78
"Sit" from Motion 79
Transition to the Avoidance Response 81
Reinforcing the "Sit Whistle" 82
Steadying 84
Retrieving from a Remote Location 85
Training "Down" with the Collar 86
Chapter 17 The Trained Retrieve 89
Teach the "Hold" Command First 89
Mouth Problems 90
Introducing the Training Table 91
Introducing the "Drop" Command First 92
The "Hold" Command 92
Holding the Dumbbell 93
Holding Different Retrieve Objects 94
Hold, Carry and Deliver 96
The Fetch Command 97
Fetching Various Objects 97
Vary the Form of Pressure 97
Reinforcing "Fetch" with the Tri Tritronics Collar 99
"Fetch" Off the Ground 101
Introducing Live Birds 101
The "Back" Command 102
Developing a Quick Pick up and a Prompt Return 103
"Back" and "Over" into Water 104
Chapter 18 Sit to Flush 107
Use a Bird Launcher 107
Shot Fliers 110
Chapter 19 Beginning Marking 113
Some Things to Remember When Setting Up a
Simple Mark 113
Preparation for Retired Guns 115
Delivery in the Heel Position 116
Repeating Marks 116
Using a Dummy Launcher 117
Introducing Decoys 118
Chapter 20 Honoring 121
Chapter 21 How to Stop Unwanted Chasing 123
Chapter 22 Developing the Hunting Retriever 125
Trailing 125
Teaching the Dog to "Hunt it Up" 126
Quartering 129
Controlling Range 130
Honoring Another Dog's Flush 130
Marking Off the Gun Barrel 131
Catching Diving Ducks 132
Chapter 23 Taking an Initial Line 137
Precise Alignment Drills 137
Alignment Drill 1 - Square Pattern 138
Alignment Drill 2 - Backwards Heeling 138
Alignment Drill 3 - Backwards Pivot 140
Alignment Drill 4 - Return to Heel 141
Alignment Drill 5 - One Step Realignment 141
Alignment Drill 6 - Forward Pivot 145
Alignment Drill 7 - Locking on 146
Alignment Drill 8 - Push Pull Drill 146
Lining Drills 147
Lining Drill 1 - Four Bumper Wagon Wheel 149
Lining Drill 2 - Eight Bumper Wagon Wheel 150
Lining Drill 3 - Sixteen Bumper Wagon Wheel 152
Back Refusal on Land 153
Chapter 24 Handling 155
Dogs Are Left or Right Handed 155
Teaching Left and Right Hand "Back" 156
Casting "Over" 157
Left and Right Hand "Back" Drills 158
Left and Right Hand "Back" with Diversions 159
The "Come In Whistle" 161
Baseball 163
Stopping the Dog with a "Sit Whistle" 164
"Over" with Diversions 167
Developing Three Parallel Lines 167
Modified Double "T" Pattern 169
Modified Double "T" Pattern with Diversion Marks 172
Modified Double "T" Pattern with Obstacles 174
Chapter 25 Preventing Popping 179
Chapter 26 Transition to the Field 181
Sight Blinds - Running to Visible Targets 182
Channel Concepts - Running Between Guides
On Land 182
Permanent Blinds - Place Training 184
Incorporating Hazards 184
Multiple Blinds 186
Blinds with Diversion |
