Out training today with NO RAIN!

[jai]

Hi All,
Boy it has been a long time since I have been hunting/training with Falko. Wolfgang and I have not seen each other in over a month since Falko had some sickness and Wolfgang was on Holiday.. Anyways today I went out for 3 hours with my friend Katharine and her weim Zadjo. He and Falko have been together before and Zadjo just turned 1 in June. Anyways, Katharine has been taking her boy to hunting training locally since last December or so and she has finished her first course with him. He scored very well and I believe he finished 2nd in school. She gave me some great tips about training and I want to share them with you. I am eager to try out some of her suggestions and see how Falko and I fair with them.
Her training is different from Wolfgangs. Wolfgang lets me make all my mistakes and he corrects them as necessary and lets me figure some things out on my own with my dog. Katharine, since she has gone to the school, is much more deliberate in her training of her dog. She also is very quick to correct me and point out that the hunters would eat us alive if things were not as precise as she does them.
Today she corrected me several times with my hand position of Platz and sitz, as well as the strength in my voice when I gave Falko the command. I now have the finger motion and the voice tag for it.. we will see tomorrow afternoon when we go again to the fields.
Granted since he has been sick, I have not been out with him really in a very long time, and to put it bluntly, he was not the best dog today. I have felt sorry for him and so I have not put the training demands I had in the past and he figured he did not have to do anything. BIG MISTAKE... Falko has missed training and running in the fields and out and about exploring so he was taking full advantage of this 'play date'.
Here is what we did..
re-emphasized the sit-to-stay with more force and deliberate hand commands. It's all in the voice since we are a bit smaller than the men.
Immediate reprimand when he tried to walk off during sit-stay. This was done with a low-tone and a finger movement. Not so much trying to 'overpower' the dog, just getting a hand on him to bring him back to his command. This is very hard to do.. but practise, practise, practise.
Now Wolfgang has not done this with me or his dogs, and he always emphasizes that Falko is still a pup and he does not start to 'train' his dogs until about 1 year. So to see the difference in the two is wonderful! Also, and my personal thought, is Katharine was the only woman there at the training and I think the guys may have been a little harder on her, whereas Wolfgang and I are the only ones around... But I really enjoyed listening to her and seeing from her perspective the discipline she has to her dog and how well he responds.
Last thing, Katharine and I last saw each other with the dogs when Zadjo was 9 months and he ran all over the place, did not listen and he was very high- strung.. today he was a lot calmer and really grown up.
So.. I have 2 schools of training to meld together. On Monday Wolfgang and I should see each other, we have tried for the past 2 weeks, but because of circumstances and weather we have not been able to. I will let you know what comes of this. and a few pics from today as well.
jai and falko

[Cheryl]

So sorry to hear of Falko being sick, Jai:( What was the problem? I'm happy to hear he's feeling well again:) We have had very hot weather (to us) up to 67 degrees farenheit and alittle above LOL I know most of you think that is maybe winter weather to you, but Pojken/Bori and I were HOT! He sits in the Nome River watching for the salmon lure to come back, he wants to retrieve it but when I do land a fish, we'll see what happens next;) I've been getting "skunked" meaning no nibbles, no fish, its too hot and they are sitting out there in the Bering Sea waiting to come into the mouths of the rivers...patience...

[greyghost]

Sounds like a very productive training day Jai. I know what you mean about the firm voice and there is no need to make it harsh. Firm but fair is what they understand most.

[jai]

Hi Les.. yes the firmness is what matters and also how much 'energy' one sends off. Wolgang sends some powerful energy and Falko will comply immediately. Wolfgang and I saw each other tonight for a couple of hours. Tried to get some water training done, but not too lucky.

Hi Cheryl.. hoping he had an allergic bout with the dreaded caterpillars here.. fingers crossed!
I am happy to hear that your crew is doing just lovely and that you are doing fine as well. I have missed seeing your posts.
jai and falko

[efica]

Hey!
Since we've got our Kika I think my voice has lowered down a bit, because our instructor was always correcting me to lower my voice when giving a command Lowering the voice really helps and I don't need to yell ;D And you're right about the energy...if I'm lazy and don't give enough energy in training Kika hesitates to comply
Falko has a really nice coat colour

Eva

[jai]

Hi Eva,
Kika looks so lovely in that foto you have on the avatar. She and Falko both have the long necks and the attentive stare.. lol. I know all about lowering my voice and getting nearer the dog and using my leash 'properly'. I too get lazy sometimes and I would love if all I would have to do is send this mental command and he would comply..but no luck!!


Cheryl.. can you send me that mix you use for your dog for the allergies? Right now I have Falko on 25-50mg of Hydroxyzine Poamate. But if you have something that is easily mixed I can give it a go.. I also have one herbal/homeopathic set of pills that quiet him and relax him when he has bout. He honestly is doing so much better.. For about 3 weeks he was in the house, no training, no long walks. He was literally jumping off all my furniture to try to exercise and he was getting rather nasty and aggressive as well. You know the saying.. a non-worked weim is not a happy-go-lucky weim. We had a few sleepless nights as well..
But starting training again and being able to get out and stretch he really loves it! And so do I!
While we are on vacation Falko will be another hunter learning how to water retrieve, get into the water and also some hunting. I hope he comes back a better boy! but then the one who will need the training will be be!! LOL
Take care,
jai and falko

[Cheryl]

Hi Jai:)

Right now Slade is only on a spoon of local honey (not really local but from Fairbanks, no honey up here but I've made some from coltsfoot and plan to make some fireweed honey this weekend).

The past year he was on a spoon of honey and benedryl with baths and hosing or wiping down, or lots of swimming. What are Falko's symptoms? Yarrow is a great topical, I wish I'd known that last year! If you mean the sleep syrup or tincture? I'll check for a response from you tomorrow and give any recipes you want...just not sure which one, yet...Cheryl

[tasha]

jai how do you train the platz and sitz? I think I'd like to see a test before I actually do one

[jai]

Hiya Tasha,
The platz and sitz are the "place and sit" but the down is the hard one. I have written one on the down in the training area/
jai

[tasha]

brilliant I can get her to stay down but not the keep your head on the floor... agghhh!!

Am tempted to send bonnie over to stay with you and wolfgang for proper training haha! If I do it we are going to be a bit of a laugh....

[jai]

Falko has the same problem.. He always wants to see what I am doing or look at the shadows in front of them and then in the air.. today he was captivated by an airplane. AHHHH!! But, we will continue! he is able to go about 40 meters off lead in the heel position and concentrate on me.. but then he has to pee. the joys of a male dog! I know why everyone seems to have females! LOL
jai hey when are you coming to visit?

[tasha]

September I'm going to stay with Anna on her little floating boat and then come down to you but will only be a flying visit to say hi this time

[jai]

Hiya Tasha, what do your dates look like? Oktoberfest is the end of the month if you are up to some German beer and rides? As well as shopping and dining.. keep me posted!
jai

[Cheryl]

OOooh! Jai! Have a yummy german sausage with stone ground mustard & sour kraut, dark bread or rye bread and some wholesome dark beer for me!!! Drooling, Cheryl, Misty, Slade, Bully & Bori!!!

[greyghost]

Mmmmmmm what other delights do they serve up in Germany. I am looking forward to my visit in December.

[Cheryl]

(Hot, as in warm from heat, the only way my now adult children will eat it now) potato salad, forgot to include that! Jai will be stuffed and dieting;)

[jai]

Hi All,
We took a weekend vacation down by Austria and Munich this weekend, and actually ate at the Hard Rock for dinner 2nite b4 coming home. Even with all the stores closed on Sunday, the place was bustling.. getting ready for the Oktoberfest.. lots of beer tents, food, (brats, sausages, crepes, gluwien, which is a hot red wine that warms you up in the cold. Goulash soup, schnitzel. I could go on, but everyone may be drooling.. ) The kids are partial to goulash soup and to some of the schnitzel. And prices are very reasonable. I like all the sweets and the breads and the cookies! Les, you will love it here!!! Christmas time markets are great to go to.I did a ton of shopping last year at the ones I went to. Buy a gluwein mug with the christmas market year and place on it for a couple of euro and keep the cup. I have one from Berlin, Nurenburg, Bamberg and Heidelberg. Nice souvenirs and gifts for friends as well. Rich loves all the dunkle (dark) beers.. I have what is called a radler,which is beer and soda mixed. I only weigh about a 100 pounds, so I can be quite intoxiated in under an hour!
Well take it easy.. have a nice weekend!
jai