Hold the Line
Episodes
147 episodes
Episode 147 - ethics and head collars
Sometimes life is complicated. If dogs are losing out on opportunities for exercise and enrichment because people can't manage them, then their quota of 'good stuff' in life gets a lot lower. A dog which never leaves the house is going to exper...
Episode 146 - get those puppies swimming!
Loads of tips towards helping you to get pups swimming!
Episode 145 - pointers, setters and HPRs are different (sometimes distance work is easier than up-close control)
In this episode, I talk about a certain subgroup of gundogs which are very motivated by environmental exploration/reinforcers. They require a different training approach. These dogs might find it much easier to work at a distance (with behaviou...
Episode 144 - marking vs steadiness, revisited
The best marking is most likely if we send the dog immediately the retrieve falls. However, this also erodes steadiness. What to do?
Episode 143 - how releasing the dog at the right time, improves focus
I just wanted to drill down (pun intended) on this particular issue, because it's such a great one for improving focus and attention when you're battling environmental distractions.
Episode 142 - fix your (dog's) focus!
I talk here about a few ways to help dogs which are struggling to offer us focus and attention. Do check out my Focus and Attention course, for more info.
Episode - 141 - things that I wish people knew
This is a random collection of thoughts directed towards helping people become better trainers by addressing things other than the usual 'how to train stuff'. From personality traits of effective trainers to gaps in knowledge and misassumptions...
Episode 140 - how to train the point, flush and (steadiness to) fall
This sequence can be really confusing for people at first, leading to people often trying to train this in the actual order it actually happens.
Episode 139 - Q&A bits and pieces
This episode is a little bit of everything. It is a buffet of an episode. Not sure if it's all you can eat, but it is a heck of a lot.
Episode 138 - PUPPIES 8-12 weeks
Here I waffle randomly about what I'm doing with puppies in this age range. It doesn't really involve much gundog-specific stuff, because it's about helping pups to feel safe in the world.
Episode 137 - the value of picking up and some thoughts about docking
I talk here about the advantages of picking up, especially for HPR breeds (spaniels would also benefit for similar reasons) - and also offer some thoughts about docking after our experiences with our recent litter of Weim pups.
Episode 136 - THE NEW BOOK IS OUT!
Yes, finally, it's here. The long-awaited sequel to *The Fundamentals*, the new book is called *Force-Free Gundog Training: Precision and Progression" and it's available in Amazons everywhere. Whoop whoop...
Episode 135 - The New Book is Nearly Ready!
Amazingly, my new book (Force-Free Gundog Training: Precision and Progression) is nearly ready. WHOOP!! It should be out in a few weeks....
Episode 134 - the come-in whistle, ticks and canine pregnancy
This is a ramble of an episode (both subject-wise and literally) covering ticks, the come-in whistle on retrieves and early canine pregnancy.
Episode 133 - Trying to time a breeding (aka the right stuff, in the right place, at the right time)
In this episode, I recount our incredibly stressful race against the clock to get the right stuff, in the right place, at the right time. Phew.
Episode 132 - working tests (the good, the bad, the ugly)
What are the pros and cons of working tests?
Episode 131 - marking vs steadiness and moving recalls off the long-line
This episode is an outdoor ramble (verbally and physically!)....
Episode 130 - tips for advancing water work
Here are some useful tips for moving onto marks and then blinds across water.
Episode 129 - uncontrolled behaviour in the yard & training multiple dogs
This is a slight bonanza of a wandering episode, where I waffle about prepping for our upcoming litter, woes around tick products, why it's a useful training opportunity to have a dog which is highly aroused... in your yard and how to train man...
Episode 128 - enjoying the journey and structuring your training on blinds
I talk about prioritising your enjoyment of the actual activity of working your dog in the field, separate to any achievements, goals or objectives. It's not about the destination, it's about the journey. I also talk about the impor...
Episode 127 - using launchers and control at the flush
In this episode I waffle in response to a listener's question about using bird launchers and control at the flush of game.
Episode 126 - ticks, unfixable things and plans for the future
This episode is an assortment of amazingly interesting things. It's like a box of Quality Street, only with a lot of The Purple Ones.
Episode 125 - a dog which is under control in training, but not in trials?
A quah episode (question and answer) about a dog who is under good control in training scenarios - but out of control, in trials.