Hand signals for around?

[Ursa]

I'm teaching the crew the commands to go around. I'm using the verbal cues "get by" for clockwise and "away" for counterclockwise. Right now I'm just pointing with my right hand for get by and my left for away but this seems to confuse one of them. Possibly because "take it" also involves pointing at something from a distance?

Does anyone else have more distinctive hand signals for around?

 

[R Taft]

On our work dogs, who work on hand signals and wistles. we use a circular motion with either arm as to which way round we want them to go. But we ask for them to go around a flock/herd of sheep/cattle. We use it also for the dogs (newfs, any), say if one gate is glosed and we want them to "go around'' to another gate. And we use it to get objects in the water. I am not sure if we are on the same track.........Or if you require something totally different

 

[Ursa]

Sounds like we're on the same track, Ronnie. Right now they're learning to go around furniture - a little easier than a herd! Not sure that we have any practical use for this but we were all bored with the same old "heel, sit, down, swing" routine.

 

[RiverTheNewf]

Sounds like we're on the same track, Ronnie. Right now they're learning to go around furniture - a little easier than a herd! Not sure that we have any practical use for this but we were all bored with the same old "heel, sit, down, swing" routine.

Ok, I'm sorry I'm no help (we're still desperately trying to work on "take it")...but what is 'swing'?

 

[Liisa]

I was wondering the same thing!

(And don't feel bad - I can't get Cooper to take it either. I've given up for a bit and am working on "through" with a hula hoop)

 

[Ursa]

Ok, I'm sorry I'm no help (we're still desperately trying to work on "take it")...but what is 'swing'?

Swing is the command that I use for a left finish.

 

[R Taft]

OK....Go round is very handy as is go right go left. We use the hand signals for that. And we don't only use it for the work dogs. As I said it is very handy for when you are retrieving. Left and right are easy to teach when you are walking on the longer leash (6' ahead) Every time they go right say right and so on......Eventually when you say right they go right. And we tend to point in the direction at the same time. We do a lot of opportunistic training........If they do something we say it quick and we repeat this every time they do it with the same word.
You can also teach back-up that way. Every time Annabelle backed up we would say "back-up" and now she "backs -up" on verbal command.
This way of teaching does work , but it requires you to be very quick and use the same word every time with rewards too. I love this quiet way of positive training.

 

[johanand]

If you are teaching go around by luring your dog with a treat, try to focus on your body language while you are doing it, and when you are going further from the object try to keep your body language as similiar to it was when you were closer to the object. When your dog gets it, you can fade out the bigger moves.

Dogs are really great in understanding body language, its a natural way of communication between canines, so it's a lot easier for the dog to understand it, than vocal cues or pointing with fingers.

Sometimes dogs even get too good in reading body language, I have thought my dogs to keep eyecontact and "read" my shoulders while we are doing heelwork. Then I thaught Manda to back-up around me, the cue was a vocal cue and moving my left shoulder slightly backwards. And this was what happened in an obedience test when we were supposed to do "two steps to the left". You can see the result around 20 seconds from start of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-TZcl3IpYE

 

[Kelridge]

We do a lot of opportunistic training........If they do something we say it quick and we repeat this every time they do it with the same word.
You can also teach back-up that way. Every time Annabelle backed up we would say "back-up" and now she "backs -up" on verbal command.
This way of teaching does work , but it requires you to be very quick and use the same word every time with rewards too. I love this quiet way of positive training.[/quote]

I have found that Ronnie's method's have worked SO well with my dogs! I tend to 'talk' to my dogs alot anyway <g> so the verbal commands have been great! I have a pond and a stream that runs through the middle of my back yard - with two bridges to cross over to get into the back - I was concerned that Luci would try and go through the stream (which is thickly covered this time of year with Iris and cattails - etc so you really cannot see the water in alot of places right now ) I was so afraid she would run through it and into the water......so everytime we would cross the bridge, I would say "Bridge" and then tell her she was a good girl after she crossed it......It paid off one day when she went running toward me and was ready to run ACROSS the stream - and I yelled "BRIDGE" and she made a quick turn and Thank goodness went over the bridge!!! I also use the "back-up" command when opening the gates on the deck or in the house - I have not had to 'use' that for anything in particular - but hey....ya never know WHEN it will come in handy!!!

 

[RiverTheNewf]

johanand-that video is AMAZING! Her focus on you is very impressive. I watched in awe the entire time! I'm convinced we're sticking with the training!

 

[Ursa]

johanand-that video is AMAZING! Her focus on you is very impressive. I watched in awe the entire time! I'm convinced we're sticking with the training!

I'll second that! Very nicely done!

 

[R Taft]

If you are teaching go around by luring your dog with a treat, try to focus on your body language while you are doing it, and when you are going further from the object try to keep your body language as similiar to it was when you were closer to the object. When your dog gets it, you can fade out the bigger moves.

Dogs are really great in understanding body language, its a natural way of communication between canines, so it's a lot easier for the dog to understand it, than vocal cues or pointing with fingers.

Sometimes dogs even get too good in reading body language, I have thought my dogs to keep eyecontact and "read" my shoulders while we are doing heelwork. Then I thaught Manda to back-up around me, the cue was a vocal cue and moving my left shoulder slightly backwards. And this was what happened in an obedience test when we were supposed to do "two steps to the left". You can see the result around 20 seconds from start of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-TZcl3IpYE

This is very much how our work is when we are close..........Shoulders are important and so is eye contact, but hand signals and verbal is for away work. Our go around, go to the gate and send can be from about 20-40'away from the dog. I enjoyed watching that video.

 

[NessaM]

I'll second that! Very nicely done!

Thirding, and I love that her tail is wagging the entire time! She's clearly LOVING the work. What a doll baby. And I love how much pizazz she puts into her sits, tush down and then total, utter, focused attention - you can tell you did a lot of rewarding in the sit/heel position!