Things You Need to Know But Were Afraid to Ask
by Glenda Brown
Beginners often do not know what equipment they need to get started in any field activities. Below are some suggestions for potential field trainers.
Was it a Rockefeller or a Vanderbilt who replied when asked about the cost of his new yacht, “If you have to ask, you can’t afford it!” Not that you should have to spend that kind of money, but, regretfully, the field is an area where you can really get carried away. But, have no fear, here are some of the basic items you need to get started.
The best thing of all would be to get a mentor. If you can’t find one at the moment, the following is a list of some equipment which will help you make that beginning.
You should have a leash together with a choke or a buckle collar for training. You will need these for your basic obedience work. You will want to order a whistle, although a couple is better so that you always have a spare. You will need a lanyard from which to hang said whistles. Many trainers use a clear Gonia competition whistle as well as a Gonia clear mega whistle. In addition, there is now available a new orange colored, pea-less mega whistle and it seems to carry sound very well. Some persons advocate a Fox 40, but many judges are strongly against them since they are very hard on their hearing! Some pros do not like their clients to use them in training, at least when the pro’s ears are close by! Do not purchase a metal whistle.
Basically your whistle is used to have your dog come to you. Next, it will be used to have him sit in the field when you have reached the stage where you will be handling your dog----which, with persistence, eventually all of you will be doing. When your dog knows the “come” or “here” command, you can start by incorporating short whistle blasts (beep, beep, beep) in conjunction with that command. You would start with the whistle (beep, beep, beep) then your “here” command, and when the dog reaches you either praise or a treat. Then gradually phase out the verbal “come” or “here” using the whistle instead. In the beginning, always reward your dog for coming to you on the whistle command. You teach the use of the whistle in the same manner as you would teach any obedience command.
You can start the sit on a whistle in the same manner. You are heeling your dog, blow one short blast on your whistle and give the “sit” command. Do the same process you did for the “here” command in that you will start to eliminate the verbal “sit” and go to a whistle “sit”. There are good training books out there which will walk you through this sequence.
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