Hold the Line

THE podcast for force-free gundog training! Hold the Line is committed to helping you to train your dog to an advanced level, using motivational methods and without the use of fear. Or pain. Or anything else nasty.

Episode 119 - the implications of selecting for dogs which experience verbal aversives as strong aversives

In this episode, I talk about feeding raw on a budget. And about the ethics and implications of selecting for dogs which experience verbal aversives as strong aversives. (Thereby circumventing the banning of certain 'tools'.)

11-19
37:20

Episode 118 - (field) trials - and tribulations

In this episode, I waffle about trials as a form of assessment.

11-12
45:51

Episode 117 - what is going on with the cost of vet care and insurance?

Roche just cut her foreleg on (we think) barbed wire. The quote for sedation and stitching was astronomical. I ramble about what is going on, systemically, and about various societal factors from poverty to capitalism in a failed attempt to make sense of any of this...

11-01
23:52

Episode 116 - help, my dog won't pick game!

In this episode, I talk about how to help dogs make the transition to picking up game.

10-24
34:41

Episode 115 - is your dog ready for a shoot?

How do you find a shoot? Is your dog ready to work on a shoot? What is required from them? What different kinds of shoots are there? What are the roles on a shoot? This is all things shoots 101.

09-25
33:52

Episode 114 - the recent 'chasing' research paper (e-collar vs food reinforcers)

In this episode, I look at a recent research paper called 'Comparison of the Efficacy and Welfare of Different Training Methods in Stopping Chasing Behavior in Dogs' by Johnson & Wynne https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14182632

09-19
54:00

Episode 113 - the current dog training controversies and listener questions

In this episode, I talk about why the best way forwards is for us all to advance together - instead of fostering division and us/them splitting.

09-05
38:07

Episode 112 - mouthing or chomping the dummy

I talk about how to stop mouthing or rolling of the dummy (it's the clicker retrieve again, this time the part of it called 'proofing the hold against food').

08-26
31:07

Episode 111 - don't let shot get attached to retrieves!! (and listener questions...)

In this episode I answer a few listener questions and then waffle about why we need to keep shot unattached to a retrieve for as long as possible. Shot means 'sit'. Like the sit whistle means 'sit'.

08-08
43:20

Episode 110 - working with the AWOL dog

In this episode, I focus on how to weave yourself and the environment together - rather than thinking about yourself as being in 'opposition' to the environment. All those juicy reinforcers out there are not a threat to your ongoing control of your dog. They are simply more reinforcers you can use to train your dog, with the caveat that they are in the environment instead of on your person.

07-31
53:23

Episode 109 - our experience with immunotherapy and canine allergies

I talk here about my experience with immunotherapy for Ren's extreme allergies. Whilst there seem to be so many people around with itchy dogs, it seems that not many have explored immunotherapy and there isn't much information about it out there....

07-18
36:51

Episode 108 - interview with Collette May (another one!)

I last spoke with Collette back in 2019, pre-Covid. Her life has changed in so many ways over the last 5 years, I wanted to catch up with her again and hear about her new ventures. If you want to connect with Collette, check out her websites midwalesholidays.com and completelygundogs.co.uk - and, if you're looking for a pup, her affix is Windlemoor.

07-04
01:05:26

Episode 107 - dropping water deliveries & straight line vs hunt it up blinds

I describe the way that one part of the Clicker Retrieve process ("Proofing the Hold Against Food") is a powerful tool for teaching a dog not to drop on exiting water. And I help a listener who wants to train both straight line blinds AND 'hunt it up' blinds.

06-25
33:19

Episode 106 - working with 'distractions' and reinforcers

Check out as well episodes:Episode 86 - getting focus from your dog outdoorsEpisode 78 - behavioural trilogy (part 3), the super-drive, hunting crazy dogEpisode 72 - behavioural trilogy (part 2), food motivation, allergies, body sensitivity and focusEpisode 58 - developing reinforcers before contact with gameEpisode 38 - puppy exercise and developing food motivationEpisode 37 - questions about transitioning the clicker retrieve to outdoors

06-19
44:01

Episode 105 - should we outright condemn aversives?

This episode was inspired by the debate between Zak George and Denise Fenzi on Instagram recently. Check out their Stories there if you want to hear what they had to say in their own words.

06-07
34:12

Episode 104 - retrieving problems and the importance of basics

In this episode, I answer a listener question about dogs trying to bring back multiple dummies. I also talk about the importance of having a rigorous training system which begins with the basics and doesn't just want to jump in with the sexy stuff...

05-17
34:20

Episode 103 - the UK's approach to blind retrieves for HPRs

Did you know that HPRs in the UK are expected to handle? That means: To hold straight lines. To be cast left, right and back. Essentially, to 'be' Retrievers. Some of you might thing that sounds insane....

03-18
44:22

Episode 102 - aversives and listener questions

In this episode, I answer listener questions about in-a-row blinds, dealing with frustration in blinds and the use of aversives.

02-22
56:57

Episode 101 - in 15mins "my dog pulls on the leash"

Check out episodes 16, 17 And take a look at my online course, Heel.

01-01
17:30

Episode 100 - in 15mins "my dog has problems with blind retrieves"

Episodes to check out are:30, 33, 34, 36, 41, 47, 48, 62, 64, 66, 85, 88Online courses covering blind retrieves are:Blind RetrievesRemote StopFirst Steps in 3HCTraining the T Drill

12-31
17:28

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