In 1971, I began training my first bird dog, an English Setter. It was quite a journey. I was lucky to have my uncle and others as mentors during those crucial years. I quickly grasped the significance of teaching a pointing dog the command "WHOA". Back then and now, there were various methods to achieve a well-trained dog, known as a "BROKE" dog, which means a pointing dog that remains still after pointing. While there are multiple effective methods to accomplish this, some may take longer than others, and it's essential to consider whether the dog enjoys the learning process. This is why I strongly advocate for positive reinforcement training. Dogs learn best not just from food rewards but also from praise. Following this training approach, I developed a simple method to instruct the "WHOA" command.
To begin, I instruct using the Pavlovian method for all commands. The reason is that dogs do not understand the English language, so we must connect a command word to the desired behavior. First, elicit the behavior you desire, then reward it with hand praise. Through repetition, this behavior becomes conditioned. I apply this approach to teach any behavior to the dog. How can we teach the "STOP" or "WHOA" command? It all starts with the "GENTLE LEADER" training tool. Initially, teach your dog to "HEEL" using the Gentle Leader (instructions are provided with the product). Once your dog reliably walks at "HEEL," start walking and stopping. Each time you stop, say nothing and simply pet or praise your dog briefly, as if giving a treat. Repeat this until your dog naturally wants to stop (which occurs because it seeks praise). This is the moment you begin saying "WHOA".
After successfully teaching your dog to stop on its own, proceed with the repetition of verbally saying "WHOA," using the stop hand signal, and stepping in front of your dog while repeating the command with the Hand Up gesture. The next phase involves increasing the distance between you and your dog. To start, say "WHOA" while showing the hand signal, face your dog, hold the lead in your off hand, and move away from your dog. If your dog attempts to move, a gentle tug on the lead will halt its movement, and reinforce the command by saying "WHOA." Repeat this process as you walk around your dog without it moving, effectively teaching your dog the meaning of the command "WHOA." Continue this reinforcement until you are confident that your dog comprehends the command. To further increase the distance, consider using a check cord in conjunction with the Gentle Leader and gentle leash corrections.
After ensuring that the dog fully comprehends the command "WHOA," I come back with a leash and Gentle Leader. Once you are able to walk your dog to HEEL and give the command "WHOA," release the leash and proceed walking while the dog remains stationary, indicating successful execution of the command.
Training a dog, especially a gun dog or retriever, can feel like a big challenge at first. But trust me, with the right approach, it’s not only doable but also incredibly rewarding. I’ve spent a lot o
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