Quote: connie sutherland

Amble over from where?

You are right there when you are charging your marker. Right there, in touching distance. All you are doing is showing the dog that the marker means "reward coming." Nothing yet required of the dog -- no walking over, no nothing.

And I agree with Nora that your marker needs to be separate and distinct from background noise.

I'd back up to the point where you are indoors, the dog is hungry, and all you are doing is giving your marker and rewarding, expecting nothing at all from the dog.

Then tell us whether the dog starts to look for the reward when you give the marker.

Ambling from anywhere. He don't wander REALLY far..just within 20 feet or so. He usually spots something on the ground and goes off to it, it can be anything from a blade of grass to a small twig. Or he just walks around, scanning.

Yes he is responding pretty much all the time when inside or the front yard, it's why we tried the back yard today.

 Quote: Heather Perring

... Ambling from anywhere. He don't wander REALLY far..just within 20 feet or so. He usually spots something on the ground and goes off to it, it can be anything from a blade of grass to a small twig. Or he just walks around, scanning. ... Yes he is responding pretty much all the time when inside or the front yard, it's why we tried the back yard today.

You are expecting something that it's not time to expect. The marker is not a recall command.

And even if you dashed twenty feet between the marker and the reward to get to the dog, it's way too long at this point between marker and reward. And you need to be in the dog's immediate area, and (at this point) not competing with fun-in-yard.

I do not think that the marker has been charged. Too much else murking up that basic bit of comprehension.

I have to re-think how to explain how to re-do.

Hmm..Yeah. I guess I just thought it should still register in his mind and he should want to come get the food.

Is it a big distraction thing? Should all of his marker training after this be done on a short leash? Keep him out of the back yard maybe? Could he see the back yard as a place to play rather than do anything else? When we play with them it's usually in the back yard since it's fenced.

I've been told this before but I'm sure we compare him to Reesee ( We try not to, but it's frustrating at times! )-who will glue to your side like a maniac, more eager to work for you than do anything else in the world, while he will wander off at every chance.

Edit: I really do appreciate the help Connie. We are trying our best.

Hi Heather,

I have not read the entire thread thoroughly so excuse me if you said; but what is your boy's name? Call me a "quack" but I feel more connected to the post when the dog's name is known.

I can appreciate how hard you are working......but I think you are working too hard Do you have a picture in your mind of what you want the results of his training to be?

It can definitely be overwhelming for you and the pup; his walking away could be a sign of avoidance; I'm sure he feels your frustration.(no offense, darn dogs read all our baser feelings )

Also, I still think the marker is not charged. Sit with your BF and write out a plan with a definite goal. I would say goal #1 "Charge the marker".

Several, short, fast sessions throughout the day. If you have to reengage the dog, the session was too long. No time between mark reward, mark reward, mark reward, mark reward......aim for 10 M/R in 10 seconds and end session. If you do 6 sessions of these a day it equals a minute of your time. The next day try for 15 M/R and the 3rd 20. On the 4th day check your handiwork, see if you are able to keep him engaged with a small delay between the M/R. Heather as sure as you are now he doesn't get it; you will know when he does. Keep up the good work