Make Your Lab Come Every Time: Field Collar Conditioning Explained

In this episode Julie Bates walks through a step-by-step method for field collar conditioning to fix common problems like dogs not returning, rolling on birds, or chasing. She emphasizes strong basic obedience first, teaching enforcement pressure properly, and pairing the whistle with collar cues.

Once the whistle-collar response is solid, Julie explains how that foundation lets you quickly and safely work on de-chase and clean retrieves. She also reminds listeners to take training at the dog’s speed and to watch for heat and fitness during summer work.