Black Dog System Indicator for ThinkorSwim - Strategy

@Billions Didn't see any white arrows for today or yesterday, but it was there from a couple days ago. Very rare to spot.

M59ljzg.png
Ben have there been any upgrades to market maker I beleive I'm running uhm do not have a vers number
 
Don't know if anyone cares, but BD has been originally designed to be used on 15 minutes, with 15 EMA as a filter for the channel. If you're using 50 MA on 15 minutes, you're trading a running average of the 12.5 hours time frame. If you're using 15 EMA as a filter, you're using 3.75 hours filter. Personally, I don't agree with the EMA settings, I think SMA should be used, but there isn't that much of a difference.

On 5 minutes, it is a totally different ball game. If you're using 50 MA channel on 5-min, you're trading a running average of 4 hours. So basically, on 5-minutes, you're trading 15 EMA of the 15 minutes. If you want to trade 5-min and want to stick with the original design, the length of the channel should be 150.
 
@Billions Didn't see any white arrows for today or yesterday, but it was there from a couple days ago. Very rare to spot.

M59ljzg.png
Thanks Ben
Don't know if anyone cares, but BD has been originally designed to be used on 15 minutes, with 15 EMA as a filter for the channel. If you're using 50 MA on 15 minutes, you're trading a running average of the 12.5 hours time frame. If you're using 15 EMA as a filter, you're using 3.75 hours filter. Personally, I don't agree with the EMA settings, I think SMA should be used, but there isn't that much of a difference.

On 5 minutes, it is a totally different ball game. If you're using 50 MA channel on 5-min, you're trading a running average of 4 hours. So basically, on 5-minutes, you're trading 15 EMA of the 15 minutes. If you want to trade 5-min and want to stick with the original design, the length of the channel should be 150.
So in the settings I would change from 50 to 150 is that correct?
 
@Billions
Have you loaded up a 5m / 100day chart or something? You don't get the black dogs every day. Sometimes not for weeks at a time.
Another way to do it... add 20 and 100 EMAs on a 20 minutes chart. Find where they cross. Go to your 5m chart and that's where you should have a dog.
Have you used this and what is the outcome?
 
@Billions That is correct. But be careful, just because it closed below a channel doesn't make it a reliable sell signal and vice versa.
 
@Billions I don't use the original system. I use the VWAP, volume profile, RSI and Fibs.

Generally speaking, for intraday trading, if the price is above the 50 channel and 50 MA > 200 MA, the price is an uptrend and vice versa. But here is the thing, it isn't that simple. The price is often in a counter-trend, either going towards the 50 channel from above it or below it. It is going to encounter resistance and reverse when it runs into the prior range, the first touch is usually a high probability trade. When 50 and 200 are near each other, we get a lot of chop.
 
@Billions I don't use the original system. I use the VWAP, volume profile, RSI and Fibs.

Generally speaking, for intraday trading, if the price is above the 50 channel and 50 MA > 200 MA, the price is an uptrend and vice versa. But here is the thing, it isn't that simple. The price is often in a counter-trend, either going towards the 50 channel from above it or below it. It is going to encounter resistance and reverse when it runs into the prior range, the first touch is usually a high probability trade. When 50 and 200 are near each other, we get a lot of chop.
Thanks @john3
 
I've been playing with this system for a few days. A few questions:
Should we have after-hours on or off? This changes a lot. This was originally used for Forex which I believe doesn't have "after-hours"

John3 - From the document download on a few pages back where the person is talking about setting up the system on Forex, he states using 50 EMA's. Where did you find the system using 15 EMA?
 
Last edited:
Hey Guys,

I'm finding the Blackdog strategy that @BenTen posted very intriguing and I'm trying to refine
it a bit for my screen AND incorporate that author's secondary, followup strategy
(the Blackdog MtF......"mini trend finder"), which provides for excellent
trading opportunities even when trading against the original Blackdog signals.

I don't know if this has already been posted somewhere, but is there some
code that will allow me to display the results of a MACD from a higher
time frame (let's say 15m) as a subpanel indicator on a
lower time frame (let's say 5m) chart? I know @tomsk provided
a special MACD as part of this discussion, but for this I'm certain that it has
something to do with the time aggregation needed
inside the script .... just as it was used in the original Blackdog indicator itself. I
just can't figure out how to get it to apply to MACD.

I have reviewed the author's complete 111 page PDF manual and have
made my notations (including a large correction that the author mistakingly
wrote). This 111 page PDF manual includes all of the information about
the BlackDog strategy, the followup Blackdog MtF strategy, and his final
enhancement to the Blackdog MtF strategy (which he's referring to as MtF2).
It is part of the MtF2 that requires a MACD from a higher time frame displayed
on a lower time frame chart.

Once I put this together and test it, I'll be posting my complete workspace,
which include various scripts that i've pieced together, and also my edited
version of the author's 111 page PDF manual.

Thanks!

6bcL7G2.jpg
 
@RickKennedy TomSK was kind enough to make and share a script. If you can't find it let me know. It can easily be changed to make all the difference MACDs used in the bdog system. By the way, that document you reference is fairly old and there have been some changes. If you're really interested in the bdogs shoot me a message on Discord and maybe we can swap ideas about it. hash#7484
 
I've been trying to understand this system for a few months now.
The author states to use it on 15min TF but this script is to be used on 5 min TF. Also, trying to find a way to lessen the chance of a fake out.

Lastly, say you have BDDown, SES down, MACD isn't in the red yet, how long is that signal valid until you should forget it and move on?

If you guys are able to share your workspace, that'd be greatly appreciated. @hashy The discord channel has been shut down
 
Last edited:
I've been trying to understand this system for a few months now.
The author states to use it on 15min TF but this script is to be used on 5 min TF. Also, trying to find a way to lessen the chance of a fake out.

Lastly, say you have BDDown, SES down, MACD isn't in the red yet, how long is that signal valid until you should forget it and move on?

If you guys are able to share your workspace, that'd be greatly appreciated. @hashy The discord channel has been shut down
There's a lot more to the system than that old document. The creator was pretty sloppy about changing URLs and redirecting from his old site, but the current official site is blackdogtrader dot com. With that said, I've paid for the course and went through the whole thing, and don't really use it much. Also, you can still send me a direct message on Discord if you add me as a friend. That has nothing to do with a specific server.
 
I'm sorry to dig up this old threat but does anyone know how to make this into a scan.

I was wondering is there a way to convert to three separate scans, Purple Down for Bear, Yellow Up for Bull, and White Both ways.
 
Hey Guys,

I'm finding the Blackdog strategy that @BenTen posted very intriguing and I'm trying to refine
it a bit for my screen AND incorporate that author's secondary, followup strategy
(the Blackdog MtF......"mini trend finder"), which provides for excellent
trading opportunities even when trading against the original Blackdog signals.

I don't know if this has already been posted somewhere, but is there some
code that will allow me to display the results of a MACD from a higher
time frame (let's say 15m) as a subpanel indicator on a
lower time frame (let's say 5m) chart? I know @tomsk provided
a special MACD as part of this discussion, but for this I'm certain that it has
something to do with the time aggregation needed
inside the script .... just as it was used in the original Blackdog indicator itself. I
just can't figure out how to get it to apply to MACD.

I have reviewed the author's complete 111 page PDF manual and have
made my notations (including a large correction that the author mistakingly
wrote). This 111 page PDF manual includes all of the information about
the BlackDog strategy, the followup Blackdog MtF strategy, and his final
enhancement to the Blackdog MtF strategy (which he's referring to as MtF2).
It is part of the MtF2 that requires a MACD from a higher time frame displayed
on a lower time frame chart.

Once I put this together and test it, I'll be posting my complete workspace,
which include various scripts that i've pieced together, and also my edited
version of the author's 111 page PDF manual.

Thanks!

6bcL7G2.jpg
hello, are you able to post the MTF2 MACD code? does anyone have it ?
 
Hi
I am a fairly new member. I have been trying to add the alerts noted in post #30 and # 39 to the upper chart, but have been unsuccessful. I have tried to paste them onto the original code. but get an error message after trying to copy and paste to TOS. Have tried adding it in TOS when creating , then also tried copying to a notepad, then pasting the entire sequence into TOS. Still getting an error message. Could someone please add the alerts to the original. code where I can copy and paste the entire sequence in at one time ? Only need it for the Black Dog chart, not the MACD. Thanks in advance !
 
@mactheknife Below is the script for post#1 with alerts added
Ruby:
#   Black Dogs & SESs---For 5 minute chart ONLY
#   NAMED BlackDog_SES_5min

#   Here, "Black Dogs" are WHITE for use on a dark background.

input Hprice = high;
input Lprice = low;
input price = close;
input Hlength = 50;
input Llength = 50;
input Hdisplace = 0;
input Ldisplace = 0;

#   High / Low Band for SES computations---------------------------
#   EMA of HIGHS-----------------------------------------------------------
plot HAvg = MovAvgExponential(Hprice[-Hdisplace], Hlength);

HAvg.SetDefaultColor(Color.WHITE);
HAvg.SetLineWeight(5);
HAvg.SetPaintingStrategy(PaintingStrategy.LINE_VS_POINTS);
HAvg.SetStyle(Curve.FIRM);
HAvg.HideBubble();
HAvg.HideTitle();

HAvg.AssignValueColor(if HAvg< HAvg[1] then Color.VIOLET else (if HAvg == HAvg[1] then Color.YELLOW else Color.YELLOW));

#   EMA of LOWS------------------------------------------------------------
plot LAvg = MovAvgExponential(Lprice[-Ldisplace], LLength);

LAvg.SetDefaultColor(Color.WHITE);
LAvg.SetLineWeight(5);
LAvg.SetPaintingStrategy(PaintingStrategy.LINE_VS_POINTS);
LAvg.SetStyle(Curve.FIRM);
LAvg.HideBubble();
LAvg.HideTitle();

LAvg.AssignValueColor(if LAvg< LAvg[1] then Color.VIOLET else (if LAvg == LAvg[1] then Color.YELLOW else Color.YELLOW));

#   Crosses for SES Arrows----------------------------------------------
#   SES = Standard Entry Signal

#   Cross above High Average -----------------------------------------
def CrossUp = if price > HAvg AND price[1] < HAvg then 1 else 0;
Plot SESup = if CrossUp then high else double.nan;

SESup.SetPaintingStrategy(PaintingStrategy.BOOLEAN_ARROW_UP);
SESup.SetLineWeight(3);
SESup.SetDefaultColor(color.YELLOW);
SESup.HideBubble();
SESup.HideTitle();

#   Cross above Low Average --------------------------------------------
def CrossDn = if price < Lavg AND price[1] > LAvg then 1 else 0;
Plot SESdn = if CrossDn then low else double.nan;

SESdn.SetPaintingStrategy(PaintingStrategy.BOOLEAN_ARROW_DOWN);
SESdn.SetLineWeight(3);
SESdn.SetDefaultColor(color.VIOLET);
SESdn.HideBubble();
SESdn.HideTitle();

#   ================================================
#
#    Black Dog Arrows------------------------------------------------------

#   Change Aggregation Period to 20 minutes------------------------
def agg = AggregationPeriod.TWENTY_MIN;
def data = close(period = agg);

#   2 EMAs of Black Dogs--------------------------------------------------
def BDfastEMA=ExpAverage(DATA,20);
def BDslowEMA=ExpAverage(DATA,100);

#   Black Dog UP for EMA20 crossing ABOVE EMA100-------------
def UpCross = if BDfastEMA > BDslowEma AND BDfastEMA[1] < BDslowEMA then 1 else 0;
Plot BDup = if UpCross then high else double.nan;

BDup.SetPaintingStrategy(PaintingStrategy.BOOLEAN_ARROW_UP);
BDup.SetLineWeight(5);
BDup.SetDefaultColor(color.WHITE);
BDup.HideBubble();
BDup.HideTitle();

#   Black Dog DN for EMA20 crossing BELOW EMA100-----------
def DnCross = if BDfastEMA < BDslowEma AND BDfastEMA[1] > BDslowEMA then 1 else 0;
Plot BDdn = if DnCross then low else double.nan;

BDdn.SetPaintingStrategy(PaintingStrategy.BOOLEAN_ARROW_DOWN);
BDdn.SetLineWeight(5);
BDdn.SetDefaultColor(color.WHITE);
BDdn.HideBubble();
BDdn.HideTitle();

Alert(BDup, "Buy Signal", Alert.BAR, Sound.Ring);
Alert(BDdn, "Sell Signal", Alert.BAR, Sound.Bell);

#   END==========================================
 

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