spready Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 As you may have I've got myself a springer pup, well he is 7 months old now. Ive got a couple of problems that i can't find solutions for in any of the books or through the web. Basically inside the house i can throw his ball, he will bring it back, hide it in the kitchen he will then 'go find it' and bring it back to me no problem at all and seems eager to play. BUT the minute i get outside he isn't interested in it one bit at all, just runs in the direction of it and just runs a large loop and hangs about in front and then comes back to me when i call him. any ideas how i can rectify this? The other problem is the distance he runs ahead of me, if i keep on top of him he will heal behind me and I'm walking , but he is always moving side to side, trying to get on out i front, i will come back but just seems to run a good 40 yards infront before turning and coming back. I do have a whistle and usually one sharp blow turns him in my direction . Ive read a few tips about this using a very long lead which i have will this help? will giving him a treat each time he comes back , make him more keen? Sorry for all the possibly daft questions, i just seem to find conflicting solutions on the web so don't really wanna confuse the dog trying new things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 the dog might not be ready to start formal training and it seems you are only experiencing problems with things you have not yet trained for yet expecting the dog to know what it does not. speak to a pro and read a few spaniel books and formulate a proper step by step plan one step at a time. the puppy is 7mnths old there is in short no problem other than the above the way I see it. If you said "my 17mnth old" I should be thinking problems with this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 ^^^ yup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spready Posted April 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 Cheers guys, I'll keep with the fun time with him at the moment then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wj939 Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 (edited) Don't forget don't let the dog fail! Important you don't put him in a position where he can't succeed because he hasn't mastered the previous lesson. He's still very young but you can begin the basics with making it fun without the formalities of a training session. When your walking him and he's running on, are you in an open field? Might be worth taking him in longer rushy grass where he can't get so far in front so quick. Make a game of asking him to investigate tufts of cover right by your feet, left and right but never in front (to start with). You can further reinforce this lesson by hiding tennis balls, old socks anything right by your feet. He learns that he gets praise when staying close, that he can still investigate to your side, and that the interesting things are all close to where you are. Try walking into the wind to help this too. After a few weeks he will be sticking close in the open. Edited April 7, 2014 by wj939 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 Are you walking or training. IMO "walking" a spaniel, especially a young one, teaches it nothing other than to hunt for itself with no particular pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_7 Posted April 10, 2014 Report Share Posted April 10, 2014 had the same problem mate, have 2 8 month springers, i tried the long lead and spent more time getting tangled up and tripped over the bloody thing, when they was 6 months i tried different things as both was different. took them out seperately so they have my full attenttion, get them hyped up with tennis ball while on lead, then let them off, bouncing ball on the floor, they was more interested in the ball and me than anything else. i started throwing ball only a few feet in front and behind making sure they could see it, then started introducing sit/wait then send off, with in 2 weeks of lots of ball play at home and out in the field things started coming together, at home i would throw dummy in garden and send them of, then follow it up out in the field, small steps, if they get bored i stop, when they have done there job give them the biggest fuss ever, also dont get disheartened,angry there still young.... i always finish of doing something they can do so it ends on good terms. Also what i found out is by having someone with you and trying something different worked, heres a vid of mine at 6 months on a good day,dont turn volume up as i sound like a crazy mad man lolol, http://s1281.photobucket.com/user/Steven_Alderton/media/MOV_0026_zps4e7f47b7.mp4.html what works with dog dont work with my bitch so always trying to do things to turn naughty behaviour back round to good behaviour, im no trainer but had have had lots of advice from trainers, from an early age he they was getting used to whistle and learning recall recall recall, but when they started bolting i introduced stop whistle, although not 100% if they get to 50 yards now a 3 second whistle usually stops them in there tracks,,,,,,, mine are still young in my head so playtime outside i will throw a dummy, set them of and blow stop whistle, making sure im stood inbetween them and the dummy..... i dont give treats, only lots of praise, good luck matey, there not all the same and can be very trying at times....cheers for now steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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