jmcc1889 Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 Hi I'm looking a little advice, my 4yr old lab has developed an annoying habit and I would appreciate your views on the matter. When I send him back for a blind retrieve he has started to stop after about 40 -50 yds and look at me for further direction, I then give him the back signal and he sets off again until he reaches the area where ive dropped the dummy and then retrieves it It seems to me to be a confidence issue as he just seems to want reassurance and sent back again. Is there something i'm doing wrong? Should I be dropping the dummy a shorter distances ie around this 40 yd range and stopping him on the stop whistle so that he is in the area of the dummy or would doing this create even more problems. When he sees me throw the dummy and I ask him to mark it there is no problem with the distance I walk him away from it he will go straight to it without any further direction when sent, its just on the blind retrieves the problem seems to exist. Thanks John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 I don't know the answer, but i would far rather the dog look back for further directions than ****** off and try doing it's own thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEshooter Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 Sounds like a good dog to me. If the dog looks for direction and does exactly what you tell him then is that not ideal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timd999 Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 (edited) It sounds like he's lost a bit of confidence - maybe he failed on blind retrieve in the field - but it's something that's usually easily corrected. If the dog will go back confidently up to 40yds, carefully place a dummy in open view standing straight up on a path/lane at around 50-60yds (obviously it's a blind so don't let the dog see you do this). Send the dog back in the usual way. At the point he normally starts to question your sanity for sending him out, he'll spot the dummy standing end-up just ahead and complete the retrieve. If successful, you can slowly build up the distance over ensuing weeks. If he fails, shorten the retrieve. Never let the dog fail and keep your cool, for confidence is everything - even if that means you have to practically have to walk up and show him the dummy! Good luck. Edited September 21, 2015 by timd999 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcc1889 Posted September 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 Motty / SEShooter thanks for the replies, I know what you are saying and yes things could be a lot worse... he has picked up the last couple of seasons at my local pheasant shoot and accompanied me on the shore and performed very well, this is his only little quirk. Timd999 That's a great idea I will certainly try your suggestion it makes good sense, it definitely is a confidence thing and as you say I will do it gradually over the next few weeks. Thanks again John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
labstaff Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 It sounds like he's lost a bit of confidence - maybe he failed on blind retrieve in the field - but it's something that's usually easily corrected. If the dog will go back confidently up to 40yds, carefully place a dummy in open view standing straight up on a path/lane at around 50-60yds (obviously it's a blind so don't let the dog see you do this). Send the dog back in the usual way. At the point he normally starts to question your sanity for sending him out, he'll spot the dummy standing end-up just ahead and complete the retrieve. If successful, you can slowly build up the distance over ensuing weeks. If he fails, shorten the retrieve. Never let the dog fail and keep your cool, for confidence is everything - even if that means you have to practically have to walk up and show him the dummy! Good luck. couldn't have put it better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee-kinsman Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 (edited) As above. I'd start with a dummy at 30 yds, another at 40yds and another at 50 yds. All on the same line so that he is running shuttle runs. Do that once a day for a couple of days then increase distance so that your first dummy is at 40 yds and last at 60 yds. Edited September 21, 2015 by lee-kinsman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 22, 2015 Report Share Posted September 22, 2015 Don't sound like a bad dog Personally I like to train in the dark when this sort of thing happens as dogs soon learn we have rubbish night vision. I suppose the next thing is this might create going back wind wise and that's not well thought of if your being scored but then I know little and care less about dog sport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcs1972 Posted September 23, 2015 Report Share Posted September 23, 2015 something has knocked his confidence in you maybe.....spinning as its called is fixable with time... i would put a long series of blinds in a straight line over 100 yards..... so dog goes 10 yards, picks is sent qgain, dog goes 20 yards, picks and is sent again, dog goes 30 yards..... basically like the rungs of a ladder.......and as lee suggests build up the distances... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted September 24, 2015 Report Share Posted September 24, 2015 something has knocked his confidence in you maybe.....spinning as its called is fixable with time... i would put a long series of blinds in a straight line over 100 yards..... so dog goes 10 yards, picks is sent qgain, dog goes 20 yards, picks and is sent again, dog goes 30 yards..... basically like the rungs of a ladder.......and as lee suggests build up the distances... What the original poster has described isn't spinning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcc1889 Posted September 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 Hi Guys Thanks again for the great advice, when its explained it sounds logical and hopefully should resolve this little quirk He is by no means a head strong lab ,quite the opposite in fact so don't want to destroy his confidence but the methods you have all explained above should hopefully sort things I will keep you all update Regards John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted September 25, 2015 Report Share Posted September 25, 2015 (edited) Just to put my five eggs in .... Vary the distances, both short and long. I would guess that you've inadvertently been doing the same distance all the time then handling him - every minute you are with your dog you're training the dog, whether intentionally or not. I think you've trained your dog to stop at 40/50 yards and look for direction Start again Edited September 25, 2015 by bigbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 26, 2015 Report Share Posted September 26, 2015 Just to put my five eggs in .... Vary the distances, both short and long. I would guess that you've inadvertently been doing the same distance all the time then handling him - every minute you are with your dog you're training the dog, whether intentionally or not. I think you've trained your dog to stop at 40/50 yards and look for direction Start again That is very possible if stop whistle re- directs are over done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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