My springer's gone off retrieving!

[Iaindp]

Hi All

 

Can anyone help with this one please?

 

It's been my 2 year old springer's first season out after training him since a pup.

 

He'll never be FTC material - he's a pet as well as a shooting companion and I accept that he'll never be the best.

 

He started off the season really well, working, retreiving etc but the last couple of shoots, when he has picked a bird he runs away with it. At all other times, if I call him back on the whistle, he'll come.

 

I had him on a peg for the first couple of drives on two recent days and he goes wild as he wants part of the action. When I start to work him in the line though, he's good so I've put this wildness down to the fact that he just wants to work - not watch!.

 

Yesterday I did the same, he was on the peg with me and when I shot a bird I sent the dog off to retreive it. He picked it OK, but then headed back towards me before prancing about with the pheasant in his mouth! On his next retreive, he did the same thing.

 

This morning I took him into the garden and he retreived dummies perfectly. Then he did a couple of perfect retreives with cold birds. I treated him after each retrieve.

 

Then he decided to pick the bird then run off with it before sitting, looking at me with the bird in his mouth. If I walk towards him, he stays where he is - he doesn't run away again but he doesn't bring it to hand either, despite knowing he'll be treated (well obviously not if he doesn't come back).

 

At home, he likes to run around with slippers in his gob and the fam generally run after him to get them back. He would normally bring the slipper to you after running about for a bit, but then wants you to play tug of war.

 

I've stopped this now and asked them all to ignore him if he picks up a slipper. Not sure if this is right or not??

 

Any advice on how I can get him bringing birds back again would be much apreciated

 

BR

Iain

[deeksofdoom]

At home, he likes to run around with slippers in his gob and the fam generally run after him to get them back. He would normally bring the slipper to you after running about for a bit, but then wants you to play tug of war.

 

I'ld say you've hit the nail on the head here. he wants you to chase him. I'ld say do a bit of retrieving with him in a confined area where he can't run away from you. Like a hallway or an alley way where he can only go straight out and back to you. Try a bit of obedience with him first though make sure he's coming back for the recall and if he's not get out and correct him immediately. Bad habits can be hard to break but you'll get him back alright.

 

I shot a cock pheasant over a drain during Christmas. The bird landed the other side of the drain I called my springer and sent her accross. She picked the bird lovely and brought him to the edge of the drain but wouldn't cross. I was calling her and encouraging her to bring the bird back but no way would she get into the water with the bird in her mouth. In the end she just sat down and refused to come back to me at all. So I just had to leave the bird there as it was too dangerous to try crossing the drain,when I walked off she followed me accross. After that I shot a woodcock and the dog retrieved it perfectly.

[Stealth Stalker]

Hi mate

 

Yep as above the slipper is a game to Harvey & he wants to play. I think it may be a case of back to basics :blink:

 

Seeing him work, being screwed down as a peg dog is not what Harv's about.

 

Someone alot wiser & experianced than me will be along soon

 

Might be worth PMing NTTF

 

SS

[chris o]

try moving away from him so when he starts running away get his attention and move backwards. and make your self as apealing as possable. i also use rich tea buiscuits as a reward and make sure he can see the treat that works for me.