Graham20g Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Hi all Got a slight problem with my ess she is 18 month's and not too badly trained you know sit stay stop .go left /right all the usual but to no great standard but im, happy love her to bit's she get away with too much realy I suppose. The problem is she will not work an area if there are stinging nettles! she goes all nervous and skittish and need's to be coaxed repeatedly to even go near them. After reading other post's by NTTF im kind,a hoping you can help me sort this one out as you have so many other's respectfully G2g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Graham Dogs react to nettles the same way we do. I would say that she has gotten into them before and had that wonderful burning and stinging sensation and has learned not to go into them. You really can not blame her for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 hi G20g My Terrier is the same, During her puppy days she followed me through some stingers, whilst her flanks where ok it affected her pads, she kept rubbing and scratching them when we got home. I assume its because they where not tough enough at the time, my lab has never been a problem and will walk through them all day long, Like NTTF says your ESS has remembered and stays clear. If she finds they no longer hurt her she may be ok? good luck pavman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadSpringer Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Hi Graham, You could try placing some plain dummies or tennis balls down near the nettle patches without her seeing. Walk her into the field and hunt her up and onto the dummies, give lots of praise when she retrieves them. Do this a few times with the dummies only, place the dummies roughly in the same place each time. After you have done this a few times over the course of 3 – 4 days, she should be keen to retrieve when you repeat the exercise. If she is OK with fur and cold game repeat the exercise with a rabbit in the nettle patch (just in the edge to start with). Hunt her on towards the patch as before and as soon as you see her wind the rabbit give loads of encouragement to get on and retrieve it. Hopefully the higher reward retrieve will take he mind off the nettles, don’t overdo it just 1 or 2 times with lots of praise! I use this sort of exercise if I get a young dog that is a little shy of very thick cover, after a few exercises they’re soon hitting the thick stuff. Hope this helps! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham20g Posted October 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 (edited) Hi guy's thank's for the replies ,and no you sure cant blame her for avoiding thoes little ******'s especialy at this time of year, and who know's she may well just grow out of it . MAD SPRINGER what a name wish i,d thought of it Your advice seem's just the ticket i,m starting on it tomorrow!!!many thank's your picture tag is like Patsy my bitch[dog not wife]she has slightly longer ear's and a little more brown god she's georgous .Oh yea and the misses by for now G2g p.s.can anyone tell n me what yorkshire puddin on about with his yis yip??:lol:???haa aint got a clue :*) :*) Edited October 5, 2005 by Graham20g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potshot Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 It won't help the problem directly but we always carry some anti histamine cream so if the dog gets stung a liberal application helps ease the symptons and reduces the overall stress. Also as the dog gets older the pads seem to harden more and the dog gets less worried about the b.....y nettles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted October 5, 2005 Report Share Posted October 5, 2005 Hi guy's thank's for the replies ,and no you sure cant blame her for avoiding thoes little ******'s especialy at this time of year, and who know's she may well just grow out of it . MAD SPRINGER what a name wish i,d thought of it Your advice seem's just the ticket i,m starting on it tomorrow!!!many thank's your picture tag is like Patsy my bitch[dog not wife]she has slightly longer ear's and a little more brown god she's georgous .Oh yea and the misses by for now G2g p.s.can anyone tell n me what yorkshire puddin on about with his yis yip??:lol:???haa aint got a clue :*) :*) p.s.can anyone tell n me what yorkshire puddin on about with his yis yip?????haa aint got a clue :*) :*) : yis + yours in sport i think !!!! yip (no idea) :*) :*) :*) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 Graham Mad Springer has given you an excellent outline on working a dog into cover . My only problem is if the nettles are going to bother your dogs pads and stomach area, why are you putting her through that? Some dogs are tougher than others, and yes some may develope a tollerance to them, many do not. To me it is not worth it .If it comes down to having a sensitive dog pushing a patch of nettles or pushing it myself , I will allow the dog to work the outside and push through the nettles.If the dog feels that she can tolerate the nettles at a later date she will enter while you are in there. Working dogs are great, and those that have them love them dearly, just remember it is a team effort out there. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham20g Posted October 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2005 Hi all NTTF ask's the question why I try to get patsy to work nettle's? The answer is easy I dont! There is a loverly marshy dingle on one of the farm's I shoot and it hold's a fair few bird's pheasant/woodcock[later in the year] un fortunatly it's surrounded by a dense boarder of the stingy thing's, and when we reach it she get's all timmid and shy's away. I usualy carry her through then all's fine till we reach the far end,. then we have to go through it all again. Iwas just asking for help and advice ,Thank'sto mad springer I now have. So far it's going quite well Patsy is working closer now than she has ever done befor right upto the edge of them I will keep her at this point for a few more day's ,then try her just inside them and if that work's I will be over the moon!! All the replies are welcome and appricated yis G2g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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