Benellimelody Posted March 4, 2010 Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 (edited) Hi all, Well as posted a bit ago - i have 2 cockers from the same litter (sisters). I dont know if i'll ever be able to work them together as they are too loyal to each other and seem to switch off a bit. They are just over 8 months old and are kennelled together. I take them out together in the morning before work and let them run a bit wild then on a night take them out seperately. 1st dog - Sky - is an incredibly keen fast hunter. Shes bold, strong and very bright. She heels, recalls and retreives (if after circling me once or twice). Her quartering is improving so shes not doing too bad - except with stopping to the whistle with live game. I tryed to keep them well away from anything alive at this stage but it is difficult where i live, even after walking off the ground. I can hunt her then suddenly chuck a dummy and she will stop just fine but with game she runs in and even chases until i run her down. It is doing my head in as i cant seem to steady her even if she is young. On a lunge line a quick tug and whistle and she sits and watches it but seems to know when shes not on the lunge. :yp: Any help would be appreciated? 2nd dog - Elly - She doesnt seem quite as clued up, bless her - but tries her hardest to please me. She is alot steadier than Sky around game and retrieves excellently but she wants to be at my side all the time (never met a spaniel like it before lol). She is pretty shy of anything new but her confidence is growing. I have had her out with the starter pistol but still dont want to test her too much yet (think she will be ok to the gun tho - touch wood) If i stand still and encourage her she hunts like crazy but most of the time as soon as i set off walking again she is back at my heel. I did a little bit of heeling early on with her and dont know if this is the route of the cause but now i try and let her do more of whats she wants in the field and encourage her to hunt. She is like a 10 year old lab in some respects with her willingness to hunt if you know what i mean (A little bit of a mooch then back at my feet) Any ideas? Thnaks for any advice/help and hope i havnt bored you too much Edited March 4, 2010 by Benellimelody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickyspringer Posted March 4, 2010 Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 Not sounding funny, but why don't you sell one of the sisters, or even separate them? You have 2 dogs with potential, together you admit neither will not make the grade! It sounds like your going very well with the training, 1 spaniel is hard and very bold,while the other is a lil softer and very attached. You could make good dogs out of both, with the softer bitch, I would generally let her hunt abit, on her own, she is currently sticky... get her on heavy scented ground and don't make a sound just let her go, she will soon come out of it. The harder bitch is just very eager, it sounds like you have got to a very fair with her training. So well done on that. There Is one place which we sort both problems, "THE RABBIT PEN", work on sit to flush with hard spanner, and the let the softer one go, problems will soon be sorted. GOOD LUCK and well done on how far you have got Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benellimelody Posted March 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 Thanks for the reply Ricky springer and your help - i can take a bit of criticism lol I know what you are saying as i never wanted 2 - especcially from the same litter, however one was my brothers which i was only going to look after for a short while. They are going to be kennelled seperately soon and i have the chance to keep her or give her back (The softer one) to my brother. I do think that if i keep them they will be no good working together however still think they could be excellent seperately - but then i might get into a situation where i only take out the better of the 2. I want to let her go but just dont want to see my work go to waste and am well attached after building such a trust with her. My bro is a lab man and has lots of dogs just dont think he'll get the best out of her and it will do my head in seein her not reach the possible potential. Iv'e discussed this with him several times and we've even thought about selling her. I will have to make a firm decision soon just keep putting it off. I will defo take the soft bitch on some good ground however i dont have access to a rabbit pen for the other - i could maybe get my hands on some homing pigeons and have heard about digging holes then putting the pigeon in and covering the hole with a bit ov wood attached to string. (Pulling the wood away when the dog has scented the bird and therefore releasing it? - any thoughts, other options? Thanks Again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted March 4, 2010 Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 Quick question. what do you want out of them? Reason im asking is if you want one dog to do all of it, then split it into two and lighten their work load. if you want one as a peg dog or for pigeon shooting then you have Elly, if you want one for walk up shooting or flushing to shot over then you have Sky. 8 mths is still young and you might find that they bounce off each other so that where one is weaker you might get the stronger one showing the way and in time the other will catch up. Me, I would keep both, i wish i had a pair when i got my lad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted March 4, 2010 Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 How much you want for her mate might be interested. Have a good family home, next to huge nature reserve. Live with another bitch (lab) and worked to the gun Let me know if your interested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benellimelody Posted March 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 Quick question. what do you want out of them? Reason im asking is if you want one dog to do all of it, then split it into two and lighten their work load. if you want one as a peg dog or for pigeon shooting then you have Elly, if you want one for walk up shooting or flushing to shot over then you have Sky. 8 mths is still young and you might find that they bounce off each other so that where one is weaker you might get the stronger one showing the way and in time the other will catch up. Me, I would keep both, i wish i had a pair when i got my lad. These are also my thoughts too. I do all types of shooting. I intend to use them for grouse beating/loading/picking. Also i am in a pheasant syndicate and do a lot of rough shooting. i do sit in a hide when i get the chance too. I want the best out of both dogs if possible but its a hard one cos i sometimes thinkif i keep them i am gonna end up with 2 half decent dogs rather than 1 excellent one, then i think well is that such a bad thing?? I know they are still young and if i keep them both i hope you are right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benellimelody Posted March 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 How much you want for her mate might be interested. Have a good family home, next to huge nature reserve. Live with another bitch (lab) and worked to the gun Let me know if your interested Dunno whether i'll sell her yet mate and not really thought about money. To be honest the home she is going to & the people are far more important to me (would still want a little bit tho ) I will keep you in mind tho It is early days regarding her age and she still might hunt really well but if not she is so soft mouthed and clingy she would make an excellent peg dog/ pigeon dog. Think i'm already talking my self out of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickyspringer Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 what i would do mate, is simply seperate them, and train them seperately... when they are at there desired level they can exercise together, you need to be both dogs worlds, there bond shouldn't be stronger than yours. I seriously think you have done a terrific job with what level you are at, you will get them both there for sure and as long as you are happy with them thats the main thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benellimelody Posted March 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 Thanks Ricky - will split them up and keep up with the training Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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