tenbears10 Posted January 7, 2006 Report Share Posted January 7, 2006 My springer is prone to getting over excited when we are out hunting. If i send him in to flush something he often gets too far in front so what he does flush is out of shot. He also has trouble heeling when I am carrying a gun and he knows we are shooting. If we are just walking he heels well on and off the lead but like I say excitement gets the better of him when we are hunting. Today I was out and tried to go back to basics a bit so put a choke chain on him with about 10 foot of thin rope attatched. The idea being that if he gets too far I can stamp on the rope and remind him not to run too far out. It worked pretty well and when he was in cover I could keep proper track of him at a decent distance. It was a quiet day and we didn't even see a lot of game but he wasn't running the length of the bloody field like normal. What I wanted to know was: Is the long lead a good way of controlling the problem? What other methods can I use to keep him in check? What basics should I go back to to help this situation? Thanks in advance guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted January 8, 2006 Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 The long line in the field is a proven method of teaching distance control. Just be sure that once he is working well on it that you remember to step down to a collar and tab before going to him being on his own. The tab only needs to be long enough to bump against his chest, using this step prevents him from realizing that ...hey no check cord I can go back to doing what I want. I would also start taking him for walks with the gun to work on his heeling. Take him on leash, and make him heel, you will soon find out if he is gun excited ....all you have the gun with you for , is to let him settle into doing what he is trained to do while in the guns presence. Once he realizes that it does not mean that you are going hunting every time he should get better. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenbears10 Posted January 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 Thanks for the advice NTTF. The collar and tab idea sounds good. He is all too quick to put 2 and 2 together and realise that he can do what he wants so it will be important to reinforce that. My only problem with walking him and carrying the gun is I'm not sure how legal that is along public footpaths in the UK. If not I will have to take him to were I shoot just to walk him I suppose. I'll let you know how we get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamW Posted January 8, 2006 Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 Try using a bigish stick instead of the gun, just carry it in the normal way! and to really fool him take it in a gun slip, and let him see it come out! Might work Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenbears10 Posted January 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 Thanks Adam. Problem is he is too sharp for his own good. If you carry the gun broken he behaves better than when he hears the click of you closing the gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Red Fox Posted January 8, 2006 Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 Thanks Adam. Problem is he is too sharp for his own good. If you carry the gun broken he behaves better than when he hears the click of you closing the gun well I would give him the gun and you do the flushing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenbears10 Posted January 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2006 Thanks Adam. Problem is he is too sharp for his own good. If you carry the gun broken he behaves better than when he hears the click of you closing the gun well I would give him the gun and you do the flushing. BRF He is probably a better shot than me so we will try that next weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Red Fox Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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