Obedience

[fieldwanderer]

I've no idea how to explain half of this so, sorry if I ramble on a bit.

 

Daisy (springer) is nearly two now and to say we've come a long way in the 18mths or so I've had her wouldn't be an exageration but there's some underlying issues that are now causing me quite a headache. I've been working from joe irving's book and have had some good results, it gives a sort of a test at the end of each step to see if your dog's ready for the next step which I thought was working well but, to be honest, I now think I've rushed the training to some extent and we now have a dog that knows it all but chooses when and where to respond - usually, that means she's spot on when training but far from it when it matters

 

I fully accept it's not the dog's fault, it's mine. I've not had much time to train her over the past 6-8 months because of work but I've just started a new job and am at home at least some of each day (I'm a lorry driver)so can now get going again but (in my opinion) I need to get the above issue sorted first of all, and keep it up to scratch. I went to see an obedience school this morning and the whole lot of them were so up theirselves it was difficult to believe needless to say, I don't think I'll be going that route

 

Another problem I've got is that I'm not the only person who walks daisy; My mum does when I can't which is appreciated but there's no training or anything, she just lets daisy run riot - which has a negative effect.

 

Where do I start though? Any book recommendations?

[helenthomas]

Hiya, you don't say what your main issues are. I'm guessing recall?? Thanks, Helen.

[vampire]

Think you should start by calming down and not rushing,just go back and reinforce what you have already done,its not a race,slow down and chill it worked for me with the german sheperd,be consistant and calm.

Having said all that,i am getting a lab to go with the sheperd,cause a spaniel is to bouncy for me.

Good luck,when you can put up with the stuck up school,you will have cracked it......

[larp]

tell your mum to walk the dog on the lead . and go back to the start with the training ditch .the book work with the dog

[kent]

so assuming your dates are from aquiring a small pup. the dog is 18 mnths old and you have done little with it in last 8 mnth, the dog perhaps started training in earnest a 6mnths you did 4 mnths work with it then left it with mum who has been busy undoing things? The dog is now a know it all teenager and you have some issues

If i have got this correct then go back to the start again and stick at it or get a pro involved in things while you are away working in the waggon perhaps?

[davecooper1]

Just go back to basics, its not going to happen overnight, its a slow job mate, one level at a time and you will get there.

I used to video my dog with my phone and then look over the bad points which need more attention

[fieldwanderer]

so assuming your dates are from aquiring a small pup. the dog is 18 mnths old and you have done little with it in last 8 mnth, the dog perhaps started training in earnest a 6mnths you did 4 mnths work with it then left it with mum who has been busy undoing things? The dog is now a know it all teenager and you have some issues

If i have got this correct then go back to the start again and stick at it or get a pro involved in things while you are away working in the waggon perhaps?

 

Not quite, I means what I says I've not had much time to be doing much - so I've been doing as much as I can. I've had Daisy from 9months and she's 2 the day after tomorow, up to september (when she was erm 18mths) so, 9months worth, she was getting three walks a day which include about 30mins training. From september to now she's been getting one "run riot" walk and one with me and it's not really working.

 

Anyway; WHEN TRAINING she'll quater nicely, walk to heel not brilliantly, retrive - blind, not, directed to the dummy etc, recall pretty well though she insists on a quick sniff round first , recall to whistle, turn on the whistle and drop to a whistle

 

I've been taking her shooting occasionally too, though I know it's not ideal, she was scared of guns to start with - she'd shy away and go to her bed and taking her out to show her what it was all about was the only thing that put it right. I'm a rough shooter, I shoot alone and can train her to a certain extent while we're out. Where it goes wrong though is she'll be walking with me and suddenly run into the field and run round in circles, ignoring me altogether. She also does this when I fire a shot but she's expecting to retrieve something which she does, but she's supposed to wait to be sent - just like in training.

 

It's difficult because she's really good in training and you'd swear she's ready to do more but it all goes out of the window, bit soul destroying really going over and over the same stuff (which all goes smoothly) only to find you're not actually any further forward. Don't get me wrong though, I don't want to rush anything, I'd like to make some progress and I think the key to that would be to get Daisy to understand that a command means NOW and EVERY TIME, I just don't know how I'm gonna do that.......

[UKPoacher]

First thing;- forget blaming anything on your Mother. Dogs know what they can get away with and what they can't. If one person lets them run riot and the second doesn't the dog will adapt its behaviour accordingly.

 

Ona similar vein the dog is realising that once your concentration is off her and on your gun and quarry she can take the oppertunity to do what she wants. Take her out with the gun, suddenly mount the gun, then put it down and concentrate on keeping her to heel. Repeat at random intervals. Once you've cracked that part fire a shot every now and then and immediately get into her ribs telling her to stay at heel. Keep practising this so she does not seize the oppertunity to break when you shoot. When you do shoot something immediately put in a loud and stern "Stay" or "Heel" and once she is settled, direct her to the retrieve. Every now and then go and pick it yourself with her at heel.

 

The idea is for you to decide not her.

[davecooper1]

Good write up to explain, its a pity your not closer mate, so I could have had a look at her.

Just keep going mate, you will get her to a standard that you are happy with

[kent]

Not quite, I means what I says I've not had much time to be doing much - so I've been doing as much as I can. I've had Daisy from 9months and she's 2 the day after tomorow, up to september (when she was erm 18mths) so, 9months worth, she was getting three walks a day which include about 30mins training. From september to now she's been getting one "run riot" walk and one with me and it's not really working.

 

Anyway; WHEN TRAINING she'll quater nicely, walk to heel not brilliantly, retrive - blind, not, directed to the dummy etc, recall pretty well though she insists on a quick sniff round first , recall to whistle, turn on the whistle and drop to a whistle

 

I've been taking her shooting occasionally too, though I know it's not ideal, she was scared of guns to start with - she'd shy away and go to her bed and taking her out to show her what it was all about was the only thing that put it right. I'm a rough shooter, I shoot alone and can train her to a certain extent while we're out. Where it goes wrong though is she'll be walking with me and suddenly run into the field and run round in circles, ignoring me altogether. She also does this when I fire a shot but she's expecting to retrieve something which she does, but she's supposed to wait to be sent - just like in training.

 

It's difficult because she's really good in training and you'd swear she's ready to do more but it all goes out of the window, bit soul destroying really going over and over the same stuff (which all goes smoothly) only to find you're not actually any further forward. Don't get me wrong though, I don't want to rush anything, I'd like to make some progress and I think the key to that would be to get Daisy to understand that a command means NOW and EVERY TIME, I just don't know how I'm gonna do that.......

Sounds like a different dog from the one first descibed.

[pegleg31]

does any of your friends or dad shoot?

 

don't take the dog out on your own shooting, take her out while someone else shoots so you can work the dog.as soon as she steps out of line correct her.remember this is a training session and not a shooting session so concentrate on the dog.

 

when your mum takes the dog for a walk ask her to either make her walk to heel or take her on the lead.ask your mum to only let her have 5 mins of free time while she is stood still then either back to heel or on the lead.it sounds to me that your dog has realised that it's more fun to free hunt than to listen to you.like whats been said it shouldn't matter if someone else walks your dog as long as she realises you won't take any rubbish

[fieldwanderer]

Sounds like a different dog from the one first descibed.

 

That's what it's like though - she's doing well when we're training, some things need polishing up a bit but we're doing o.k. I think - but in certain circumstances she IS like a different dog.

 

Anyway, as said, I'm going back to basics - I'll see if I can get her to figure out that it's a different game when she's with me too and when she's got that I'll see if I can drag someone out shooting; my mate's gone clay mad so I'll see if the old man fancies a wander.

 

Thanks guys, I'll report back.