pigeon toes Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 I have a 3 year old cocker bitch.She is a cracking beating dog and works really well.She is just not interested in picking up.She has picked up most game but overall lacks interest.Occasionally she will pick up but gets bored easily and will get on a scent instead.I have not pushed the issue as I thought that maybe she needs time to mature.Any advice would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 If you want to keep her as a good beating dog I wouldn't bother starting her retrieving now. If you're focus has changed and she now has to pick up for you, stop all hunting and give her retrieves as her only off lead exercise, initially in a controlled environment (corner of a field, fenced in track etc) so she can't sod off and start hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon toes Posted March 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 If you want to keep her as a good beating dog I wouldn't bother starting her retrieving now. If you're focus has changed and she now has to pick up for you, stop all hunting and give her retrieves as her only off lead exercise, initially in a controlled environment (corner of a field, fenced in track etc) so she can't sod off and start hunting. Good point.Perhaps I am asking too much of her as she is a cracking hunting dog.We can all be guilty of expecting a lot from our dogs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Get another dog.... a lab to do the retrieving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 I'd have thought this was fixable with a bit of time a patience I've seen it done! Make it fun ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 I'd have thought this was fixable with a bit of time a patience I've seen it done! Make it fun ! Completely agree, but if the dog is performing its current role well and that is all that is required of it, why start something new that could impact on that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 But beaters need to pick up? I'd have thought it was quite useful?? Anyway it's good fun and would be interesting to try and train her? Just mho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 But beaters need to pick up? Nope, the picking up team do that. It may be useful, but could ruin an otherwise keen and useful beating dog that will find it difficult to distinguish between the disciplines at this age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune82 Posted April 1, 2011 Report Share Posted April 1, 2011 I have the same problem with my 2 year old cocker. He will only pick up game which is still alive. He wont even touch anything that is dead, which is a bit annoying when they are in the middle of a bush! He is a cracking little beating dog so I aint too bothered to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Last shoot I was on the beaters helped picking up after a drive. Never been to a shoot with pickers too but I know some that do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon toes Posted April 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 We have pickers up on our shoots but sometimes the beaters dogs may help too.Like I say she is a cracking beating dog and never pegs birds.I have seen her nose a hen bird 3 or 4 yards before it flew.From this point of veiw the picking up side is secondary and would only use her from a hide.Just interested to see if anyone else had experienced a dog which seemed disinterested in picking up.I have a near perfect dog from a beating point of veiw but would like to make her an all rounder.Thanks for your comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 I have the same problem with my 2 year old cocker. He will only pick up game which is still alive. He wont even touch anything that is dead, which is a bit annoying when they are in the middle of a bush! Most interesting. Cannae say I've heard of such over the pond - however, it's often vice versa. Is snubbing dead birds common occurrence? "Won't even touch anything that is dead" - even fresh-shot game? Did the dog get cold game for retrieving in training it up? What WGD's advised the original poster - giving up on the retrieving if you're staying the course picking up - seems sound. But, umm, get a Lab for picking up gives shall we say short shrift to them spaniels that love picking up as much their food bowls. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Nice pic!! Mg. My cocker picked a rather lively crow today and she seemed to be coming back rather odd when I noticed that she had let go of the crow but it had not let go of her leg !! She made some crackin retrieves from the hide though and was just loving it!! Never taught her to leave dead decoy birds but she figured it out on her own amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 Most interesting. Cannae say I've heard of such over the pond - however, it's often vice versa. Is snubbing dead birds common occurrence? "Won't even touch anything that is dead" - even fresh-shot game? Did the dog get cold game for retrieving in training it up? What WGD's advised the original poster - giving up on the retrieving if you're staying the course picking up - seems sound. But, umm, get a Lab for picking up gives shall we say short shrift to them spaniels that love picking up as much their food bowls. MG Says me with this thing in tow But the youngster's not to shabby either All in a day's work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Nice shots, WGD! The Lab looks a little familiar - well, her "go power" anyhow utectok - good on the cocker staying with the crow. Dog also apparently taught itself to run through decoys without bother - rare. Always a good idea to run them through dekes in the backyard or on a pitch before they go into the hide. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Wild goose picks nice MG thanks for the tips too. I have just been shooting over plastic deeks and started adding a few dead birds over the last few sessions to see how she got on a couple of commands and she seems steady on them now..... Mind you knowing cockers famous lest words eh!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Nice pic!! Mg. My cocker picked a rather lively crow today and she seemed to be coming back rather odd when I noticed that she had let go of the crow but it had not let go of her leg !! She made some crackin retrieves from the hide though and was just loving it!! Never taught her to leave dead decoy birds but she figured it out on her own amazing! Thankfully it wasn't her eye. Up to you but I don't send dogs onto corvids. Nice work ignoring deeks, good trait to have on pigeons or wildfowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Yeah I usually make sure they are dead with a ground shot if nessecary but the dog beat me too this one. Back to basic stuff again. After that I left her on the lead till I was ready to send her didn't want it to happen again! But more steadiness training I guess ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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