Daveo26 Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Iv got a young spaniel bitch about 11 months who is fairly well trained. She stops, sits, stays to the whistle and hand signals, walks at heel and her recall is excellent. All the basics are there, I have recently taken on a lab dog just over 12 months old who has been trained to the same standard by my mate. Which I intend to use for picking up this season. I dont think I will work the bitch as she has some strange problems, she is a companion for the lab. My question is this, Will it harm a dogs training to allowing him run free and do his own thing? The spaniel hunts and he follows like a maniac. I can stop them at anytime and call them back to me. I just worry about what he will do when we are out shooting if he will seek out the nearest dog to play with or follow round. I want the dog to work well and one of the Lab training books basically says discourage interaction with other dogs but I know its important to allow a dog to be a puppy and enjoy life. Whats the best thing to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 Strange problems with the spaniel? is this something the lab will also get involved in? A lot of books are full of you know what. A dog that does not get to interact with other dogs much tends to be much worse to handle when it does finally get contact, perhaps the authour meant don't let your dog run wild with other unknown dogs on the park /beach etc at random. If they both do as they are told then i think fine, if the spaniels strange problems involve self hunting and selective deafness i should sort it or the lab will too before long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwen3513 Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 hi I tend to find that the work ethic overrides the play one, and they enjoy their work much more than a play with another dog. it there is not much scent about and she isnt being trained she will go and play, but as soon as she gets wind of anything it switches her into hunting mode. don't worry too much they love to work. jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveo26 Posted June 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 Kent, No the spaniel is more responsive than the lab. Her problems are to do with retriveing or more accurately a complete lack of it. I have 2 young kids who leave toys around the living room and unbeknown to me my wife was ####ing the spaniel for picking the toys up often whilst I was at work. She did retrieve from a very young age but I didnt push it so as not to spoil her to it. Now if anyone is in sight she wont even think about picking anything up. I have tried everything with her, I have explained to the wife if she sees the lab carrying anything he should she must call him back make him sit take the item from him and leave it at that. arwen3513, Cheers for that pal I hope your right, I worry because I walk them round a very rabbity cemetry in a morning, Will running round scenting rabbits but not finding any affect his training? should I do some dummy work in there with him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 Kent, No the spaniel is more responsive than the lab. Her problems are to do with retriveing or more accurately a complete lack of it. I have 2 young kids who leave toys around the living room and unbeknown to me my wife was ####ing the spaniel for picking the toys up often whilst I was at work. She did retrieve from a very young age but I didnt push it so as not to spoil her to it. Now if anyone is in sight she wont even think about picking anything up. I have tried everything with her, I have explained to the wife if she sees the lab carrying anything he should she must call him back make him sit take the item from him and leave it at that. arwen3513, Cheers for that pal I hope your right, I worry because I walk them round a very rabbity cemetry in a morning, Will running round scenting rabbits but not finding any affect his training? should I do some dummy work in there with him? Can always be sorted though, tried force fetch? or will it pick up a marrowbone or cold game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveo26 Posted June 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 Can always be sorted though, tried force fetch? or will it pick up a marrowbone or cold game? No I havent tried. Im new to gundogs and everything iv read about forced retrieving says its easy to get wrong, although I have trained lots of lurchers to a good standard. Most were natural retreivers. She will ignore anything whilst a human is present but once she thinks your out of sight will quite happily carry things. It drove me mad but now I just accept it then this lab became available and i dont push the spaniel anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.