hitfreshairagain Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Hi All,I have been training my black lab for what seems like ever.He is now 16 months old and with his dummy work is good.He sits to the whistle,takes left,right and go back commands.He now delivers to hand (which i thought would never come) and is steady never running in or chasing poults while walking. Yesterday i took him out on the rape stubble for the day unsure even if he was too young for all the exitement and a few issues cropped up which i have listed so i dont forget any .Yet again pigeonwatch crew im hoping you can give me some advice. 1 He was quite restless in the hide(was his first time in one)and needed constant stroking letting him know all was ok. 2 after retriving a few birds i presume the ground would have had alot of sent confusing the dog of where to look((being in a hide he cant mark ?)and even tho he stopped at the whistle(which wasnt as quick as i would have liked)he didnt take the direction too well and hunted exitedly. 3 i found after a shot he scuffled to the edge of the hide on his bum almost unsteady ready to go. 4 he was sent for a bird which i thought was dead but when he got there it was alive and flapped i encouraged him to pick it up but he wouldnt and just backed away or carried on hunting for birds. I am at the stage now where after so much time and effort do not want to ruin him and hope i havent.Any advice from you guys would be appreciated. Many thanks Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proTOM1 Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Hi im sure others will come along and say the same , be very carefull taking your dog on rape stubble as it can damage there paws as its so sharp ,no 1 i no will take there dog on rape stubble for this reason its bad enough for us at times i have the marks to prove it from yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby dazzler Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Yea go very careful taking your dog on rape stubble I would never take mine on it I have seen a lot of dogs get injured with having there paws cut open and the main thing was when a dog goes to pick up a bird the stubble would do there eyes in not good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiLisCer Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Hi He is already learning that the sound of the shot is going to mean he gets to go and retrieve - he is a lab, he lives to retrieve (And eat!) You are about one trip away from him breaking from the hide and running in - he is also starting to ignore commands - he is learning that he can! Don't panic all is not lost and the remedy is simple (It will just take time - hmm long winded this dog training lark isnt it?) Set up a training situation. Build your hide, put out some decoys (Don't use dead birds just yet - that comes later) Sit your hound in the hide and fire a shot (Real shotgun shot not blanks) - but keep talking to and reassuring the dog, if he makes a move of any size - verbally reprimand him (Don't use any physical punishment) then go back to praise and yet again fire a shot. It may take 5 or 6 before he realises that when you shoot, it doesnt mean you have something for him to retrieve! Finish the session with a simple seen retrieve and no shot and go home. Once he will do this with no movement at all (And not on day one!!) Then with the aid of a helper on one of your shots (Same procedure as above) throw a dead pigeon out - he wont see it because of the hide,but he will hear it. DO NOT SEND HIM FOR IT YET! - fire two or three more shots as above (But no thrown pigeon) then unload the gun and stand up - keep an eye on the dog and using your voice keep him steady. Take a deep breath and send him for the bird (Hopefully he wont go through the hide!!) - if he struggles to find it - stop him, keep him stopped for 5/10 seconds (this lets him focus on you and you to breath) then direct him. Use soft gentle whistle commands - then you have something in reserve should he ignore you. If he ignore the stop whistle - don't blow it again (this simply teaches him he can ignore it) use your voice to drop him - loud! If he still ignores you - call him up and put him on the lead - you have more work to do on the stop whistle under distraction! Hope this makes sense? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hitfreshairagain Posted July 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Hi He is already learning that the sound of the shot is going to mean he gets to go and retrieve - he is a lab, he lives to retrieve (And eat!) You are about one trip away from him breaking from the hide and running in - he is also starting to ignore commands - he is learning that he can! Don't panic all is not lost and the remedy is simple (It will just take time - hmm long winded this dog training lark isnt it?) Set up a training situation. Build your hide, put out some decoys (Don't use dead birds just yet - that comes later) Sit your hound in the hide and fire a shot (Real shotgun shot not blanks) - but keep talking to and reassuring the dog, if he makes a move of any size - verbally reprimand him (Don't use any physical punishment) then go back to praise and yet again fire a shot. It may take 5 or 6 before he realises that when you shoot, it doesnt mean you have something for him to retrieve! Finish the session with a simple seen retrieve and no shot and go home. Once he will do this with no movement at all (And not on day one!!) Then with the aid of a helper on one of your shots (Same procedure as above) throw a dead pigeon out - he wont see it because of the hide,but he will hear it. DO NOT SEND HIM FOR IT YET! - fire two or three more shots as above (But no thrown pigeon) then unload the gun and stand up - keep an eye on the dog and using your voice keep him steady. Take a deep breath and send him for the bird (Hopefully he wont go through the hide!!) - if he struggles to find it - stop him, keep him stopped for 5/10 seconds (this lets him focus on you and you to breath) then direct him. Use soft gentle whistle commands - then you have something in reserve should he ignore you. If he ignore the stop whistle - don't blow it again (this simply teaches him he can ignore it) use your voice to drop him - loud! If he still ignores you - call him up and put him on the lead - you have more work to do on the stop whistle under distraction! Hope this makes sense? Mike Thanks for the replies guys and for the very detailed post from you Mike I will do exactly as you say and will think twice about taking him out on the rape stubble. Thanks again Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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