Dummy's for training

[hattochr]

Hi there I have a year old lab who I have recently started taking pigeon shooting with me. My question is should I still be practicing with dummies or now that she's picking warm birds should I be using these to continue her training thanks.

[col48]

Hi

I use dummy's all the time and my dog is now 9 and i have used them all the way through his life, he loves them. some dogs do go off dummy's when they have been switched to the real thing but if your dog is only 1/2 as keen as mine is then why deprive him of all that fun

 

ATB

Colin

[kent]

Some loose interest in dummies after the real thing, had it happen with two dogs but most carry on just fine and yes carry on as few can give as much shooting to thier dogs that would make thier use worthless

[ziplex]

My springer is 2 now and I always have a canvas dummy and a dokken in the car under the seat. I don't shoot as much as i'd like to so it makes sense to keep her interested. A few times a week i'll throw a few for her both on land and in water

[tigger]

I use the dokken ducks and pheasant birds and get the wings off of real birds and strap them on with elastic bands you then have the scent of the birds and also the real feel of them to, it certainly helps them to carry the bird in the right place to as if they dont the head will give them a tap on the snout which they dont like well worth the money in my opinion also i have just started using scent stick there are different scents which you rub on to the dummy and give them more scent to follow its amazing the difference in them picking up and following the scent i was sceptical at first but ill always use them from now on highly reccomended ...............

http://www.sportingsaint.co.uk/product/809/category/57

 

 

http://www.gundoggear.co.uk/dokken-deadfowl-trainers-48-c.asp

Edited August 21, 2011 by tigger

[WGD]

Use dummies, it lets the dog know it retrieves what YOU ask it to, not what IT chooses to.

 

I don't accept the "gone of dummies" argument, yes it happens, but the trick is getting dogs that have gone off dummies back to retrieving them, because it is asked to. They may not do it with the same enthusiasm, but they do it nonetheless

[kent]

Use dummies, it lets the dog know it retrieves what YOU ask it to, not what IT chooses to.

 

I don't accept the "gone of dummies" argument, yes it happens, but the trick is getting dogs that have gone off dummies back to retrieving them, because it is asked to. They may not do it with the same enthusiasm, but they do it nonetheless

 

Do you not think this lack of enthusiasm in itself might be counter productive? I mean if your wanting to use your dog in tests fair enough its required. I do just believe retrieving should be a fun exersize for a dog and also a means of reward, surely to press gang the dog back into it . Both dogs i had that lost all interest after learning the real job could have been pushed back into it, though they were both very good at thier job so why knock thier enthusiasm and desire its the one thing we realy cannot put into a dog?

[cracker]

Use dummies, it lets the dog know it retrieves what YOU ask it to, not what IT chooses to.

 

I don't accept the "gone of dummies" argument, yes it happens, but the trick is getting dogs that have gone off dummies back to retrieving them, because it is asked to. They may not do it with the same enthusiasm, but they do it nonetheless

 

Do you not think this lack of enthusiasm in itself might be counter productive? I mean if your wanting to use your dog in tests fair enough its required. I do just believe retrieving should be a fun exersize for a dog and also a means of reward, surely to press gang the dog back into it . Both dogs i had that lost all interest after learning the real job could have been pushed back into it, though they were both very good at thier job so why knock thier enthusiasm and desire its the one thing we realy cannot put into a dog?

 

More rationale in these replies for using white dummies - even white dummies with streamers attached. I can see the point in both previous responses, both have merit. But dogs - especially retrievers, and not far behind them HPRs - should see the retrieve as their ultimate reward for running out to pick prey. Using a white dummy lets the dog follow the motion of the throw, which excites the dog to want to go for the retrieve; having a streamer attached http://www.dogsafield.com/prodinfo.asp?number=R045-005 only enhances it. Once there the dog gets the retrieve and returns with it apace.

 

Of course the overarching motivation behind using white dummies is that they help a dog to mark a retrieve - white's a lot (whole lot) easier to follow through the air than darker or neutral colours. And the texture of the dummy http://www.dogsafield.com/prodinfo.asp?number=R257-552 can also have profound influence on the dog's retrieving abilities, especially early on (say 12 weeks)

 

when you most want them getting comfortable at handling whatever they're asked to retrieve.

 

MG

[WGD]

Do you not think this lack of enthusiasm in itself might be counter productive? I mean if your wanting to use your dog in tests fair enough its required. I do just believe retrieving should be a fun exersize for a dog and also a means of reward, surely to press gang the dog back into it . Both dogs i had that lost all interest after learning the real job could have been pushed back into it, though they were both very good at thier job so why knock thier enthusiasm and desire its the one thing we realy cannot put into a dog?

 

I hear what you're saying kent, I still feel a dog should retrieve whatever it is asked to. Maybe I have been fortunate but I have never had a dog that has gone off dummies, or maybe that's down to the way I train? In saying that anything I've worked with has gone up several gears on game.

 

I also don't have access to cold game all year round so training, either developing young dogs, polishing older ones or simply doing some refresher work in advance of the season means dummies have to be used.

 

I don't think its a question of knocking their enthusiasm, it's maintaining enthusiasm for something that they should be mad for as pups.

[t jack]

Agree with WGD, the dog should retrieve what you ask it to, had a GSP go off dummy's after retrieving game, but got her back on them after a short period, she is now as keen on both ;-)

[tigger]

I hear what you're saying kent, I still feel a dog should retrieve whatever it is asked to. Maybe I have been fortunate but I have never had a dog that has gone off dummies, or maybe that's down to the way I train? In saying that anything I've worked with has gone up several gears on game.

 

I also don't have access to cold game all year round so training, either developing young dogs, polishing older ones or simply doing some refresher work in advance of the season means dummies have to be used.

 

I don't think its a question of knocking their enthusiasm, it's maintaining enthusiasm for something that they should be mad for as pups.

 

I have to agree buddy,i have never had a dog stop retrieving dummies mine all go mad for them maybe i have just been lucky but they should still retrieve what i ask them to no matter what it is dummies or game.............

[kent]

I hear what you're saying kent, I still feel a dog should retrieve whatever it is asked to. Maybe I have been fortunate but I have never had a dog that has gone off dummies, or maybe that's down to the way I train? In saying that anything I've worked with has gone up several gears on game.

 

I also don't have access to cold game all year round so training, either developing young dogs, polishing older ones or simply doing some refresher work in advance of the season means dummies have to be used.

 

I don't think its a question of knocking their enthusiasm, it's maintaining enthusiasm for something that they should be mad for as pups.

 

I must say wait until it happens to one of yours. Going up several gears on game OR going down a few on dummies? a difficult call to make perhaps. That said My current GWP will switch staight off dummies when real game is close at hand he takes some persading to pick the dummy and not hunt the game other than that he is like a sprinter in the blocks and sets off like a wippet for those bags of sawdust and spit.