Quist Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 I've been offered one which a family doesn't want. Its house trained and injected but jumps up a bit. Have I any realistic chance of turning it into a good gun dog or is it too old? I'm a gun dog novice BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country_est Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 Yes and No A lot depands on the dogs basic training. If the dog has been grounded in the basics. Ie sit stay heel ect ect and you have a lot of time on your hands and are a caring and energetic person you may well have a chance. As for how good the dog becomes, I doubt it will make FTC but should become a good and willing shooting companion. I took on a 8 moth old return to breeder lab in 2000. Still have him and he is a worker, but I didn't have the full amount of time I needed with him but he's OK. Would I do it again. NO next dog will be a 8 week old bitch..... Some trainers dont even start to take the dog to searious train till 1 year so it all depends. As long as he has some breeding of working parentatge them most of the shooting bit is instinct, but yoyu just have to learn to control it. If you have the time I am sure NTTF will be along with some advice and a training plan. Cheers Trev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 I agree with CE wholeheartedly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted May 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 Yes and No :yp: A lot depands on the dogs basic training. If the dog has been grounded in the basics. Ie sit stay heel ect ect and you have a lot of time on your hands and are a caring and energetic person you may well have a chance. As for how good the dog becomes, I doubt it will make FTC but should become a good and willing shooting companion. I took on a 8 moth old return to breeder lab in 2000. Still have him and he is a worker, but I didn't have the full amount of time I needed with him but he's OK. Would I do it again. NO next dog will be a 8 week old bitch..... Some trainers dont even start to take the dog to searious train till 1 year so it all depends. As long as he has some breeding of working parentatge them most of the shooting bit is instinct, but yoyu just have to learn to control it. If you have the time I am sure NTTF will be along with some advice and a training plan. Cheers Trev I've had a look at it now. Its a pedigree black lab that they paid £500 for. Its overweight and in need of some good exercise. They've got three young kids that its run around with. It pulls on the lead but will sit when told. Its not been nuetered and is currently on heat. When I took it out in the garden, it was into the pond in seconds and worked up all the hedges and bushes pretty well, putting up some woodies in the process. I think all the right instincts are there. My guess is that its going to need a lot of discipline and work to bring it up to scratch before next season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country_est Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 If you have the time and effort then it could be worth while. Dog will lose wieght when worked walked and fed right and not too many scraps. Your main problems will be trying to break his bad habbits as well as getting him to learn the new ones. A 8 week oldd pup can be taught a lot of the basics is a play environment with lots of repitition, but if the older dog has a mind of its own you will need to try a lot harder to get him to stop to the whistle ect. Mine will stop to the whistle (NOT Sit) look around to see why I stopped him and then (and only then) will he sit if he cant see anything else to do. (this is mainly when out walking and training and is a lot better in the field). As for jumping in the pond, mine is currently up the run as he's been in every muddy puddle he could fing in the woods tonight, then threw up on the lounge carpet. As this one is a bitch in my opinion they are easier to train and will respond better than having to try an cope with a dog that thinks he is alfa male as soon as I step out of the house. Also depends on what kind of shooting you are going to do with him. If is only yourself wildfowling pigeon shooting or ruff shooting then as he is your dog he can be forgiven some mistakes. If he is unsteady in a large shoot's beating line then your in deep doo doo. If it was the vet with a large needle or yourself then being a softie like me I would just take the risk and see how it goes. It can only be a goog learning curve for both you and the dog. Hopefully we can be some assistance if you go for it. Cheers trev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 It sounds as if this dog has the instincts. If the dogs attitude seems easy going and you are willing to do some work, then I would say go for it. I am more than willing to help you with the training, and to answer your questions. Get him home so we can find out just what he does and does not know and then we can plan from there. We may need to change some of his commands to do the retraining so be sure to get a list of words that they have been trying to use. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted May 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 Many thanks for the opinions, helpful suggestions and offers of support. I know I'm going to need them. I forgot to say what I wanted, so here goes. I want a dog that will work the hedges in a methodical manner when I go rough shooting but won't go crazily chasing stuff that it puts up so that I can get a safe shot in. I want a dog to work ditches and streams and recover birds from the water. I want a dog that will push hedges in when I'm a walking gun on a shoot. I want a dog that will stay to heel when I'm in the shooting line and wait for the command before going to fetch downed birds. I want a dog that can sit and wait while I pick a few rabbits off with the rimmy and perhaps even point to ones sitting still in the long grass. When I'm stalking deer, I want a dog that will walk beside me and signal quietly when it picks up the scent of an animal. I want a dog that can track a wounded animal if I'm unfortunate enough to gut shot one. Is this asking too much do you think? I'm willing to put a couple of hours a day in :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 As long as yo put the work in you will get what you want. The first part of the training for your want list is some very steady obediance work. Take her out on lead and see how she heels, sits, stays, laydowns, and recalls. Be very honest when you evalluate these as they are the fondation to all else, and we can not go forward until they are all in place. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted May 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 May have screwed up my pitch. When I spoke to the owner, I said the dog was overweight and needed a lot more exercise and discipline. Perhaps not the most tactful approach Anyway, they said they have to figure a way to break it to their kids and they'll get back to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted May 22, 2006 Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 I think that if you get the dog you will have to put in some hard work. I inherited a 18 month old springer that had been ill-treat, left on a 4ft chain, and had the fleas of a thousand camels. But i saved it from being put-down, worked so hard to get its love and trust, and it turned out to be a fantastic companion and an able working dog. Never the best dog on the shoot, but not the worst, so with lots of TLC, lots of hard work you too could have a dog to be proud of mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted May 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 Well, she hasn't come back to me yet I think I did the equivalent of looking a gift horse in the mouth, giving a straight asessment of its condition and behaviour Maybe tonight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy75 Posted May 24, 2006 Report Share Posted May 24, 2006 Well, she hasn't come back to me yet I think I did the equivalent of looking a gift horse in the mouth, giving a straight asessment of its condition and behaviour Maybe tonight? Any joy fella? I'm in a similar position at the moment waiting to hear about a 2yr old black lab bitch that someone is having to pass on. Think I've got my hopes up too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted May 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2006 Well, she hasn't come back to me yet I think I did the equivalent of looking a gift horse in the mouth, giving a straight asessment of its condition and behaviour Maybe tonight? Any joy fella? I'm in a similar position at the moment waiting to hear about a 2yr old black lab bitch that someone is having to pass on. Think I've got my hopes up too much Me too, I'll have to phone and ask but I don't want to push them too hard. Can;t believe I screwed up by being too honest. Must've sounded like looking a gift horse in the mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted May 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Blew me out dammit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 Unlucky mate. Next time eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy75 Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 me too mate, all fallen through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted May 30, 2006 Report Share Posted May 30, 2006 The late James Douglas had two black lab pups, one a dog called Shaka and the bitch called Kuma. JD liked the thought of shouting her name for her to come to heal and nobody knowing what it meant. When I asked a Zula if Kuma meant what JD said it did he blushed but insisted there wasn't a word for it in the Zulu language as it was way too dirty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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