unclestuffy Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 I have an ESS that I am training for rough shooting and also driven game shootings. His training is going very well and he is eager to work - so training has been fairly straight forward. I was talking to someone recently who said not to rush the dog and "sicken" him to shooting as many a good spaniel has been ruined by shooting over them too quickly. In the training we have done he retrieves warm and cold game to the point now where he picks up pigeons without fussing at it; he also stands still when the gun goes off (along with all the other aspects of a working spaniel) - I understand that you work your dog at their pace. My questions are: At what age do spaniels generally mature? At 16 months should I keep the level of training the same or is the dog getting to the stage where it is ready to develop further? Should I not listen to others too much and go off how the dog works in the field? The dog feels ready to progress but I don't want it to end up with a dog that is no good for shooting just because I have been too pushy. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 lots of people just repeat what they have heard with little actual Knowledge. If you look at the professionals by that age they will be very well on but only you know your dog and it sounds like it is well on the way. Obviously the season is still 4 months away so really by that stage it sounds like he will be well on the way and really whatever rough shooting you do now should only steady him up. As for sickening a spaniel to shooting well never seen it they usually like it far too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclestuffy Posted June 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Thank you - I have seen plenty of spaniels running in on a shoot and running amock. I think you are right about working on being steady in the field to rising birds, rabbits etc US Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 the not running in is more about having the basics right, personally I like to do as much as possible in more controlled conditions like pigeon shooting and a bit of rough shooting before getting them into game shooting. If you can get some dogging in then that is always a really good way of seeing plenty of birds and working on the control in a flushing situation. Then you just have to bite the bullet and see how it goes once they get educated they can take as much holding onto as when they are first out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclestuffy Posted June 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Yes, we had a couple of mornings on a shoot at the end of the last session just for experience. Seeing the other dogs work I think was good for him The proof will be in the pudding for the first session though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfl1991 Posted June 16, 2012 Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 Hi Sound like you have a good dog he will progress at his own pace just go with the flow if he goes of the whistle or starts to rome put him on his lead and put him in the car then try him on another day but dont push him too much. Couple of questions how his he on the whistle because on any shoot you need your dog to respond to your fist pip and how far in front of you his he hunting when you are on your walk up shoot, you dont want him hunting to far in front of you because the birds will be up and away an out of your kill zone hop this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted June 16, 2012 Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 the not running in is more about having the basics right, personally I like to do as much as possible in more controlled conditions like pigeon shooting and a bit of rough shooting before getting them into game shooting. If you can get some dogging in then that is always a really good way of seeing plenty of birds and working on the control in a flushing situation. Then you just have to bite the bullet and see how it goes once they get educated they can take as much holding onto as when they are first out. I'd heard that goes on alot along with the grooming over the border in Herts :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclestuffy Posted June 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2012 Hi Sound like you have a good dog he will progress at his own pace just go with the flow if he goes of the whistle or starts to rome put him on his lead and put him in the car then try him on another day but dont push him too much. Couple of questions how his he on the whistle because on any shoot you need your dog to respond to your fist pip and how far in front of you his he hunting when you are on your walk up shoot, you dont want him hunting to far in front of you because the birds will be up and away an out of your kill zone hop this helps Thank you for responding and yes it does help. For the whistle, he is very good, we only have excitable moments when the whistle command is not followed through to its conclussion however they are few and far between now, and a quick correction soon brings him round again and working well. As for working too far out, he does have the confidence to get out but he does turn and come back - we have worked on quatering but slowing down the searching - like all puppies he is vey eager. Never done any walked up shooting as such just walk one stand one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfl1991 Posted June 17, 2012 Report Share Posted June 17, 2012 Hi Again for got to say on my last post your dog needs to be working 5-10M in front of you and about 15-20M ether side if you can keep him to this you are on you way. If you need any help there are working gundog clubs all over the country they are about £25-£35 to join for your fist year and £10-£20 after that they hold training days throught the summer (It cost me about £5 every time I go to the one I am in)and they hold working test and trails if you want to entre them too you can, you can pick up some good tips from the working test and the training days, If you want to no where your nearest club is go on the kennel club web site or contact Nigel Dear he is the Field Trial Secretary at the kennel club his email address is Nigel.Dear@thekennelclub.org.uk as him to email you the list of gundog clubs for your are Hope I have not boared you and it helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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