springer stopped retrieving

[fieldwanderer]

I hoped she'd pick it back up in time for the serious pigeon shooting that's due in the next week or two but no joy.

 

All the training's been a constant battle because I work nights and only get to take her out a couple of times a week, I don't know exactly what goes on when others take her for walks etc but I doubt I'd approve - I've tried and tried to explain her training and what not to do but it just falls on death ears Though I don't know if this has caused this particular problem or not.

 

She'll find the pigeon, pick it up and carry it a couple of feet before putting it down again, somehow as she puts it down she invariably ends up with a mouthful of feathers which I think puts her off picking it back up. She'll then wander off "pretending" to look for more or just come back to me. She's also stopped retrieving anything else that I've shot but will retrieve balls, dummys etc fairly well. We had the same last year but she quickly got the hang of it again, it doesn't look so hopeful this year though.

 

Any ideas of how to sort this? To be honest, with her normal "bad" training, I think her shooting days may be over I keep catching my brother calling her over and over - i.e. come here, come here, come here etc in a playful voice and sort of encouraging her not to "come here" - wondered why she sometimes needed jumping on for not coming when called

[the pigeon man]

Maybe feathers putting her off try pigeon in a sock for a month then try again

[contrysports]

My lab went through a similar stage, but i thought nothing of it and focused on other parts of the training until i though she was ready to start again, your dog could be getting bored of retrieving as others may be constantly throwing her things, As you said it could be the feathers and as said before put a pigeon in a sock and slowly start revealing more of the bird but for training pigeons are not really the best bird to use but at this time of the year its probably one of the only ones you can use, hope she pulls through mate,

 

How old is the dog?

[fieldwanderer]

She's 4, at about 2 I had her doing everything I needed her to but admittedly the training has slipped a bit since then.

 

I remember throwing pigeons in old tights for her when she was younger, the tights didn't last long! Is just a normal sock what you guys use?

[BRNDL]

I gaffa taped the pigeon up for the retrieves. Once confident i plucked the breast feathers and continued the retrieve, then worked up to a full bodied bird. The feathers thing did worry me at first and still does tbh.

 

I also have a similar family issue. Too much fussing over the dog and inconsistent training. I walk the dog every day and train every other day but its amazing how the training progression can be reversed with a few days in different hands!

Edited August 7, 2013 by BRNDL

[subsonicnat]

They do not like the breast feathers, loose feathers at this time of year give them a dislike for a mouth full of loose stuff.

My mates dog would not pick Snipe, it has a very strong scent.. same thing.

[johnlewis]

As to the feathers we had a springer that would retrieve pheasants and rabbits no prob but pigeons he would but not happy as others have said its the loose breast feathers that come out so easy and he had a job the clear his mouth. Have you tried your springer with a rabbit to see if it is just the loose feather worth a try.

[fieldwanderer]

Bit of an update;

 

She just picked it back up for herself (excuse the pun) and has made me very proud over the last week or so - lots of praise each time she got it right seemed to help.

 

She had stopped retrieving all together except her usual toys. I've not tried her with rabbits since; I've not been out after them for a week or more.

[kent]

I hoped she'd pick it back up in time for the serious pigeon shooting that's due in the next week or two but no joy.

 

All the training's been a constant battle because I work nights and only get to take her out a couple of times a week, I don't know exactly what goes on when others take her for walks etc but I doubt I'd approve - I've tried and tried to explain her training and what not to do but it just falls on death ears Though I don't know if this has caused this particular problem or not.

 

She'll find the pigeon, pick it up and carry it a couple of feet before putting it down again, somehow as she puts it down she invariably ends up with a mouthful of feathers which I think puts her off picking it back up. She'll then wander off "pretending" to look for more or just come back to me. She's also stopped retrieving anything else that I've shot but will retrieve balls, dummys etc fairly well. We had the same last year but she quickly got the hang of it again, it doesn't look so hopeful this year though.

 

Any ideas of how to sort this? To be honest, with her normal "bad" training, I think her shooting days may be over I keep catching my brother calling her over and over - i.e. come here, come here, come here etc in a playful voice and sort of encouraging her not to "come here" - wondered why she sometimes needed jumping on for not coming when called

 

The last paragraph is a little worrying