problem spaniel

[monkey]

hi i have a spaniel (4yr old) that was trained by my dad. He is a great dog a wonderful worker and companion. The problem is when we are beating if he gets a bird, it is hit or miss if he either drops them at my feet or wont let go. what can i do? would not be so bad but always seems to be the runners he drops at my feet so have to act quick

[new to the flock]

monkey,

 

Alittle more information is needed such as what is happening around you two when he drops a bird....another fall, shot just goes off, etc....and what happens when he wont give a bird up.

 

From the little yo have given I would say you have two options.

1) teach your dog a proper hold and release command.

 

2)force break your dog for retrieveing

 

Give us some more details and I will try to figure out what is going on.

 

NTTF

[PestController]

hi i have a spaniel (4yr old) that was trained by my dad. He is a great dog a wonderful worker and companion. The problem is when we are beating if he gets a bird, it is hit or miss if he either drops them at my feet or wont let go. what can i do? would not be so bad but always seems to be the runners he drops at my feet so have to act quick

 

 

Seeing that he is used to warm game already, and he were mine, I would go back to using a canvass dummy dressed in feathers, and give him some retrieves as normal.

If he drops the retrieve, put it back into his mouth and tell him to hold, applying slight pressure to his mouth whilst doing so, and let him hold it for a short time, giving plenty of praise after doing so...and take it from him , repeat the process several times but don't sicken him of it.

If he refuses to give up the retrieve force your finger and thumb into the side of his bite by his jowls, taking the retrieve from him, also giving loads of praise.....

On no account chastise him for either, you could stop him retrieving, depending on his mentality.