BRNDL Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Hello all. I have been training my pup consistently 4/5 time a week and she is really doing well. The directional training is great and the retrieving and recall is great. Since I have been beating with her off the lead she seems to have lost some of the steadiness and responsiveness to my commands. Beating is every other week, and what I lose in the course of 1 beating day seems to take me nearly the full 2 weeks to gain back. I really dont want her on the lead for beating as she is doing really really well at flushing the birds and keeping close working the cover. Is there something that I need to be doing whilst beating with her to minimise the loss? At the minute I am in contact with her all the time, recalling her back and sending her out again, pushing her left and right, sitting and waiting ect. If this is just part of taking a dog beating then so be it, as I am confident I can recoup her losses during the weeks. Any help or advice? I know some say you cant have a dog that is good at both?? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Taking a young or adolescent dog beating is hard and things are likely to slip with a very experienced handler. Personally I wouldn't carry on with the dog beating and return to training and straightforward one dog one gun stuff were you can retire the dog at any stage in proceedings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted November 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 I don't understand the logic behind the downturn in the dogs training? Why does this happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Give this season a miss as far as beating with the dog is concerned. You may ruin the dog if it becomes unsteady. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dashman1 Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Hi what age is your dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted November 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Give this season a miss as far as beating with the dog is concerned. You may ruin the dog if it becomes unsteady. Thanks JDog. I am away over Christmas for 5 weeks, so I wont be taking her again in November as I wont have the time to rectify the losses before I leave the UK. Do you think taking her on the lead would be ok? Then just picking up after the drive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted November 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Hi what age is your dog She is 14 months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 My advice would be to leave the dog at home this season. Teach it the basics and you will have seven or eight good years with it. If it gets wild, or considers that every bird down is for it to retrieve you will have a few poor years with it and you will get little pleasure from the partnership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scutt Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 I know it can be difficult to find enough work to give your gun dog experience but at 14 months I think it's a bit to young to take it out on the temptations of the beating line stop now and learn from the beating work and concentrate on steadying up of the dog . as already advised if you can go out rough shooting with the dog you can gain a better control of it while giving the dog the experience and your FULL attention . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
statto Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Taking a young or adolescent dog beating is hard and things are likely to slip with a very experienced handler. Personally I wouldn't carry on with the dog beating and return to training and straightforward one dog one gun stuff were you can retire the dog at any stage in proceedings I have to agree. My older dog definately had too much too soon and was a mare when he was younger. Still gets the glint in the eye and goes deaf every now and again. Didn't make the same mistake with the 2nd dog. Took it nice and steady. She's only a baby so you have plenty of time. Give it a rest until after Christmas then try her again for the last shoot. You'll then know where to concentrate your efforts in the closed season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Too much too soon,the best way to ruin a dog is to take it shooting (that is until it is ready ) Do not worry about letting the dog do a little work and then just slip on the lead after all you are aiming to get the best out of the dog you can.It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the day.Do not worry about what others on the day say or think because it's not their dog,a little at a time until you are both confident good luck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 My advice would be to leave the dog at home this season. Teach it the basics and you will have seven or eight good years with it. If it gets wild, or considers that every bird down is for it to retrieve you will have a few poor years with it and you will get little pleasure from the partnership. Spot on. Too young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longy0710 Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 All depends on the dog really, i have seen dogs at 16months old fully trained picking up/beating, then again I have also seen 14-16month old dogs just moving on from the basics. Dogs are not robots and all mature at different rates. I have 2 sisters dogs both completely different in temperament, mentality and maturity. The choice is yours but its easy to rush and ruin a dog. Better to wait and enjoy future seasons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 I don't understand the logic behind the downturn in the dogs training? Why does this happen? Puppies are not programed to think for themselves, adolescents are but like teenagers think they know more than they actually do. Shoot days are very exiting for a dog its better to introduce them very slowly. If your still saying a dog is coming on in this or that area, training isn't completed you take them shooting when your done teaching but need to start building experience and that takes a couple of seasons normally, first season is actually more about working on them than using them if that makes scense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted November 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 Puppies are not programed to think for themselves, adolescents are but like teenagers think they know more than they actually do. Shoot days are very exiting for a dog its better to introduce them very slowly. If your still saying a dog is coming on in this or that area, training isn't completed you take them shooting when your done teaching but need to start building experience and that takes a couple of seasons normally, first season is actually more about working on them than using them if that makes scense. Yes that does make good sense. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggiegun Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 Yes that does make good sense. Thanks. Problem is with a young lab, one minute you are training them to be steady and not run in on shot, then beating you are getting them in run after birds to flush them. All to much for a young dog. I would keep it on the lead, behind all the guns and just pick up after each drive. Leave flushing birds from cover until later, takes a lab a good two,three seasons to become good. Reggiegun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 I would say it could be a wee touch to young. U could probably perserve this season working it but u will be storing a host off problems for the future. I have see many young dogs out shooting and do ok ,but it's the 2nd and 3rd seasons the wheels fall off and they can just be wild and very hard to handle and bring back in. Always esier to avoid a problem than to try and have to solve it. i should know i don't always listen to my own advice my young lab has a few wee problems all from doing a bit much to young and being to keen, picking birrds off piles/butts is one, His obediance is better than my other dogs but just needed extra dogs on the grouse and took him out too young thought would do no harm and was fairly careful and he done fine then but its now u have the bad habitits he's picked up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted November 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Thanks all. I am not taking her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Thanks all. I am not taking her. Very wise. You have had the benefit of some expert advice on the forum and I am sure that you have made the right decision. Scotslad's tale probably made up your mind for you didn't it? Good luck with your dog in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted November 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 It did and yes, there are some great people with sensible suggestions regarding the training of dogs. I have asked a few questions and implemented responses which have worked out well so far. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren m Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 i took my 1st springer out at 14 months and was pleased with her for her 1st season , anyway that was 5 years ago and its been down hill ever since now on season 5 , shes a *** , no shes alright , but can get really hot , but then again i think i ,ve just got used to her. so theres no rush mate at all even though its very tempting . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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