rusticola Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 Folks, My mate's Springer will not push cover. She will follow scent, and raised a pheasant and a very tight sitting woodcock yesterday, which she had to nose out of a rush before it would get up, but she won't get into cover. Any suggestions? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 Some more experienced or better nosed dogs wont unless there is something in it to get at. if the dog is neither of these things then it just need to learn that's were good stuff hides away, not a hard thing to condition it into. Seen dried chopped liver used, pre-hidden tennis balls whatever floats its boat. Don't force it in if its a good dog with the nose and intellect to know there is no point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 If you or a mate has an experienced dog that works cover then take the other dog out with it, that is how I have taught my pups to hunt cover. For a lot of dogs I think hunting cover comes naturally. If the dog is hunting scents then it is probably smarter than all of us and it knows that there is nothing in the cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 Yup, Kent and Ollie are on the money - if there's nothing in the cover and the dog knows, you can't force it in there. I tried stashing some dead game in light cover to encourage my cocker, but it only took a couple of outings finding live game to make the penny drop. There's no stopping her now . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam f Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 Echo other comments. How old is the dog? My cocker isn't daft when it comes to cover, she'll have a look see and smell, it she can't detect anything she'll move on. If she can't she'll bulldoze it down! Her brother on the other hand just charges in and smashes the cover about! I pushed mine early and put her off heavy cover for a bit, so relax it'll come good, they have good old noses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 28, 2013 Report Share Posted December 28, 2013 You know this is also part of the separation that's occurring in trial and working dogs. Hunting dogs that will work to clean pattern regardless of scent and retrievers that rely on handling over air scent, both mean nose can potentially be lessened in offspring. NOTE potentially Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rusticola Posted December 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2013 Thanks folks! The dog is 2 years old, so plenty of time to get her right yet. Going to take her out wit a more experienced dog today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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