SPRINGER SPANIEL

[TACTICAL SNIPER]

Hi Chaps,

 

I'm new to pigeon watch so forgive me if I am posting this in the wrong forum!

 

I am going to be collecting my liver/white springer pup in 4-5 weeks time and really was hoping for some advice on foods/training, exercise etc.

 

it will be my first springer and he is going to be participating in field sports!

 

Any advice would really be helpful!

 

Happy Hunting!

[ROBLATCH]

personaly i use chudleys puppy i think it would be a good idea to ask the breeder what they have been feeding and if you wish to change do it gradualy,as far as training you must not forget he is a baby so let him play and socialise well, there is nothing stopping you from playing with him with he,s toy,s etc but DONT push too much too soon as you will be creating your own problems later on remeber bay,s crawl before they walk.

i am sure if done correctly you will have many happy ,pleasing years with him as we all have

 

atb

 

Rob

[Outlander]

Yeah , good advice Rob .

[TACTICAL SNIPER]

Cheers guys I appreciate the advice, I really want to get it right. I understand how important the socialising aspect of it is and I guess you have to just let them be a puppy... and just introduce training step by step as time goes by.

[kent]

Just play with it for now and get it used to various sights and sounds, I carry them about on my front in an old smelly game bag around the village as they get lots of socialisation that way as soon as jabs are ok its meet and greet time with other dogs (with care that they are also socialised). Don't change the food yet and only do so in stages, I prefer to cook up my own puppy food that way I know exactly what is in it.

Get some books on training working spaniels and read them all cover to cover. The proper stuff is a long way off yet though

[TACTICAL SNIPER]

WOW THATS GOOD ADVICE, CANN I HAVE SOME IDEA ON INGREDIANTS YOU WOULD TYPICALLY USE TO MAKE YOUR PUPPY FOOD?

[kent]

Get three cheap supermarket chickens (or similar rabbits, butchers off cuts etc. etc). Bone them out and no splintery bits! Boil the carcases up to make a stock. Add the meat chopped up and a bag of mixed frozen veg (cheap as you like but no Broccoli). boil up then add rice Bought in bulk (brown is said to be the best but I have yet to find it in bulk bags) till all the rice has cooked and taken up the liquid, then bag up to daily amounts. You want some fat in it so if your using say rabbit you might wish to add some (proper butchers are a good contact to have).

You can also do this with fish, either fresh or frozen. If you do chuck the lot in guts as well. I also add bits of other stuff like raw or boiled egg to the feed at meal times, bits of cheese and apple as treats

[TACTICAL SNIPER]

THANKYOU FOR SHARING THIS, IT SOUNDS VERY LEAN AND PROTEIN RICH! REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

[white flash]

Let the pup be a pup.Make it fun for the pup.Let it bond and want to be with you.Throw a rolled up sock now and then but not to much you get the pup bored.A true friend for life.Take your time and don't rush.Alb

[kent]

THANKYOU FOR SHARING THIS, IT SOUNDS VERY LEAN AND PROTEIN RICH! REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

Don't want it lean that why you get all the fat in, just re-read YOU MUST REMOVE ALL THE CARCASSES AFTER BOILING ANY ANY BONE BY SEIVE Edited February 24, 2014 by kent

[TACTICAL SNIPER]

SORRY, YES JUST RE-READ, THANKS

[evo]

enjoy your pup bud, let him play , mine is 10 months now and although he is not being rushed, I took him shooting with me yesterday , it was his first time in a hide with me, he has been the clay ground numerous times to get familiar with gun sounds and it doesn't bother him at all,

 

I left him in the truck for first two hours then let him sit in the hide with me for the last two,,

 

I shot a pigeon and guess what, after all the training I have been doing with him he retrieved two birds, and the two guys I took shooting yesterday where even impressed with how well he retrieved the two pigeons I shot,

 

he now knows what is involved and proved what a good dog he will become when finished as he is still only my "little son"

 

I cant go anywhere without him as he is like my shadow, bond with him and most importantly once you get him out for walks HEEL WORK is so important the more HEEL WORK you do the better,

 

my pup has been on dr Johns(dried food) gold and platinum mixed since he was 5months old and I have had no problems with his eating what so ever,

 

enjoy it mate as you have now got your best mate coming for a long time

 

atb Evo

[kent]

Everyone has their own take on things but strict heelwork normally is left out of a hunting type gundog until later on when you have them hunting different with retrievers that work from heel. Under no circumstance let a pup partake in retrieving during shooting until its well pretty near finished, test it and it is odds on it will come out wanting and it is a lot harder to iron out faults than it is to not put them in in the first place. Many go further and say fully trained (other than experience) end of no exceptions. If I was intending a dog to work on peg at a formal shoot day then I should certainly go that far.

Get those books you wont regret it Joe Irving's training spaniels and Keith Erlandson's The working springer spaniel are two good ones I can recomend.

[Guest]

Everyone has their own take on things but strict heelwork normally is left out of a hunting type gundog until later on when you have them hunting different with retrievers that work from heel. Under no circumstance let a pup partake in retrieving during shooting until its well pretty near finished, test it and it is odds on it will come out wanting and it is a lot harder to iron out faults than it is to not put them in in the first place. Many go further and say fully trained (other than experience) end of no exceptions. If I was intending a dog to work on peg at a formal shoot day then I should certainly go that far.

Get those books you wont regret it Joe Irving's training spaniels and Keith Erlandson's The working springer spaniel are two good ones I can recomend.

The above is very sound advice...

 

I did not start heel work until she was 18 months old because i wanted to keep the dogs drive i still don't enforce heel work especially if she is working on a shoot.

Some times you can make a dog sticky if you start heel work to soon.

 

But good luck, the pup looks like a cracker.

 

 

Best Regards

 

Neil

[Greenhorn]

Yeah roblatch thats the advice I got for my spaniel pup play time first then gradually bring training in with play, I was also advised to make random banging noises like clatering shoes and dog bowls together to make loud banging noise. First time I took her under the gun she never flickered so chuffed. 1 year old she retrieves, sits on the whistle, quarters on the whistle, just got to learn her steadiness now

have fun welcome to PW

[ROBLATCH]

Yeah roblatch thats the advice I got for my spaniel pup play time first then gradually bring training in with play, I was also advised to make random banging noises like clatering shoes and dog bowls together to make loud banging noise. First time I took her under the gun she never flickered so chuffed. 1 year old she retrieves, sits on the whistle, quarters on the whistle, just got to learn her steadiness now

have fun welcome to PW

yep thats right.. i tend to bang the dog bowls at feeding time etc, i think that way the dog will associate the noise with something pleasing

[hedge hunter 1984]

From someone who has there 1st dog/springer I wound listen to the advise about reading the books/dvds why you have the time before the pup arrives also get everything in place ie bed/run don't just think about the 1st 6months of the pups life think about all of its life. and especially bond with the dog get its trust and take your time with it its better to take 3 years to get the dog how you want it and it be set in the right ways than to rush things and end up keep ironing out problems. the reason I say this is its lessons I have learnt the hard way. My girlfriend brought my pup home with out me knowing I was getting one and I thought great and it was the best thing ever but now I wish I had time to prepare for its arrival reading up on training watching dvds asking for advise getting its run ready(as this is where your planning it to spend most of its time) making sure I was ready 100% for the dog.Like you I have never had a gun dog before this one. unfortunately for me she 21months old now so with my little know how its going to be extremely hard to get her to the standard I know she can get to but its not her fault its mine.

 

Hope all works out for you and if you do your home ect im sure you will get there

 

Ps its not easy at all the lads on here who are far far more experience will tell you that and will help you

Edited February 25, 2014 by hedge hunter 1984

[ROBLATCH]

drop me a pm with your details and i,l loan you a springer training vid if you wish

 

Rob

[TACTICAL SNIPER]

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR RESPONCES! THE FEEDBACK IM GETTING IS FANTASTIC! I HAVE JUST ORDERED A TRAINING BOOK AND WITH THE HELP OF ROBLATCH WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE A DVD TO WATCH!

Edited February 25, 2014 by TACTICAL SNIPER

[kent]

I notice the Black Lab in your Avatar, Is it yours? Did you train it to the gun?

[TACTICAL SNIPER]

Hi Kent, The Lab 'Tia' is not mine nor is she trained to the gun unfortunately, however she is a very obedient dog and I had her walking to heal at 4 months (although sometimes a little under heal..) however i think she just craved attention. she is a horse yard dog and socialises with an German shepherd and two jack Russell's.. I walk her regularly and give her as much training as poss.!

Edited February 25, 2014 by TACTICAL SNIPER

[Hopper Bopper]

From my limited experience I would agree with everything already said.

definitely build a strong bond - play is essential, get the dog to follow you while you walk around the house and outside. NEVER chase the dog or it will think that you chasing it is a great game and you will end up with major problems. If you have kids dont let them chase the pup.

NEVER give your pup any task that it could fail on like blind retrieves or getting round an obstical that is too big.

Be patient and consistant in your commands - make sure your family follows your commands and techniques fully

Positive praise all the time even if the pup gets things a bit wrong.

These are clever dogs and will want to please you so remember that you are building on their experience and skills all the time.

Dont rush any thing, If the dog doesnt meet your expectation on a task then stop it straight away have a little play and come back to the training the following day.

Joe Irving is a fantastic book and worth twice the money.

Dont over train the pup, little and often.

These are just a few of the things I have learned and been taught by people with more experience than me.

 

Remember this is your dog so if it cant do what other dogs can, so what so long as you are happy and are enjoying your new friendship.

 

Enjoy

 

HB

[ROBLATCH]

From my limited experience I would agree with everything already said.

definitely build a strong bond - play is essential, get the dog to follow you while you walk around the house and outside. NEVER chase the dog or it will think that you chasing it is a great game and you will end up with major problems. If you have kids dont let them chase the pup.

NEVER give your pup any task that it could fail on like blind retrieves or getting round an obstical that is too big.

Be patient and consistant in your commands - make sure your family follows your commands and techniques fully

Positive praise all the time even if the pup gets things a bit wrong.

These are clever dogs and will want to please you so remember that you are building on their experience and skills all the time.

Dont rush any thing, If the dog doesnt meet your expectation on a task then stop it straight away have a little play and come back to the training the following day.

Joe Irving is a fantastic book and worth twice the money.

Dont over train the pup, little and often.

These are just a few of the things I have learned and been taught by people with more experience than me.

 

Remember this is your dog so if it cant do what other dogs can, so what so long as you are happy and are enjoying your new friendship.

 

Enjoy

 

HB

i agree with what you have said, however i tend not to allow the kids to throw things etc for mine at the puppy stage as they have little understanding that the dog is a working dog and can easily be spoilt with mistakes,, at least that way if things go wrong its myself to blame.

ive got to agree if the dog does what you want it to do and suits your shooting needs then heyho i personaly have not advanced to the ftch stage as i,m perfectly happy with the way my dogs work for my type of shooting

[gazbev]

Take the offer up in the spaniel training DVD if I were you, someone on here was kind enough to give me spaniel training by Joe Irving which is very good,read as much as you can before it arrives.

 

A good website with different food reviews is below,lots of people have different ideas when it comes to food,these are the experts,good luck

 

http://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk

[Ian1513]

Its each to their own, i agree with letting the pup be a pup but 10 mins a day learning manners and basics worked for brilliant for me. I had mine walking to heel in no time and it didnt affect any of his other training. The one thing i would recomend is making plenty of noise before feeding, this makes the pup associate noise with a pleasant expirience so when you introduce him to the sound of gunshot the pup wont be too bothered by the noise.