Hookie1980 Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Guys, I've acquired a Springer Spaniel bitch aged 11 months. I'm currently looking for land permissions for an air rifle with a view to moving into fac rifles/pigeon with a shotgun but am a relative beginner. My question is what initial training can I complete with her towards being a working gun dog. Can anyone steer me in the direction. Im obviously not looking to her being perfect overnight but any training suggestions or anything I can start doing with her when I'm out would be appreciated. She is quick to learn and extremely intelligent and I'm hoping she will take to some training that would assist whilst engaging in my hobby. Regards, Hookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordieh Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Buy a good book on training spaniels(Joe Irving) and follow it to the letter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 If you want the dog for airgun hunting then you need to spend time working on steadyness and walking to heel as you are going to want the dog along side you at all times. You need to curb its natural hunting instinct and work on its retrieving . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren 67 Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 A spaniel to heel can se some frustrating times there. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedge Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 You'll get 1001 different answers on here. What's the background on the dog? Breeding/pedigree, working parents? Any previous training (sit, stay, recall etc) Why did they leave previous owner? It helps to know what you've got before we give you lots of useful/useless advice! +1 for getting a book - lots of good stuff out there. It will help you understand the principles before you try to train the dog. Maybe try to find a local gundog club? Good luck with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoxs Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Basic training , sit stay , recall, basics can be done indoors and as young as they will accept it. every dog is different you have missed the reall time to ge tthe basics installed but still plenty of time to get her upto speed. Enjoy the challenge and try not to give up on her she will come right with your patience and time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev12g Posted February 8, 2016 Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 There is a saying..... To many chiefs and not enough Indians Or To many cooks will ruin a broth Moral of the story is you will get 100 different ways off 100 different people conflicting each other ......like as already been said buy a good book or a set ov DVDs and stick to that method...atb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hookie1980 Posted February 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2016 Will buy a book guys. She has working parents. Was given up owing to violent relationship split and dog in training crate for 9hrs a day. She's only 11 months. Reluctantly given up in interest of fairness.. Separated from another dog and taken on by myself this weekend. There is no indication or signs she has suffered any abuse. Very happy and intelligent. Sits and goes down at moment. Quick to learn. I know it's not going to happen overnight. Happy to put time in and started with air rifle to gain permissions and progress to .22 LRs and shotguns. Didn't want to rush in and although I like a precision shot but im still finding my feet in these very different pursuits. Am not looking for miracles to happen but to start training her and familiarising myself with the breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 (edited) Spaniels. Training doesn't have to have a permission. Start by walking the dog and when you stop the dog stops. Work on getting the dog to listen to you. So if you say stay you can walk about around it without it getting up and either wandering off doing it's own thing or just being a spaniel. Don't hit the dog or shout at it just keep working on repetition of simple commands until the dog does what you commanded it to do and then play so it gets to associate obedience with fun and play rather than a beating for not doing what it didn't understand in the first place. The hunting instinct is already built in, you have just got to attune yourself to the way a spaniel sees it. Edited February 9, 2016 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michufc Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 If you have only just acquired the dog spend as much time with it as possible to try and get a really strong bond and make everything you do fun and never get stressed at the dog if you feel like you are getting wound up take him home there is always tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted February 11, 2016 Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 Do nothing for 3 - 4 weeks other than have fun with it, then bump this post and ignore 90% of the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 11, 2016 Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 Decide what you want and train for it Don't compromise on stuff you need Read everything you can from the great spaniel trainers of the past and present Why did you buy a dog meant to flush and work cover at short range when you have an Airgun and a desire to own rimfire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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