Lancs Lad Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 One for the more professionals... Jazzy will bring back the ball,,,,,and the rabbit skin dummy without any major issues.....He will retreive to hand......Hold and drop accordingly. He will hunt........find..........and have a good time out in the field. But give him a dead bird or a rabbit and thats it...............everything gets forgotten........He wont bring it back....but instead will run off.........sit about 8ft away and start plucking.......... He wont stay..........he wont leave........he wont drop...........make any movement to him and thats it..............hes off......... Do i need to bring him onto the dead game on the long lead...........? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 I think you may have a couple of problems to work on. One is the delivery to hand, and the other is the giving to hand. I think I would start with Jazzy on lead and and a pigeon in a stocking sock. Tell her to fetch and let her take the pigeon from your hand or the floor. Being in a sock she will not be able to pull the feathers....the same can be done with a rabbit. Let her hold it for upwards of a minute and then ask her to deliver to your hand. If she will not leave the bird to your hand you will have to either persuade her to leave by sliding your thumb into her mouth over the lower phlew or with a light ear pinch. Repeat this exercise until she is holding and delivering consistantly. I would then proceed to working her retrieves on a long line or retractable lead, again with the bird/rabbit in a stocking sock. I would repeat this exercise until she sat infront of me each time upon returning and delivered into my hand. Remember to back up with the majority of the retrieves to help focus her on coming in quick and all of the way. I would then proceed to working with bird and bunny out of the sock but with Jazzy still on the long lead/retractable lead until I was confident that she was willing to deliver the game to me, at which point I would try her off lead and hopefully the problem will be solved. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted July 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 I think you may have a couple of problems to work on. One is the delivery to hand, and the other is the giving to hand. I think I would start with Jazzy on lead and and a pigeon in a stocking sock. Tell her to fetch and let her take the pigeon from your hand or the floor. Being in a sock she will not be able to pull the feathers....the same can be done with a rabbit. Let her hold it for upwards of a minute and then ask her to deliver to your hand. If she will not leave the bird to your hand you will have to either persuade her to leave by sliding your thumb into her mouth over the lower phlew or with a light ear pinch. Repeat this exercise until she is holding and delivering consistantly. I would then proceed to working her retrieves on a long line or retractable lead, again with the bird/rabbit in a stocking sock. I would repeat this exercise until she sat infront of me each time upon returning and delivered into my hand. Remember to back up with the majority of the retrieves to help focus her on coming in quick and all of the way. I would then proceed to working with bird and bunny out of the sock but with Jazzy still on the long lead/retractable lead until I was confident that she was willing to deliver the game to me, at which point I would try her off lead and hopefully the problem will be solved. NTTF I tried the bird in the "stocking" but he just kept running off..............but then he wasnt on the lead...........Ill give him a trial on that.......................Now wheres me wifes stockings............................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferretboy111 Posted July 19, 2007 Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 Surely your are rushing things too much for him? Isnt he still a puppy? Id just take things slow with him. Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadSpringer Posted July 20, 2007 Report Share Posted July 20, 2007 Lancs He is way to young for any game!!!!!!!!!! Concentrate on retrieving a tennis ball or canvas dummy, get him 100% on those then introduce fur covered dummy, then a dummy with wings. When he is reliable on these then you can progress to cold game! I would not introduce cold game until he is 12 - 14 months old and fresh shot game at 18+ months. There is no rush, take it steady and aim to have a good dog for the next season. Only take him out towards the end of this season on a lead so he can get used to the goings on of a shoot day. Run through your training on different grounds and situations, keep it all interesting and fun for him and yourself. I know you are very pleased with Jaz and the way he is coming on and I'm sure you can't wait to get him out in the field and show everyone how good he is. But the best advice I can give you is to slow down and get things right now and you will have a great working/shooting partnership for many years to come. Rush things and in a season or two you will have a dog that you would rather leave in the kennel when you go shooting. I always reckon on it taking 3 years to make a good working/shooting dog that includes thorough training and a season or so experience in the field. Keep at it mate Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb B Posted July 20, 2007 Report Share Posted July 20, 2007 I have a couple of thoughts. Basic obedience means HERE means HERE. Every single time. Do you have kids? Sometimes they undermine the training program. Especially if they teach "keep away". Keep it short, keep it fun. Oh, I'm not a pro, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v-max Posted July 20, 2007 Report Share Posted July 20, 2007 Hello Lancs lad how old is your dog?.Like Deb B im no pro trainer but can work 2/3 dog's on 500 bird day shoot's beating.My cocker is new too me & iv been reading an old book working springer's & cocker's by Mike Smith & think it's a good book/read .I have only worked lab's 3 off bred by my self & try with game early once just to see but normaly leave it till 10month's on pending on dog.My cocker will be a 1year in september & havent done fur/feather or not onto it yet have tryed once to see & left it till later.I am on dummie's just now as i have found the cocker a bit more to grind down to hup when told at to my desired requirement & am getting the basic's in as you need break's or the dog to stop when told.If your dog is younger just get the basic's in & enjoy but dont run before you can walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted July 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2007 You know what guys....I probalby am rushing it too much.. He will return the ball, dummy no problems. He will stay when I throw it...............wait till given the command to "get on" and then retreive and "hold". He will get his nose down and search for it in long grass. Im not getting him out on a shoot for at least a season and a half..........NO WAY.............but want to move on a bit....have to get me book out again.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy75 Posted July 24, 2007 Report Share Posted July 24, 2007 My sprocker was just the same - I concentrated on good dummy retrieves from land and water, then it just suddenly came to him. Bunnies were first, he did look a little put off by bringing them back, then he started to relish it. Pidgies were a bit of a mare. Wouldnt go near stockings either, so I just persevered. Now gone from plucking and pawing them to bringing them back and spitting the feathers out He got there in the end, but I must say this has only just recently changed at 19 months old ( I have a good excuse of only getting him at 6 months tho ) Good luck and persevere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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