gluebeam Posted April 21, 2009 Report Share Posted April 21, 2009 hi there i am training a springer pup now about 8 months old) and i cant say its going well. he completely ignores me when i have him out, he retrieves quite well and will sit and stay if i can get him to concentrate but as soon as he gets a few yards away he just puts the head down and i cant get him to recall. if he has the chance he just runs for miles hunting everywhere. i have him on the longlead and am worried about letting him off but he dosent seem to mind and will still ignore me. he also growls when i go near him with his food and i think it must be a dominance thing. what can i do, please help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanielboy Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 it is a dominance thing with his food...its also a battle which you have to make sure you win! is it an indoor or outdoor dog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODG Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Yep, it's a dominance problem. If he growls at you when you go near him & his food, he doesn't see you as the 'pack leader'. If he doesn't see you as a pack leader, he will never respond properly in training of any kind, and it will just get worse. You need to establish the rules, boundaries and limitations with him, and get him to see you as the pack leader. Once you've got that, you should have less trouble training him. Start with the food thing. When you get his food ready, make sure he sees you eating something (a cracker, some toast, something small) first (the pack leader always gets to eat first). Make him sit before putting down his dish. Make him wait before you allow him to go to the dish and eat. He's still quite young so you've got time to nip this in the bud.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gluebeam Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 thanks guys, but i dont really know how hard to come down on him when he growls should i take his food away of will this just make him worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gluebeam Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 (edited) he sleeps outside but he is allowed in the kitchen for a while during the day Edited April 22, 2009 by gluebeam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanielboy Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 where abouts are you in belfast mate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODG Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 If you're going to try taking his food away, be very careful! The best way is not to bend down and grab it with your hand - you may get bitten! Instead, first try 'claiming the space'. Part of it is attitude - you have to believe that you are in a position of authority, that you're the boss, but not be agressive. Move towards him and the food dish, slowly. Use your legs to nudge him aside or use your feet to 'claim' the bowl and move it away from him. You could also try using a stick, or broom, for the same purpose; to block him or to move the dish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gluebeam Posted April 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 when i give him his food and just stand beside him he starts to growl and i don't know if i should take his food away or just move away myself, i cant seem to get through to him, please help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Sorry to say it, but if you are being dictated to by an 8 month old springer things are going to get a lot worse if you don't sort it quick; you may end up with a confused dog causing nervousnes and tension resulting in aggression (the growling over his food is the start of that). The forum will be useful but you should seek help from someone who knows dogs and can show you how to handle him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gluebeam Posted April 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Sorry to say it, but if you are being dictated to by an 8 month old springer things are going to get a lot worse if you don't sort it quick; you may end up with a confused dog causing nervousnes and tension resulting in aggression (the growling over his food is the start of that). The forum will be useful but you should seek help from someone who knows dogs and can show you how to handle him. i asked a question do i take his food away if he growls or ill his reinforce it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeksofdoom Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 i asked a question do i take his food away if he growls or ill his reinforce it I would take it off him, pull him by the scruff of the neck out of the bowl and take it off him. Make sure you have control of his head so that he can't bite you. Don't let him get away with anything. You need to do this regularly. But you have a dominance problem and they can be very tricky to sort out. BUT WGD is right you need help from a professional as it sounds like training is going bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanielboy Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 a lead round his neck would be easier than trying to control him by the scruff as you remove the bowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 i asked a question do i take his food away if he growls or ill his reinforce it The reason I said seek help from someone who can show you what to do is that it will be very difficult to evaluate the whole situation from your description through a forum, and my point is it's not just the food or the running off, it's how you handle and react to the dog in the most basic of day to day situations that will have a bearing on his behaviour. It needn't be a professional at £30 an hour - although this would be money well spent IMO - just an experienced handler to get you on the right track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted April 23, 2009 Report Share Posted April 23, 2009 Gluebeam, Are you one of our young guns or are you older? I just recently walked another member through a similar situation, but it was someone I knew would be able to do it and he knew what he was getting into before we started. I also think you need to get some better obediance control on the dog. Can you give some more details about yourself, and just what the dog does and does not do. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gluebeam Posted April 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 hi there nttf, i am 17, the main thing he wont do is recall, he will sit, down, retrieve, and stay very well if i can get him to concentrate but once he starts to hunt or gets slightly distracted it is very difficult to get through to him, all i can think is that it must be a dominance thing (hence thr growling over his food). i am in the process of booking a beginners gun dog training course but it dosent start until july so i would be eternally greatful for any help that you guys could give me B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.