Springer retrieving problems

[redthunder]

Hi all my springer spaniel used to retrieve pheasants to my feet but when ive taken him rabbit shooting i send him out to retrieve the rabbit but all he does is run in to me and run around me in a circle about 10-15ft aways and starts droping the rabbit and playing with it the same thing happens with wood pigeons he just runs aroung me and drops it and picks it up and so on. ive had wings on a dummy in the garden and rabbit skins and he drops it at my feet but out in the field he's naughty any advice on how to stop this he's 2 and a half year old dog trained by a keeper up country on pheasant and partridges he's a cracking rough shooting dog can anyone shine some light on this cheers

[gdunc]

Try and find an alley or pair of fences running closely parallel to each other to use as a retreiving corridor with dead rabbits or pigeons.

 

You'll be able to control the retrieve more easily there and coax the dog back to you with a lot of praise. I'd avoid all other retreiving while you're training in this way and it could take a little while to sort out completely. Don't do too much though and bore the dog.

Edited May 29, 2009 by gdunc

[WGD]

Set up retrieves using freshly shot game in a controlled environment, ideally a retrieving lane of some kind, so he can't run round you.

 

Before doing that I would also be insisting dummies are delivered to hand, not dropped at your feet - when the dog is bringing a retrieve back to you get down on your knees and do whatever you can to encourage the dog straight into you carrying the dummy.

 

You could also teach the hold command but I have no experience of this so will leave it for someone who knows better to give details; I understand that, taught incorrectly, it can do more harm than good.

 

Hope this is of some help.