ESS

[turk101]

Hi all,

 

Right just a few queries and questions!!!

 

Last week out of the blue my bruv-in-law decided to give us one of his ESS pups. she is 6 months old and has only ever lived in the garden (run) with her mum and brother.

So she is a little wild, as she was quite ill as a little pup and has only been doing what little pups do from around 3 months old!!!

I also have a GSP (my avatar) who is 6 years old.

 

I have been reading the complete gundog training manual (James douglas) but find it is very basic. I have also been reading NTTF's guides.

 

I started training her on Monday this week, unfortunately I work nights so she is getting 1 training session a day for around 20-40 minutes.

Is this still ok? will it suffice or does it have to be twice a day?

 

I have trained her on sit and recall, sitting and waiting etc. Always making it as much fun as possible.

 

What do you define fun as? I let her have a little free running and run around usually chasing me about.

 

Right sorry if this gets confusing at all i will try and clarify myself as much as i can.

 

These are what she is and is not doing!!!

 

Heel- not very good at the moment but getting there i am finding this the hardest at the moment. i have tried small treats and the wand swishing stick. i think if i keep going i'll will get there in the end.

 

Sit- she sits to hand signal and voice really well, i can walk away and return and recall all really well. NOW 1 LITTLE PROMBLEM IS SHE WILL OCASSIONALLY LAY DOWN FROM SIT POSTION DO I NEED TO CORRECT THIS?

And on RECALL she will return straight to me as i crouch down BUT SHE WILL ROLL OVER FOR PRAISE DO I NEED TO CORRECT THIS AS WELL?

 

I have gone on to long now! :unsure: but i think what i'm trying to say is am i trying to much to soon do i just get her confidence up first and then progress the training or do i correct all the little things now and be military or will she get bored with that?

 

just 1 more thing she absolutely love the tennis ball and will retrieve it every time but again do i get strict and make her sit in front of me and hold the ball or let her enjoy just bringing it back for now?

 

there are so many varying training schedules it's hard to work out what to do!!!!! 1 says use treats another says DON'T.

 

REGARDS

 

TURK101

[mattyb]

Hi there turk101

 

I’m no expert but ill try answer a few of your questions. Sounds like you are on the right track with the training I would carry on with the sitting, staying, recalling, walking to heal etc but wouldn’t go onto anything more advance until these are 100%. In my experience 10mins of training a day is fine to start with and just increase it as she progresses and your doing the right things by keeping it all fun but if you tell her to do something make sure she dose it when you tell her not when she wants.

 

With her laying down when you walk away I’ve found that as you increase the distance that you walk away from them they will sit up to see where you are so I wouldn’t worry to much.

 

With regards to her rolling over when she comes in from the recall I wouldn’t worry to much as you want her to know that coming back to you is fun and the area around you is fun I’ve found that "good girl" with a bit of a tickle then stand up and get her to sit before you carry on with the training works well, as you progress with her you can give her a pip on the whistle as she comes into you to sit her up.

 

With getting a spaniel to heal it is a battle just persist at it when on the lead tell her heal once and every time she gets to far yank on the lead and just keep at it the message will get through eventually.

 

Don’t do to many retrieves as I’ve found they got bored of that very easily.

 

But good luck with it and keep up the good work!!

 

Matty

[turk101]

Thanks mattyb19

 

Do you think i need to walk her as well as her training session or combine the two?

 

my worry with that is that if combining the two it would have to be on the lead as there would be more distractions. so i would have to keep her close to reinforce any commands.

 

any advice would be good

 

regards

 

turk101

[mattyb]

I don’t tend to walk mine before training as have found they get bit tired and lose interest but it wouldn’t hurt just to let her have a mad 5mins before training to get rid of a bit of energy.

 

But I would just take her on a walk as well, when on a walk if you can trust her off the lead just keep calling her back to you when she gets to a distance you feel comfortable with or even try a long lead as you still have the control wile letting her have a bit of freedom.

 

Matty

[partridge60]

take a look at "Gundog Training Forum" they are the experts- I wouldnt even dare to start advising.

 

http://www.gundogtrainingforum.co.uk

Edited September 27, 2009 by partridge60