timid springer?

RichieRich

i have a springer bitch about 5 months old, she is startin to retrieve her toy to hand but not always, she will bring it back maybe 3 out of 5 times, what i have noticed also is she is not a lover of cover, i know she is still very young but she tries everything to avoid even a single briar- she'll jump over it, finally every morning i go to the run to feed her she wees in a submissive way and cowers at my feet for a couple of minutes,

she's a good girl and deserves a chance (which she'll get) but i'm just a bit concerned that she's maybe a bit timid??????????????

SeaFields

3 out of 5 times is a start for a 5 month old I reckon. Plenty of praise when she does bring it back and making sure she enjoys it.

Rabbits are a God send me thinks to get a pup into beating cover. Gets them well used to it. I had a springer before who used eat through the thick briars he couldn't get through. Fantastic dog. Started him on rabbits.

One thought though - what are the chances that your dog is going to be shy around the gun if she is acting like this already. Another couple of months and she should be good to start training proper.

Best of luck but plenty of time before season anyways!

EPointer=Birdss

By all means give her a chance. Be very slow to introduce gun shot...
You might be suprised when she starts to hunt a few birds, rabbits the drive will kick in & cover won't be an issue! Be very careful with punishment as well, soft dogs usually only need a change in voice tone. Plenty of positive reinforcement etc etc

1 question though?
Why did you pick such a pup or has she changed as she got older?

P.S Mate has an ESS bitch that rolls over to every one that passes but is a miller...

RichieRich

ya, the dreaded words 'gun shy' is what i keep fearing each morning when i go to feed her and see her wetting herself and cowering, i only have her 5 weeks and sure i've a long summer to spend with her, she might turn out fine

jwshooter

gun shy is more to do with the handler than the dog .

the sooner you introduce your pup to it the better start with a .22 using subs and work up .

any litters i have bread i shoot over them from the time they can walk by the time there 10 weeks they will come to see what the banging in about .

the longer you leave it the harder its going to be .

a timid dog is a hard dog to train ,you say it goes on its back when you go to it .i would turn and walk away from a dog that does this ,never put your hand to a dog that cowers make them come to you.

this dog is only a baby you are expecting to much from it .you looking for it to hunt cover .
have you got it trained to that stage yet ! ,i doubt it

its skin is soft as a baby's would be .it would be like stripping of your self and running through gorse .

also a dog is a very clever animal and will get bored quickly so keep your dummy trowing to one or two a day and training to 10-20 mins a day

RichieRich

i picked her because i saw her hunting with her mother and father and she seemed fierce keen, she might be alright, today i took her out in the fields and i had my 4 yo son with me as we came into a field i was showing my boy some deer tracks and out of the blue up flew a cock, my was she confused, i mean she hadn't flushed it herself but she was close enough to him and he must've said F**k it i'm off, only about 25 yards from me as well would have been a perfect shot,
anyway the sire was a ftch so it' in her somewhere, and if it's there i'll find it.

Rovi

[MOD NOTE]
Threads merged.

macnab

I thought I read somewhere that you shouldnt start training ESS until they are at least 6 months old. Anybody else see that?

jwshooter

from the time a pup opens its eyes training starts ,the trick is to have the pup enjoying doing it.

greenpeter

RichieRich wrote: »

ya, the dreaded words 'gun shy' is what i keep fearing each morning when i go to feed her and see her wetting herself and cowering, i only have her 5 weeks and sure i've a long summer to spend with her, she might turn out fine
You can try simple things like have a bean tin in your hand and when feeding just drop it see how she reacts, as for wetting herself pups dont have control over there bladder till there a year or more. Just take your time and make sure she enjoys it and most of all you enjoy it and remember she is only a baby

Story Man

McNabb

You are not too far of the mark. Any younger than this and you will bore the pup to death and then ask why the dog won't do what you want it to do!

SM