Springer spaniel pup...

gavinO668

The pup i have is coming along nicely, she's well mannered and does what she's told. she's coming along alot faster than any of the other pups i had.. The only thing is that im findind it hard to get her into the retrieving.. she'll run out, pick up the dummy walf 2 steps and drop it...

Does anyone have any helpful pointers they could give me?

foxshooter243

gavinO668 wrote: »

The pup i have is coming along nicely, she's well mannered and does what she's told. she's coming along alot faster than any of the other pups i had.. The only thing is that im findind it hard to get her into the retrieving.. she'll run out, pick up the dummy walf 2 steps and drop it...

Does anyone have any helpful pointers they could give me?

What age is the pup, and how often are you doing dummy work with her?/him

gavinO668

Its a bitch pup.. she's nearly 6 months.. i started doing it with her there nearly two weeks ago. i bring her out nearly every evening but id only use the dummy 3 evenings maybe... Thought if i did it too much with her she'd get bored of it because like em all, all she wants is to be tearing around with the nose down.

foxshooter243

gavinO668 wrote: »

Its a bitch pup.. she's nearly 6 months.. i started doing it with her there nearly two weeks ago. i bring her out nearly every evening but id only use the dummy 3 evenings maybe... Thought if i did it too much with her she'd get bored of it because like em all, all she wants is to be tearing around with the nose down.

youve got the right idea, she will get bored very quickly with retrieving at a young age, 2 successful retrieves are enough for a day and you could even do it every other day. What id try with her if she is only collectin the dummy and then quickly spitting it out is to take her to a very confined spot where you can throw the dummy no more than a few feet from her whilst holding her at the same time, this spot you pick must be designed that the only way the pup can get past you is by jumping over you-Then throw the dummy a couple of feet and encourage her to fetch it , hopefully she will lift and only having a few feet to travel will be back beside you in a flash and will probably not have had enough time to drop the dummy, scoop her up , giving her great praise and slowly take the dummy from her-now this might only have been a retrieve of say two feet, but it will be a successful one ! none the less and upon it you build;)
start with this and slowly increase the distance and the penny will drop, but remember the spot you pick will have to leave the pup no choice but to come directly back to you!

gavinO668

Thanks bud, thats very sound/solid advice. i might just do that with her. think i have the spot for it an all. Am i doing it with her too early, would she respond to it better if she was a bit older do ya think...

I kinda want to have her right coming into the winter though or at least started at it as i wont have as much time with her in the dark evenings..

foxshooter243

gavinO668 wrote: »

Thanks bud, thats very sound/solid advice. i might just do that with her. think i have the spot for it an all. Am i doing it with her too early, would she respond to it better if she was a bit older do ya think...

I kinda want to have her right coming into the winter though or at least started at it as i wont have as much time with her in the dark evenings..

I wouldnt consider it too early for a little bit of retrieving, I would normally try a pup at a bout 3-4 months to see its attitude to retrieving and then go from there, the last pup I trained ran out for the dummy and made a great pick up and then headed off in the opposite direction at high speed and I found him sitting in the kennel with the dummy underneath him:eek:
However i just went to the confinement method and started him off in my utility room which left me that I had much better control of what is happening and the pup had no where to go unless he came back to me, that dog ended up a very polished retriever by the time he was started into full time hunting. Another thing to consider is what you are giving her to retrieve, it may be a case of her not liking the dummy in her mouth, is it too big? or will she lift a tennis ball better and hold it ? Theres often a simple solution to these minor problems, so try the confinement method and see how it goes;) but remember dont rush-cos you cant put an old head on young shoulders and your pup wont be in the shooting field this year anyway so take your time.

gavinO668

Im gona chance that now with her this evening,might just chance it in the shed where there'll be no other distractions.. its hard to calm them down when their young, hard to even hold onto her at times..

Would there be any merit in bringing her for a run first to tire her out a bit?!

I must go about getting another pup because the pointer we had is gone since the other evening, loads of room now in the kennel..:D

foxshooter243

gavinO668 wrote: »

Im gona chance that now with her this evening,might just chance it in the shed where there'll be no other distractions.. its hard to calm them down when their young, hard to even hold onto her at times..

Would there be any merit in bringing her for a run first to tire her out a bit?!

I must go about getting another pup because the pointer we had is gone since the other evening, loads of room now in the kennel..:D

yeah its a good idea to run some steam outta the pup before any type of training is done, and a place with no disrtactions is spot on as well

deeksofdoom

Try retrieving with a tennis ball in a hallway that way the dog has no distractions it should run straight out and back to you. That's what I do with my dogs as said 2 or 3 retrieves is enough. When the dog does come back to you let it play with the ball in its mouth for a minute don't take the ball off the dog straight away.

EPointer=Birdss

Was doing a bit of work with 4 month Springer tonight. Though I'd share. Was well impressed with the 3rd retieve in the first video!:D:D Not intentional at all!!!
I started in the enclosed area so keep him from running left or right but he is very good to come straight back.. I think the key here is to find something they like. He goes mad for the smell of pheasants so I use the cushion with wings & stuffed with feathers. He prefers it over any other dummy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw9dGr8rOAY

In the 2nd video I was training a bit of patience into the pointer whilst working the pup. I generally wouldn't let them out in the same session but thought I'd see what happened. Watch how he comes back to the right away from the pointer! Clever little devil.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_XWLHBoqg

They both still needs lots of work but happy with progress to date..
1st Nov can't come quickly enough to work on the pointer. He just needs birds & I need to be shooting a few to reward his good work.
I have been bringing the springer around the pheasant release runs & flushed a few birds with him. Very little so far, only getting him using his nose & a small bit of work on the whistle. Hope to shoot a bird with him before the season is out but that won't be rushed...

gavinO668

Bloody hell... well impressed with that 3rd retrieve.. thats good work out of that little fella.. fancy taking my bitch for a few weeks:pac:

I'll be well happy when/if she starts doing that.. i must really work on the retrieveing with her.. Didnt get a chance tonight to do anything with her but taking her to the river tomorrow for a swim so ill chance it when i get back, she might be bit worn out then..

EastTyrone

what a retrieve is it your dog?

EPointer=Birdss

EastTyrone wrote: »

what a retrieve is it your dog?

He is. He's showing good signs...;)
Lives to retrieve! if he hunts half as good i'll be laughin...:eek:

EastTyrone

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

He is. He's showing good signs...;)
Lives to retrieve! if he hunts half as good i'll be laughin...:eek:

he is showing good signs if he hunts even a qaurter as good as them retrieves he'll be a very good dog, all i can say is you must be very proud

EPointer=Birdss

EastTyrone wrote: »

he is showing good signs if he hunts even a qaurter as good as them retrieves he'll be a very good dog, all i can say is you must be very proud

Like a proud dad! haha
Did some great water work today with a tennis ball.
I threw a ball across a small river (about 10 ft) he swam out, up the bank, got it & came back 1st time.
Did some in deeper water then & he did great!
Great hobby...