spaniel trouble

staghunter

i have a springer the last few months,he's just over sixteen months old.he'l sit and stop on whistle when sent for a retrieve on a dummy,but as soon as he,s sent out hunting he'l work for around thirty seconds then turns on his heels and straight back to the van,and won,t pass any heed of the whistle.he's never been shot over.he was over ten months when i got him.is there anything i can do to sort this problem out or is he to old.

cavan shooter

He isnt too old, but you will need patience and a change of tack go for a walk leave the van behind, let him hunt on a 15 meter check rope give him lots of praise

Spunk84

how much do you work with him? maybe try a football field or shorter distances throwing

blackstairsboy

Try running him behind another springer in a spot with plenty of game (best wait a month or so with pheasants nesting etc). He should follow him and will catch on quickly enough. This should get him hunting more and putting the nose down when sent for a retrieve.

EPointer=Birdss

Rabbits rabbits & more rabbits. If he's worth feeding you'll know very quickly whether he's interested or not.
I plan on building a rabbit pen some day for training springers. Could rent it out

deeksofdoom

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

Rabbits rabbits & more rabbits. If he's worth feeding you'll know very quickly whether he's interested or not.
I plan on building a rabbit pen some day for training springers. Could rent it out

What Epointer said find a place with rabbits and let him run he'll soon start hunting the ditches.

Spunk84

staghunter wrote: »

i have a springer the last few months,he's just over sixteen months old.he'l sit and stop on whistle when sent for a retrieve on a dummy,but as soon as he,s sent out hunting he'l work for around thirty seconds then turns on his heels and straight back to the van,and won,t pass any heed of the whistle.he's never been shot over.he was over ten months when i got him.is there anything i can do to sort this problem out or is he to old.

16 months and not been shot over that would be like xmas morning and not being able to open my pressies;)

As for EPoints advise rabbits rabbit and more rabbits LOL;) if it takes no heed to the scent or runs the ditches after them, then maybe a dead bird?

gregers85

Ive used pheasant wings and an army sock stuffed with feathers and hid them around ditches nd high grass when training my setter!

Spunk84

just bring him out and bang a few crows for him or a rabbit, then throw them for him to retrieve, seen some dogs wouldnt retrieve dummies or sticks but would retrieve fur and feather:eek: