picky springer

pheasntstalker

lads this may seem a funny thing:o:o but did any of ye ever have a problem with a springer or any other dog when it comes to retrieving game? ie she has no problem in retieving pheasnt but when it comes to duck she will push the duck with her nose back to land /boat ,ive trained her with duck feathers tied on to dummy with no problems, but when out with her yesterday evening at a pond shot 2 mallard she wouldnt take it in her mouth she just nosed it back i cant understand why

Spunk84

pheasntstalker wrote: »

lads this may seem a funny thing:o:o but did any of ye ever have a problem with a springer or any other dog when it comes to retrieving game? ie she has no problem in retieving pheasnt but when it comes to duck she will push the duck with her nose back to land /boat ,ive trained her with duck feathers tied on to dummy with no problems, but when out with her yesterday evening at a pond shot 2 mallard she wouldnt take it in her mouth she just nosed it back i cant understand why

could be the taste my fello went off crows for awhile:mad: shot them he would run over smell it and come back, Couldn't get him to pick them up, before that he had no bother at all with retrieving crows. One day i was walking him down the field and there was a crow hopping around with a hurt wing,told him to fetch, he belted up the field and chased it into a ditch and came out with it still alive, i dispatched it there and then. I threw it around for him and since that he has not had any trouble picking them up.

Maybe stripe the duck and keep head and cape, cable tie it to a dummy. Or if you dont mind using the whole duck, use that and toss it around for the dog

EPointer=Birdss

Funny alright.
My springer would retrieve a ball of barbed wire. He just lives for it.
The pointer then is a better retriever as in finder of game but is very fussy with woodcock or snipe. Just doesn't like to pick or carry them.

All I've done is train the retrieve command very strongly. He knows when I say 'get it' & point, to go pick it up whatever is of interest in that direction. (gets very funny with fluffy slippers that lie around belong to family members )
He still picks & drops it & tongues out the feathers but will bring it back okish cause he knows I want him to.

Will she pick it on land?

Birdnuts

Spunk84 wrote: »

could be the taste my fello went off crows for awhile:mad:

My Lab was never keen on crows - but he does the business with everything else so I'm not too hard on him;)

deeksofdoom

pheasntstalker wrote: »

lads this may seem a funny thing:o:o but did any of ye ever have a problem with a springer or any other dog when it comes to retrieving game? ie she has no problem in retieving pheasnt but when it comes to duck she will push the duck with her nose back to land /boat ,ive trained her with duck feathers tied on to dummy with no problems, but when out with her yesterday evening at a pond shot 2 mallard she wouldnt take it in her mouth she just nosed it back i cant understand why

How much retrieving have you done on water. How is she at retrieving dummies and tennis balls from water?

Your dog may be suffering from a lack of confidence in water swimming with something in its mouth.

pheasntstalker

she is 100% fine retrieving dummies off water and loves water:D:D have used a duck that a mate shot , had her retriving the duck off the water no problem, il just have to work on her,to be fair on her this is her first real season, she is only a year old

charlie10

would throwing a duck across the far bank make her pick it and swim back with it maybe??

stevoman

get a shot duck and do a few positive retreiving excercises with the dog. even wings mihht do it. it wont be easy but if you work at it your dog will come around.