springer

johnperch

hey guys i at my witts end with my springer he was knocking down cover last season this yr he barley goes in ive tried everything higher protein nuts cod liver oil fish 3 times a wk wormed him he looks great but i dont no what the problem is help

jap gt

is he meeting game when out

johnperch

yeahb but he goes into cover looks around and then back out wont stay in and beat the cover

EPointer=Birdss

Could be soured to cover from a bramble or overdoing it too young.
Some springers are just demons, others take work in cover & can get soured.

johnperch

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

Could be soured to cover from a bramble or overdoing it too young.
Some springers are just demons, others take work in cover & can get soured.

any ideas what to do

EPointer=Birdss

johnperch wrote: »

any ideas what to do

Could try any number of things.
Run him on rabbits, run him with an older dog, start throwing dummys into incrementally heavier cover etc.
For now you need to be working him only where there is plenty of game IMO as every minute he is in a ditch & meeting nothing its reinforcing the idea for him that the field is more appealing.

Personally I have & will be moving on dogs for similiar reasons. I rather shape a rough diamond than roughen a jewel if that makes sense!

blackwater doc

Sounds like my dog at the moment for the first two to three weeks of the season he barely puts in the effort but now he's fitter and lifting cover think he knows the woodcock are in the dog just switches on

Tawny Owl

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

Could try any number of things.
Run him on rabbits, run him with an older dog, start throwing dummys into incrementally heavier cover etc.
For now you need to be working him only where there is plenty of game IMO as every minute he is in a ditch & meeting nothing its reinforcing the idea for him that the field is more appealing.

Personally I have & will be moving on dogs for similiar reasons. I rather shape a rough diamond than roughen a jewel if that makes sense!

Hi Johnpearch, I know the Dog very well and hunted last weekend with you, and I know what your going through, but as EPointer said run him with an older Dog, How did he get on with Beckey, would you not bring him to that place we hunt rabbits and see how he goes, we put up 2 cocks and 4 woodcock Sunday but our aim or chance to shoot the Birds did not go well and he did not get a chance to retrieve so he might just be bored he needs that reward.;) I hope this helps

kermitpwee

Have you got him neutered since last season?

EPointer=Birdss

kermitpwee wrote: »

Have you got him neutered since last season?

He just methaphorically lost his balls

sniper83

Sounds like he has lost his confidence to me, was he ever actually staying in the cover and beating it by himself???
Also, just wondering would you be guilty of over handling the dog? as in blowing the whistle every couple of seconds??

kermitpwee

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

He just methaphorically lost his balls

I had a super bitch, shot over her last january, she was an animal for cover amazing drive, came out of a lunatic of a springer that couldn't be controlled on game. Anyway got her neutered over the summer and now she wont work, gone very timid and shy. Asked the vet and said it can happen to gundogs if they are neutered when they are young. My heart is broken.

snipe02

What did you do with the dog all year between last season and this f all im guessing

sniper83

kermitpwee wrote: »

I had a super bitch, shot over her last january, she was an animal for cover amazing drive, came out of a lunatic of a springer that couldn't be controlled on game. Anyway got her neutered over the summer and now she wont work, gone very timid and shy. Asked the vet and said it can happen to gundogs if they are neutered when they are young. My heart is broken.

sorry to hear that, never heard of a dog falling apart like that before, i was told before that you should let bitches come into season at least once and if possible take a litter before neutering.. thats females for ya always something :rolleyes:

johnperch

ok lads thanks for all the advice had him going on rabbits during summer and he used to go in to cover and he would knock it down no messing as tawny owl shoot over him before i had numerous lads looking to buy him to be honest i havnt seen as much game as i would of liked and i think one of you guys mentioned to much whistle and i think i am guilty of that to so im thinking let him go a bit he is not afraid of anything so no problems crossed the barrow last wk for a pigeon no problem and i shot a woodcock last wk gave him a blind retreive as he did not see bird fall sent him to look for the woodcock and he had him in a few mins

snipe02

When you were getting him fit for season did you hunt him for long periods