Introducing the E-Collar to Springer, advice needed

gregers85

Hey guys,

just looking for a bit of advice, I have a young male Springer just coming up on 2 yrs of age. I have him recalling on the whistle but in the last few weeks he is starting to get a bit bull headed. At the start of the walk he is fine, once he starts to go outside the range I want him working I give a whistle and he returns and I set him off again or give him a turn command to continue working.

After about an hour or so he start to ignore the whistle, starts with having to command twice, then three times and then he stops responding altogether and and he is working too far ahead, if he was to meet a bird, I wouldnt have a hope of a shot!

I'm thinking of introducing an E-Collar to put a stop to it. I have used an E-Collar on a setter before and had good results but introduced it when she was much younger.

Any advice or precautions I should take putting the collar on??

thanks in advance

deeksofdoom

Well don't work him for longer than an hour, bring him home and stick him in the pen.

If he does misbehave get out and correct him, this will involve a bit a legwork, meet him where he least expects it and make it unpleasant, then drag him back to where you blew the recall.

You need to be consistent with the dog all the time your out with him not for just the first hour.

LetFly

I would not give him a second command. When you blow the recall whistle and he ignores it or is slow to respond, get out after him straight away. Don't blow again and give him the opportunity to ignore you, once, twice and more with no consequences. Get after him as soon as he ignores the first command.
If you are 100% consistent on this then he will soon realize that you mean business and won't tolerate his ****e
Dog training is not hard or complicated. It just takes 100% commitment from you and to be 100% consistent in what you want and expect from the dog. Don't give the same command more than once as the dog gets it into his head that...ok he wants me back...but then if I go another bit he calls me again so maybe he doesn't really mean it......I'll chance another bit...etc.
But if you get after him every single time he ignores a command he will know you mean business.

springer man

If I was you id stop bringing him out in to fields for the meantime where this is scent.
You should spend 10 mins , twice a day on a quiet road or in a yard , drop the dog walk 5-10-15-20 feet back progressing the distance all the time and recall him each time and get this 100%
My guess is your dog is hunting mad so you would be better off to limit his hunting and do mostly obedience work. (Not as fun as working them both more enjoyable in the end)

gregers85

Thanks for the advice lads!! back to basics it is then!!

JOHNERS

get stuck in to him let him no hows boss put long lead on him