getting springer into cover

bizidea · 28-11-2014 11:40AM #1

I have a springer 18 months old he has a great nose and plenty of drive will go through any cover if there is scent and will hunt open fields like a lunatic but won't hunt covers unless I am with him in it he will just go in and come back out one of the guys I shoot with thinks he is afraid he will lose me and that's why he keeps coming back out any suggestions how to get him hunting cover on his own

Dawggone · 28-11-2014 12:32PM

For goodness sake don't throw things into the cover to get him in!

Try and find easy cover with loads of rabbits and away you go.

bizidea · 28-11-2014 01:10PM

Dawggone I don't throw things in if there is game he will go through anything to flush it but he wont stay in cover even light cover unless I am hunting through it with him he wont hunt for anyone else either he wI'll just run around until he finds me my mate reckons that he is afraid he will lose me when he goes into cover and just comes straight back out this dog has the makings of a great dog just worried. With his lack of confidence in cover on his own

Dawggone · 28-11-2014 01:25PM

bizidea wrote: »

Dawggone I don't throw things in if there is game he will go through anything to flush it but he wont stay in cover even light cover unless I am hunting through it with him he wont hunt for anyone else either he wI'll just run around until he finds me my mate reckons that he is afraid he will lose me when he goes into cover and just comes straight back out this dog has the makings of a great dog just worried. With his lack of confidence in cover on his own

What age is dog?

bizidea · 28-11-2014 01:42PM

Dawggone wrote: »

What age is dog?

He is about 18 month's Dawggone

Dawggone · 28-11-2014 01:56PM

bizidea wrote: »

He is about 18 month's Dawggone

Ok. Plenty rabbits. Don't tire him out when after rabbits. Pick him up before he tires.

bizidea · 28-11-2014 02:06PM

Dawggone wrote: »

Ok. Plenty rabbits. Don't tire him out when after rabbits. Pick him up before he tires.

Thanks Dawggone will try that never had springer before only setters so not really used to them.another thing with him is he is not as keen to hunt with other dogs he works better on his own. Would this be usual with springer s

Spaniel heaven · 28-11-2014 02:19PM

I agree with everthing said above, rabbits rabbits and more rabbits it will help.

Saying all of that some spaniels are never natural "woodcock" dogs and wont hunt cover hard for no reward.

At 18 months you have plenty of time for him to come around.

Lastly I no you mentioned other dogs but try and introduce him again with hard hunting springers in heavy cover it usually works for me.

All springers are different most like to work together but some are just a one man dog.

allan450 · 28-11-2014 05:06PM

all the advice above is spot on.is it his first season by any chance

Dawggone · 28-11-2014 06:04PM

bizidea wrote: »

Thanks Dawggone will try that never had springer before only setters so not really used to them.another thing with him is he is not as keen to hunt with other dogs he works better on his own. Would this be usual with springer s

If you can get an English setter from the correct lines they are better than springers for Woodcock.

fabwing · 28-11-2014 06:28PM

I would hunt him with another springer in cover , he is still young with much to learn

.

bizidea wrote: »

I have a springer 18 months old he has a great nose and plenty of drive will go through any cover if there is scent and will hunt open fields like a lunatic but won't hunt covers unless I am with him in it he will just go in and come back out one of the guys I shoot with thinks he is afraid he will lose me and that's why he keeps coming back out any suggestions how to get him hunting cover on his own

Dawggone · 28-11-2014 06:41PM

fabwing wrote: »

I would hunt him with another springer in cover , he is still young with much to learn

.

Sorry I strongly disagree. It works but is a lazy shortcut.
If the two dogs are your own it's hard to handle the two together. If someone else has the second dog then two people can confuse or make the young dog a bit "deaf" to you.

I wouldn't hunt him with another dog until he is ready...which is usually when he is hunting hard, under control, and ready for the final polish.
Doctors differ....

ace86 · 28-11-2014 07:21PM

if you have anywhere near u with light sallys/trees that he can run into and out but can also see u while he's hunting and just keep encouraging while he is in there and if he rattles something all the better its basically a learning curve but it takes time, i find u won't a good season with any dog until there 3 at least.

ronn · 28-11-2014 10:28PM

You said if there's something in there he'll go in no problems, my springer won't go into cover unless there's something in there, she'd bulldoze the ditch till she flushed what's in there and she won't go past a ditch that has something in it, but if I send her in she'll go in under protest of course(women), A Sensible Springer I call her, ðŸ˜€ðŸ˜€ðŸ˜—

fiestaman · 28-11-2014 11:40PM

If a pheasant or woodcock is sitting tight in heavy cover there won't be much scent if any so you need the dog to go to cover if you give the command. That's why a springer wins over a HPR on woodcock as most of the time the spaniel bumps the bird with all the commotion, not always scent. As the lads said get rabbits in around furs bushes and let it build it's confidence, still a young dog.

Remember me? · 28-11-2014 11:44PM

fiestaman wrote: »

If a pheasant or woodcock is sitting tight in heavy cover there won't be much scent if any so you need the dog to go to cover if you give the command. That's why a springer wins over a HPR on woodcock as most of the time the spaniel bumps the bird with all the commotion, not always scent. As the lads said get rabbits in around furs bushes and let it build it's confidence, still a young dog.

Correct!

Dawggone · 28-11-2014 11:46PM

Remember me? wrote: »

Correct!

+1.
What if the pointer/Setter/hpr also rattle cover?

bizidea · 28-11-2014 11:47PM

Allan450 had him out Towards the end of the season last year the other guys couldn't believe the way he worked the first day out Bulldozed a hedge out of it to flush a cock out and went back into a field where two other experienced dogs had left to flush another bird.he was hunting cover well last year but this year he just seems to have lost the confidence. The other dogs are not my own doggawn Will try all your suggestions lads thanks maybe he just isn't ready yet to hunt with other dogs

fiestaman · 28-11-2014 11:52PM

Dawggone wrote: »

+1.
What if the pointer/Setter/hpr also rattle cover?

That's fair enough, just you wouldn't hear of many doing it.

fiestaman · 28-11-2014 11:55PM

bizidea wrote: »

Allan450 had him out Towards the end of the season last year the other guys couldn't believe the way he worked the first day out Bulldozed a hedge out of it to flush a cock out and went back into a field where two other experienced dogs had left to flush another bird.he was hunting cover well last year but this year he just seems to have lost the confidence. The other dogs are not my own doggawn Will try all your suggestions lads thanks maybe he just isn't ready yet to hunt with other dogs

Maybe the other dogs are in before him and maybe retrieving birds shot that he flushed and now he's not bothering his arse, just like me and you if we were on the town and you done all the talking to a tidy woman and I ended up taking her home. You wouldn't have much interest going out with me next week would ya? :-)

allan450 · 28-11-2014 11:57PM

Dawggone wrote: »

If you can get an English setter from the correct lines they are better than springers for Woodcock.

not the same im afraid.i used pointers for woodcock before and its not the same as using a flushing dog not as exciting and more challenging with flushing dogs.

Dawggone · 28-11-2014 11:59PM

fiestaman wrote: »

That's fair enough, just you wouldn't hear of many doing it.

The top dogs will put springers to shame.

fiestaman · 29-11-2014 12:02AM

Dawggone wrote: »

The top dogs will put springers to shame.

No couldn't agree there, a top springer from old lines bred for woodcock would not be put to shame by a pointer or setter.

bizidea · 29-11-2014 12:03AM

Never thought of it like that fiestaman lol think I'll hunt him on his own for a while and see how he goes

allan450 · 29-11-2014 12:04AM

Dawggone wrote: »

+1.
What if the pointer/Setter/hpr also rattle cover?

its still going to point well not all the time no good if the dog is in cover and you cant see it point either or the woodcock runs which they do 40 yards or so gets up out of range.spaniels are the best for woodcock.

Remember me? · 29-11-2014 12:05AM

Dawggone wrote: »

The top dogs will put springers to shame.

I don't disagree for one second . Horses for courses. I prefer the spaniel but have no doubt the setter can do the same if not better ........

allan450 · 29-11-2014 12:09AM

bizidea wrote: »

Never thought of it like that fiestaman lol think I'll hunt him on his own for a while and see how he goes

you have nothing to worry about if he was hitting cover last year.you might be putting to much pressure on him to hunt cover would i be right in saying that[been their before] let him get a few flushes on woodcock/rabbits out of cover he wont be long think cover=game.The end of the season he will be a different dog.

Dawggone · 29-11-2014 12:13AM

fiestaman wrote: »

No couldn't agree there, a top springer from old lines bred for woodcock would not be put to shame by a pointer or setter.

Agreed. I actually had one. He was the size of a setter with paws like a lion. He would work all day five days a week.
Had to add a pound of lard to his feed to keep weight on him.
Got to shoot woodcock all over the UK and Ireland because of him.
I've setters as good as him now but not better.

bizidea · 29-11-2014 12:22AM

Allan450 don't think I put too much pressure on him Tried him a couple of times during the day when we were out but he would just run in and almost straight out unless I was in the cover with him

Dawggone · 29-11-2014 12:26AM

allan450 wrote: »

its still going to point well not all the time no good if the dog is in cover and you cant see it point either or the woodcock runs which they do 40 yards or so gets up out of range.spaniels are the best for woodcock.

My setters don't point in cover, they flush like a springer.

allan450 · 29-11-2014 12:29AM

see how he gets on in 2 to 3 weeks.its very hard to judge a dog over a form.drop me a pm in a few weeks if he is still the same.can you push him into planton and let him beat along side you are will he come out of their also

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getting springer into cover

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