Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: EastWaViking on June 02, 2009, 08:22:40 PM

Title: retrieving help
Post by: EastWaViking on June 02, 2009, 08:22:40 PM: My pup is nearly 7 month old and doing great, double retrieves, starting with hand signals, not afraid of the gun, etc. She is also darn good about Down, Come, Sit, Stay, all the basic stuff. Every now and then, and I am talking 1 retrieving session out of 30 (once a month), she will get bull headed and bring the bird almost back to me and then veer off and play with it a bit. In the past, I just back up and say Fetch it, and keep backing up until she brings it to me. Tonight she was extra bull headed and laid down about 5 feet in front of me and would not come. I did what I think you are not supposed to do, and finally jumped up and grabbed her and showed her who is boss. I then made her sit and gave her a basic bird to retrieve and she did it perfect and I praised her and stopped for the night.
I just felt I couldn't let her get away with that one and she needed a little whoopin' to let her know who is in charge. 4, 5, 6 months old I gave her the benefit of the doubt, 7 months I think it's pretty unacceptable.

Thoughts? Suggestions?
Title: Re: retrieving help
Post by: luvtohnt on June 02, 2009, 08:36:37 PM: I don't think any bad will come from it. I think if it were me I would have put the long lead on her and made her do 10-20 short retrieves with the lead on. So when she slowed on the return or tried to change direction, I would have the ability to correct the bad behavior without a heavy hand.

Brandon
Title: Re: retrieving help
Post by: gasman on June 02, 2009, 08:45:24 PM: I had a simular situation with my Hemi. When i talked to the trainer he just looked at me and said 'It's a dog, they are unpredictable". "One minute they will be A+ and the next, well, you know".

Do you have a shock colar?

A shock colar can and is a great training tool. When Hemi verried off path, i would give him a shock to get him back on track, and he did not like that. A little burn to remind him he is not doing what he is trained is not as bad as it sounds.
Title: Re: retrieving help
Post by: luvtohnt on June 02, 2009, 08:50:17 PM: Quote from: gasman on June 02, 2009, 08:45:24 PM
A shock colar can and is a great training tool. When Hemi verried off path, i would give him a shock to get him back on track, and he did not like that. A little burn to remind him he is not doing what he is trained is not as bad as it sounds.
I would suggest that also but I wasn't sure if EastWaViking had an e-collar or not. Also good advice.

Brandon
Title: Re: retrieving help
Post by: gasman on June 02, 2009, 08:56:59 PM: It was one of the first tools i got for training. I made sure of that.
Title: Re: retrieving help
Post by: jackelope on June 02, 2009, 09:07:59 PM: be careful giving her a "whoopin" because she may come to think that when she comes back to you she's gonna get whooped.
e-collar is a great tool for my constantly bullheaded dog. he doesn't hunt but i use the collar for playing fetch time. i don't even have to turn it on anymore. if it's on him he knows i can get him anywhere. you have to use it correctly. don't just zap the *censored* out of him because he doesn't listen. i'm not the guy to tell you right and wrong ways of using them though.
Title: Re: retrieving help
Post by: EastWaViking on June 02, 2009, 09:23:23 PM: I don't have a shock collar, and don't think I'll need one (hopefully) She does amazingly well, and wants to please me 99% of the time, I am hoping it is the "it's a dog" moment gasman mentioned. My dad has trained several dogs and said he's never seen one more eager, well behaved or with a better nose than she has at this age, so I will just hope it doesn't happen again!

Thanks, and keep the suggestions coming.
Title: Re: retrieving help
Post by: Happy Gilmore on June 03, 2009, 07:32:20 AM: You might be doing a little too much. If you are throwing yourself,(bumpers) you aren't achieving anything by throwing more than 5-6 bumpers. You really need to get someone to throw for you. It may just be a sign the dog is bored, not neccessarily that it isn't interested in working. Try shortening up your sessions and less bumpers thrown by you.

Also try going to a new area to do a little training. Go to a playground, ball field, river or lake. Keep it interesting and new for the dog.

Those are just my first couple thoughts....also, when he is old enough, force fetching will cure this or any little related bad habits. Hap