Spoke to gundog trainer today wot to do????

[BlackHawke]

i booked my 8 week old springer into puppy socialisation and basic training classes the other day its for 6 weeks half hour a week. for me the main reason for this was socialisation but i thought would be good to have some control over the pup. and to do it properly

Today i spoke to a gundog trainer, he told me to bring Tess along at 4 months n he will see what shes like, n give me a hand with the training. he gave me some advice which basically meant do very little training with her he also said to give the training classes a miss. his reasoning for this was when u train a dog early you tend to loose the "bold as brass" character of the dog. he also recommended buying a gundog book from author mike smith.

what u guys rekon? leave out the basic training n wait or still go.
if i understood what he said correctly Tess may become to controlled n lazy not willing to go out n flush. have i got this right?

cheers as always u lovely people! :shock: :D

[Coedhirion]

Not sure, I'm no expert, but I cant see how teaching a dog basic, no, sit, stay, come, and getting it used to ignoring other dogs can do any harm. It would depend on the trainer at the classes of course, some can be a bit ....'strange' :lol: you do want to end up with a working dog and not a pet pooch. I recon try it for a week and see what people are like there !!
4 wat its worth :lol: :yawinkle: I've used them for sheep dogs to socialise them.

[Finnish]

This is a hard one cause some trainers will say yes send the dog to these classes and some will say dont. I think you must do what you think is right.

[Jack Merlin]

i booked my 8 week old springer into puppy socialisation and basic training classes the other day its for 6 weeks half hour a week. for me the main reason for this was socialisation but i thought would be good to have some control over the pup. and to do it properly

Today i spoke to a gundog trainer, he told me to bring Tess along at 4 months n he will see what shes like, n give me a hand with the training. he gave me some advice which basically meant do very little training with her he also said to give the training classes a miss. his reasoning for this was when u train a dog early you tend to loose the "bold as brass" character of the dog. he also recommended buying a gundog book from author mike smith.

what u guys rekon? leave out the basic training n wait or still go.
if i understood what he said correctly Tess may become to controlled n lazy not willing to go out n flush. have i got this right?

cheers as always u lovely people!

In my opinion, you need to teach a spaniel basic obedience as early as possible. This needs to be done gently or, as your trainer friend says, you will spoilt the pup's independence. The most difficult thing in dog training is achieving that balance.

My bible is "Spaniels: Their Breaking for Sport and Field Trials" by H W Carlton, published by The Field. Should be able to pick one up secondhand quite cheaply as it is an old book long out-of-print. (Mine cost me 10p!). Anything by Moxon or Keith Erlandson would also be good. I know Mike Smith personally and thought his book a bit heavy going for the novice but excellent for the trialer.

You can teach steadiness in a pup by getting him to "Hup" before he gets his grub, also when you show him a rolled tennis ball. Put those lessons (and coming to call) in early and you have the basics of making your dog steady. Leave it until later, and you will never manage it. Be carefull the kids do not teach him to chase a ball!

The training classes/social sessions can do no harm provided the training is not over done. You need to use your commonsense here to keep a nice bold intelligent dog that aloso does what it is told NOW.

All dog trainers disagree, so if this advice doesn't suit you, the delete key is usually bottom right of your keyboard!<vbg> Anyway, it was free and that can't be bad.

[BlackHawke]

cheers JM for the advice and finnish, coedhirion, wots "hup" mean? stay?
wot i have been doing is lots of positive reinforcement .but when she has been a bit naughty like eating gravel! i'll clap my hand once not loud n say no. chewing i'll replace what shes chewing with one of her toys. thats the only times i have had to chastise her in any form "no" is always said in a lower tone but not higher volume. whereas all positive is higher tone with lots of praise. dunno if i'm right

to be honest i have started her on basic commands when she tries to get up on the settee i'll say "down" n lift her down the "no" word. my other dog sits n waits for his grub which makes it easier for me to do it to the pup.

i'm gonna buy myself a decent book as i wanna make sure i dont go ruining her. i'll have a look for the one u suggested.

[Finnish]

Hup= sit well that is what i say to my dog for the sit command.

[BlackHawke]

cheers :D

[Jack Merlin]

Buy?? (Shock! Horror!).

Only kidding! But I do suggest you make a friend of the librarian in your local library. A very under-used resource. They should have a good catalogue and will get you almost any book you care to read. There is a system called "Inter-Library Loan". They put out a request for your book to every library in the country if they do not have it on their own shelves. It takes a while but all you pay is postage. Well worth waiting for and paying the postage. That way you can look through several books and get the one that suits you. Then buy on-line or Amazon who also list secondhand books.

[Shaun Byrne]

HUP= Hold up, stop, drop, stay...............stop chasing that f**king rabbit.

[CastleFalconry]

I'd say carry on as you had planned. If you're using positive methods to train your dog, then this will only serve to motivate it more, rather than cause it to lack confidence.

It's important to socialise any pup with as much as possible, particularly with other dogs if you are looking to take it to, and work it at field meets.

I've always worked spaniels (Brittany's and Springers). The sooner you can start with them the better as they need to be doing something to keep their minds occupied and to keep them out of trouble!!!!

Good luck and keep us posted.

R.

[BlackHawke]

little update i've decided i'm still gonna go with the basic puppy training first.

my little springer has chewed up 3 mobile phone charger leads, which was nice of her we had to many anyway!lol little sod! house is now springerfied!! she has her own toys to chew which i give her when i catch her chewing something she shouldn't be chewing!i've started carrying one of her toys around with me all the time makes it easier for immediate exchange.



i have got a dog cage which i have put in car, she travels fine in the cage but i was thinking about putting her in the cage when we aren't home or at nite but i dont really wanna use the cage at home unless i really have to.

she found my pond today! she can swim! but was a bit shocked apparently when she jumped in!! dont think my fish were to pleased either! :D

she was left on her own in the house today for a couple of hours well she had perry my rotti for company! who she has no fear off!! brave girl! . pretty good just weed on the tiled porch

the small amount of training i'm doing at the moment with her is going well. i'm not using titbits as rewards just praise (the neighbours think i've got mental health problems!)

she sits n waits for dinner, and has started to sit when told i think it helps the perry sits well to on command i'm also teaching down n no. both me n the missus r being consistent

one thing i have noticed with her is when i say wee, when we do, she does!lol even if shes in the house!

apart from the chewing everything is going well AT THE MOMENT! sure things will change. i'm under no illusion!!

[Coedhirion]

Good luck, sounds like your doing fine, can't see how starting training from day one can spoil a dog as long as you keep it all simple one step at a time. You can be firm as long as you give plenty of praise the moment the pup does the correct thing. It takes a life time to train a good working dog as you have to keep the training and work up or it will soon get into bad habbits. But as long as both you and the dog enjoy it...who cares !!! Have fun !!!

[BlackHawke]

i've been told be consistent make it fun for early days thats what i'm trying to stick to. patience and forgetting about being house proud!! i think are important to. shes still not properly house trained and we got cardbourd toilet roll tubes and toys everywhere!! but shes not chewing anythong else in house apart from her own toys.

[CastleFalconry]

Glad to hear it's going well. Be careful about giving her a toy when she's chewing on something though. The last thing you want is for her to think she gets rewarded for gnawing on wires etc!!

[BlackHawke]

theres no praise when exchanging i just wave a toy in front of her nose. she takes it. dunno wot else i can do. distraction works well with the kids!!lol

[BlackHawke]

Anyone want a springer spaniel!!!lol :rolleyes: shes a nightmare! i've had to put her in her crate at night. i feel really sorry for my rotti! she dont leave him alone although he's put her in her place a few times.

dunno if i'm doing the right thing by putting her in a crate at night coz she wines and howls for a good half hour before settling down i've been putting a kong in their with some food in but once shes finished she'll start wining again.

my rotti can if he wants go down with her but he doesn't. do u guys rekon i should persevere with the crate? she uses it no probs in the car.

[Mikey]

Give us a bit more info on the being a nightmare bit ...is it just that she howls too much.Is she still chewing things??Any way,what ever the prob stickin her in the crate might not be the answer.If it's cos she's still chewing stuff she should not,it's wrong.All dogs have to chew,it's thier way when they r young of relieving the irritation of thier fast growing and rapidly changing teeth.Given something more tasty/interesting than a chair leg or rubber toy(hide bones or real bones etc) should help the matter.Your tone of voice at appropriate times(never shout)will also achieve different results in his/her behaviour.Give us more info...dont hold back on the typing, and we'll see if we can help.Above all,you must be rock solid,to have a good dog requires a good owner,it takes persistance

[BlackHawke]

sticking her in her crate if done properly and not as a punishment, most dog behaviourists and trainers recommend. she goes in her crate at night or when my other dog isn't their (which is seldom).At night she did cry for a while, thats stopped now, she has her dinner in her crate with door open, during the day thats where her toys r. shes no problem now using the crate i've never used it coz shes gettin on my nerves or punishment.

she does chew but shes starting to realise whats hers and whats not. shes just on the go all the dam time!! our other dog really does take a lot from her. i expected all this to an extent. i've had pups before but not springers.

she had her first lot of vaccinations a week ago got the booster next week. i asked the vet how prevalent the dogs diseases are in my area and he said he seldom sees any cases and she should be fine in controlled situations i'e no other dogs around.so i've begun to take her out with my other dog to a small seldom used piece of land twice a day and this has made things easier for us all.

[Mikey]

Sounds like you're on the right track B/h. Also sounds like you got a dog with lots of character! You've obviously got some one profesional giving you advice,wich is worth it's wieght in gold so to speak.Just keep plugging at it and she'll get the hang of it.Springers r a very active breed.No matter how much work/exercise you give,they never seem to get nackered.Keep it up m8,you'll have a great dog in the end

[BlackHawke]

i only got u lot on here and some research on the net. i've yet to get a good gundog training book had a couple of recommendations though.

i am really worried about taking her out but so the vet said the likelihood of her catching owt is remote. plus my rotti could bring anything back when hes been out! ive taken her to town a few times but i've always carried her. she hasn't had much contact with my harris yet apart from i'llalways take her in the aviary when i feed my bird

[Mikey]

With the jabs it is up to you .She's your dog,but i wouldn't worry too much.If you r ,then you can still do alot at home even with minimal space.I'm no expert but have lived and grown up round all kinds of working dogs,from sheep dogs to gun dogs(not falconry though)All dogs will have a basic dog instinct(reaction to diferent tones of voice/alpha or beta mentality)and each dog is so totally diferent from the next in personality. You obviously spend time with her,have had dogs in the past,so you have the basics if not more,and you're getting to know each other. I myself like to reward with titbits,Some people dont,Play time can be a good reward system,and also a good way to teach control(dog does summit right....you muck about with her

[Sighthound]

Try these broadsheets they are exellent.

http://p211.ezboard.com/fgundogandbirddogforumsfrm13.showMessage?topicID=1 .topic

I'm using these for my springer, now 11 months old. Good value and easy to follow.
I've had various nightmares with mine ranging from peeing with exitement every time she met someone to running in on game :shock: but I hope to get there in the end :roll:
The site also has a great forum.

Good luck.

[BlackHawke]

cheers for the link sightsound i'll have a look through.

tess is just about house trained although she has the odd accident, but tess when she gets excited does the same i know mine is a lot younger but i expect this to continue.

i'm takin tess to a gundog trainer at 4 months this is when things will start to tell i rekon