Argh - two steps forward, one step back

[Spudlet]

You may wish to avoid this if you are eating

The bunny plague continues So temptation is still being put in Henry's way

I thought we were doing really well yesterday when we found half a dead bunny while on the lead, so I was able to use it for a 'leave it' training session. He got it pretty quickly! He then walked past another long dead bunny off-lead (I didn't see it) so was pretty happy with him

He ignored a couple today - two really old ones and one that looked very fresh, but was still in one piece - nothing had started nibbling at it so the skin wasn't broken.

He then found a dismembered one and dived on it - fortunately he was close to me so I was able to tackle him and get it off him. We then had another 'leave' training session. Then I used it for some very short retrieves - I want him to learn to hand them over to me. After some initial reluctance to give it up, he got the hang of it well We then walked right over it on the lead to reinforce 'leave' again and walked on - v good

However he later found yet another one, this time off the lead and too far away and he was off again I got him back by running away, hiding behind a hedge, then slowly approaching waving a treat at him until I could get close enough to get hold of his collar, remove the bunny, and then give him a bumper treat in return Couldn't get him to actually come to me though - so frustrating!

Looks like mixy has set in for the duration here, so we're going to have no shortage of stuff to practice with anyway

Oh and please rest assured, I have scrubbed my hands well with anti-bacterial soap and hot water!

Has anyone got any wisdom to share on this one? He is fine at bringing his rabbit dummy back (I was naughty and used it in the house- don't tell our trainer, we were meant to wait) and good with toys now - but he can't resist a bunny and I am still worried he is going to refuse to bring birds back eventually as well

 

[kirstyhen]

Hmmmm, it's tricky if he is bringing everything else back no problem.

Have you tried not taking it off him, just getting him to come over to you, big fuss and then walk on again, leaving him with bunny. Or is he intent on eating them?

 

[Spudlet]

He is determined to eat them, the manky little sod bag I have tried walking on letting him carry it, only to notice it rapidly vanishing down his throat a moment later!

I wonder if I need to get a fresh one from somewhere and use that for a few retrieves, as he is not really interested in whole ones - only ones something else has opened up for him. When he got a live one last year, he didn't kill it, I had to do that

I'm going to order a proper bunny dummy, the one I have only has a strip of fur on it, so I am going to get one totally covered in fur as well.

 

[kirstyhen]

Dirty beggar! Otto is only interested in giving all his manky finds to me, it's his only saving grace!

I made Otto's bunny dummy. Bought a rabbit skin for six quid, put an old man's sock on the dummy, then stitched the skin onto the sock. Means you have a plain dummy AND a rabbit skin one, as you can take the sock off easily, and it means the dummy is still waterproof as you haven't put any stitches in and punctured it. My Mum and Dad were well impressed!

Instead of walking on, try to get him back, give him a huge fuss and send him away with it, stay in the same place and keep repeating it, so he doesn't think you are calling him back purely to take it off him. If you send him, call him, fuss him, send him, call him, etc etc, in theory he should be so busy he hasn't got time to eat it!
However getting him to come to you in the first place may be easier said than done!


ETS - It was an old sock belonging to OH, I didn;t steal some Old Man's Sock

 

[Spudlet]

ETS - It was an old sock belonging to OH, I didn;t steal some Old Man's Sock

Ha - you say that, I bet there is some poor little old man hopping round with one chilly foot even now

Good idea about the bunny skin and sending away - will see if I can get one online tonight. I tried to buy one at the Game Fair, but no where seemed to have them which is why I got the dummy instead - rubbish!

 

[kirstyhen]

I got mine at a game fair, randomly at the stand that sold knives! www.blackgundog.co.uk have them for £6, althouh going on that website is always dangerous!!

Dam, you caught me out, kirstyhen - stealer of old men's socks!