Gun dog won't carry...help please

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Charlie007

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OH bought a lab for shooting a couple of years ago. She is now 3. She is a multi purpose dog. First and foremost a pet, she is great at agility and in the winter does her other job as a gun dog! We are currently having trouble getting her to carry, especially rabbits. We have also struggled with her retrieving pheasants. She will bring them back but is not overly confident doing it.

Has anyone got any exercises or training tips to help with this? Thanks you x
 
Do yourself a favour and ignore any advice given on the internet as far as this one goes. You sound as if you're at a pivotal point with this dog and it could go one of two ways......do the wrong thing now and you will destroy what confidence the dog has and it will end up either mouthing or blinking. Without seeing you and the dog together it's impossible to advise, so go and book yourself an assessment with a good professional. As you are in Lincs I would suggest Rory Major in Horncastle.
 
Agree with gunner here. We have a shooting business but without seeing the dog and handler together, I wouldn't give you advice

Out of interest though, what is she happy to retrieve? Ducks, geese, pigeons?
 
As others, internet diagnosis, or worse cures, are pointless. It seems odd that the problem seems to be now, at the age of 3 years. If your OH bought her 2 years ago, was she approaching adulthood when she was acquired? If she was a grown dog, what was the reason given for her sale?

I'd suggest that you google "Millsey Gundogs", the owner is a guy called Jim Milligan and he's highly experienced and lives in South Lincs, somewhere.

Alec.
 
Thanks for replies. He has had her from a pup and unfortunately he took advice from too many people and didn't stick with one thing. If what he was trying didn't work straight away he tried something else without giving the first thing a bit of time. She has done some fantastic retrieves, ducks and pigeons and has retrieved pheasants but she won't do it every time. Just wondered if there was an exercise we could do to help her improve, but as OH has already proved, probably best to get some professional advice.
 
Find a good reliable Pro, I've suggested one who's just south of Lincoln, but there are others I'm sure, pay them for an hour of their time, and listen to their advice.

Having read between the lines of your last post, it sounds suspiciously as though, as you say, there have been various changes of influence, and the poor girl simply doesn't know what's wanted. Once work dogs understand what's wanted, it's very rare for them to go off the boil.

There may well be exercises which a trainer will give you to do, but firstly the dog, AND her handler need a clear assessment, and the route cause of the problem needs to be revealed. That can't happen on here.

All is not lost, and good luck!

Alec.
 
If you are prepared to travel I can recommend either a lady in Yorkshire, or one in Suffolk. PM me if you want their details. But most of all it sounds like you need someone who knows their stuff to assess you (or your OH) and the dog together. Might involve going back to basics on the retrieve and building back up, for example - you will need to put that work in. :)
 
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