Happy training session

[Clodagh]

I’ve just started training again, having had a rest. S still not keen on dummies, he walks to them, picks them up by the toggle and drops them in my general direction but he does go and get them. Slowly. He’ll even hunt for them, even more slowly. The stop whistle is more of a ceasing to go forwards than an actual stop. . I use biscuits for a lot of directional stuff. He isn’t much better with balls either. I don’t like that he doesn’t do it with enthusiasm and excitement.
He’s a different dog on game.
Suggestions to make it more fun? He’s improved enormously, he used to pee himself at the sight of the training vest, now he looks quite keen on the way to the field. He loves carrying OH’s workboots but no I can’t use them for training

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Cold game training, use feathered dummies? Or furred? Is the scent he is interested in? I know you can get scent to put on dummies. Zak's favourite thing in the world was a rabbit covered tennis ball. I daren't give it to the youngsters, they would eat it. He really liked one on one work, especially searching 'up' for dummies stuck in bushes. Maybe mix it up and use cover/bush etc? Does he prefer solo work or competition?

 

[Clodagh]

He just doesn’t like pressure, and finds training sessions stressful. The antlers that the dummies hang on in the feed room fell down yesterday and he bought me all of them, individually, beautifully delivered to hand. He is the most insanely driven dog on a days shooting and so soft mouthed.
So I need to train when he’s not training . We used to train Brandy (dummy averse) in the old house using socks but all stone floors here, so we can’t.

 

[twiggy2]

Can you place dummies out for him to find and then take him on a solo walk and leave him to find them, do you think that might work?
Then it would be just praise, no set up or commands.
Maybe moving on to quietly giving a command when he is already searching, working towards eventually setting him up at the door as you leave the house or as you enter the field you have placed them in. Also when you do start giving a command use a completely new one so there is no previous association with the command.

 

[Clodagh]

That might help. He brings me dried cow pats as he finds them… and all sorts of dead things. He doesn’t hate working for me, he wants to please and he doesn’t look sad when he’s doing it, but nor is he gleeful like when he just finds things off his own bat. I’ll have a go tomorrow.

 

[gunnergundog]

Cut the toggles off!

 

[gunnergundog]

Above was a quick response without due consideration, but I still stand by it. Use rabbit poo and whatever else he finds attractive to enhance your dummies. Shock horror, allow him to run in and chase! Make it fun. Even more horrifying, play tug with him. Don't train formally....go for a walk and build training into that. Pretend you own 'pets' and not working gundogs. Use whatever he brings you...sticks, dead carcasses, whatever.

 

[Clodagh]

Cut the toggles off!

I have, from most of them, but will do the others. Good idea.
I used to let him run in but we struggled with steadiness out shooting so I stopped that and would rather not go back to it. I hate them having to wear a lead during drives.
I couldn’t play tug . No way he’d hold it anyway .
I’ll certainly try building more stuff into walks, we did a lot of go backs for a dry cow pat the other day

 

[maisie06]

I’ve just started training again, having had a rest. S still not keen on dummies, he walks to them, picks them up by the toggle and drops them in my general direction but he does go and get them. Slowly. He’ll even hunt for them, even more slowly. The stop whistle is more of a ceasing to go forwards than an actual stop. . I use biscuits for a lot of directional stuff. He isn’t much better with balls either. I don’t like that he doesn’t do it with enthusiasm and excitement.
He’s a different dog on game.
Suggestions to make it more fun? He’s improved enormously, he used to pee himself at the sight of the training vest, now he looks quite keen on the way to the field. He loves carrying OH’s workboots but no I can’t use them for training

Rabbit skin dummies? I use pheasant wings taped to canvas dummies for my reluctant cocker, who is like yours great on game...do you keep or know anyone who keeps cj=hickens who may have some cull birds?? Keep some in the freezer...or look up retriever roll - a dummy filled with treats....any consolation I'm having the pooposite problem with a springer, grbs the dummy and won't give it back!!

 

[Clodagh]

Last year I trained him using all my bantam cockerels. . I’ve just started setting eggs again so in 4 months I’ll be grand .
the rabbit skin stuff is so expensive and I’m so tight, I have actually got one somewhere if the moth haven't had it.

 

[druid]

Last year I trained him using all my bantam cockerels. . I’ve just started setting eggs again so in 4 months I’ll be grand .
the rabbit skin stuff is so expensive and I’m so tight, I have actually got one somewhere if the moth haven't had it.

Sporting Saint has cheap rabbit stuff in the sale, like under £3 for rabbit fur balls and full skins.

The 1/2lb endless dummy in the sale is about 6 quid and can be used as a retriever/snack roll filled with his favourite food/treat.

 

[Clodagh]

Sporting Saint has cheap rabbit stuff in the sale, like under £3 for rabbit fur balls and full skins.

The 1/2lb endless dummy in the sale is about 6 quid and can be used as a retriever/snack roll filled with his favourite food/treat.

Thank you, I’ll go look.
I don’t think I’d better risk the snack dummy, on a non going day he just flings it up in the air and catches it already. (When I’ve been revving him up to get him out there).