Shooting people, a bit of help please

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MyBoyChe

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I have 2 working bred ESS, a 1yr old and a pup. These are the 3rd and 4th Ive had but not had this particular issue before. I do not work either, they are house dogs but are walked, off lead 3 times a day around the headlands of the 150 acres behind my house. They are well behaved, calm dogs in the house bordering on lazy actually, Chloe in particular quite fancies herself as a lapdog. However, she is a real scavenger though and whilst sniffing in the hedges will pick up anything dead, however old and minging!! She then runs around, throwing it about and catching it and will not give it up. How best to either stop this behaviour or have her bring it to me and surrender it. Her recall is excellent, except when she has a 'treasure' which she knows I am going to steal. I have ESS because I love their personalities and confess I have no experience of working them properly so any correct training tips, on this aspect would be much appreciated. A friend who has working labs has told me to try opening her jaw with my hands whilst giving the appropriate "Give" command, rewarding if necessary. Is this the best, correct, or only method?
 
I taught my dog leave when he was a puppy by giving him treats when he gave something up. I know one way people do this is to have two toys. dog picks up number one, tell them to leave and give them number two. I also used to take things off him that he was allowed (chew maybe), just so that I could give them back to him when he gave me it. You'v got to have something delicious (or squeaky?!) that they want more than whatever disgusting thing they have found to trade with them rather than take it off them
:)
 
We had this problem with our old retriever! The mistake we made was telling him off for picking things up, when actually that was what he was bred for! No wonder he was confused. Now with Purdey our 1yr old ESS, we don't have a problem as we have always praised her for picking things up but we have encouraged her to bring them to us. Then she gets lots of praise and we either take it off her using the command 'dead' then give it straight back to her, or we replace the object with something more apprpriate such as a toy or treat.
Even when it was one of my best shoes we had to resist snatching it from her! She is very good now and bringing things to us when we ask! Good luck but try ignoring the bad behaviour, walk away when she has the minging dead rabbit but reward when she comes near you.
 
sorry can't help with your actual problem, as due to the title of the thread I thought this was going in a different direction. Alas my words of wisdom are not required here....
 
I did wonder at the title too. Re the OPs problem, would she carry a toy on the walk, I find that is the best way of stopping Evie hoovering up poo and other unmentionables when we are going across the fields. Also, the giving up one toy for another, or a treat works with mine.
 
We covered this in dog training Tuesday night to get your dog to drop what ever is in its mouth. When your dog picks something nasty or tasty up you dont always wont it to come to you because if its tasty it will probabley eat it on its way to you. So you give your dog a toy and when it is about to drop it you say give and your dog drops it, this sounds to good to be true but Darcey picked it up very quickly and today she picked something nasty out in the field. As she was quite far away I wasnt sure she would but when I said give she dropped it, my friend was very impressed.

Hope this all makes sense to you but you have to practice but it is possible.
 
Thanks all. Nickibelle, I have no problem with walking away when she has a mouthful of disgusting dead rabbit :) I will take heed of all your tips and see what works for us. Thanks again.
 
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