Steadying my pup?

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RunToEarth

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Fox pup is now six months old. We’ve taught basic commands at play and I’m just trying to keep everything fun at this point, doing a couple of fun retrieves in the paddock but nothing too serious.

My issue is that she’s wired, just so excited about everything she’s doing. She’s kept with her mum who is steady at home but can get over excited out working. I try to keep calm around her so she doesn’t pick up any energy from me, but she’s just a very busy, excited, happy puppy whenever she sees you - I’m not sure how to tackle it or whether I should just go with it? Her behaviour in everything is much more springer like than it is retriever, I can’t remember how my other bitch was as a pup so I’m just looking for tips on how to work with it as our fun morphs into more structured training over the course of the year?

Gratuitous photo of them both!
RaGZOuL.jpg
 
wow RTE, they are so gorgeous :)

I don't work mine so I don't know anything about a working dogs training. Quarrie though, is exactly how you describe-he is so desperate to do everything at warp speed all at once and was a complete live wire from about 8 months to 18months. He's now approaching 2 and lovely, but would still bust a gut to do something for me and am careful about what I do with him. I tried canicross with him but it blew his mind and it took me a couple of months to get him back on track. I would love to try agility with him but not sure I could handle it! but I do build obstacles into the dummy work.

I've done a lot of impulse control. we do dummy retrieving sessions two or three times a week (but am self taught so doubtfully correctly) and scent work that includes retrieving weekly-his reward for being steady is to do what he loves and this, more than anything is what works for him. probably not relevant at all
 
I'm not sure if you mean steadying her from a gundog POV or a jumping up and being mad at all times POV!?

Mine do not go for a retrieve until they are sitting quietly and I deem it time. Any suggestions from them that they go sooner and they don't go at all. They are quite nuts and mad keen, Tawny is now 4 and steady as a rock and has brilliant stop whistle, but still goes at 500mph, that is just her. We have done enough together now that she knows what I want.
Pup is only learning impulse control at the moment (she is just 12 months), at 6 months we were doing very little. I would say, even if she doesn't need it, always put a lead on when you go to do any training (if Pen sees the dummy bag she spins on the spot without it) and make sure you pick up more of the dummies than she does. At 6 months Pen did maybe two retrieves a week, it was all about the basics. She has picked up 4 pheasants this season and only got sent for them when she was at least outwardly calm.
 
I may well have this arse about face, but if she's never been separated from her dam, she may well not have you at the head of the pack. In your shoes, I think that I would very carefully start to tighten the discipline screw, and if she is 'really' focused on retrieving, start to allow it to be a privilege — one or two dummies out three, go and pick them up yourself, leaving her where she is.

Retrieving for very young pups is fun, it's a game, she's gone past being very young in her behaviour, so now is the time to introduce a degree of discipline. 'Allowing' her to work will have her starting to focus on you, which is what we really want.

Not seeing the dog in question, it's impossible to give clear views, and the above are just suggestions! :)

Alec.
 
I generally train my dogs separately, any together work consists of lots of sitting still whilst I chuck dummies around, picking many up myself and allowing a retrieve for one dog at a time if they're sitting calmly. Any hint of movement and I stand near the dog and sometimes put the lead on if they're particularly wriggly.

I also ask all 5 to sit when either in the garden and ask them to move one at a time when I say their name. I have to be selective about the order, mixing it slightly but asking the youngest dogs to come to me first. We do the same in the house when it's biscuit time. Ask them all to line up and say name and give biscuit. Others shouldn't move. Staffy, 10 is the naughtiest. Springer 3 is pretty steady, the 2 labs, both 21 months try very hard and little rescue cocker, also 22 months is hit and miss.
 
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I don’t do gundog training but I do train for competitive obedience which as far as I am concerned is the basis for all activities. As Alec said I always train 1 dog at a time. I used to leave one in the car whilst I trained another but this just over excited them both so now I only take out one st a time. I also spend a lot of time training the “wait”. Start small and short rewarding stopping in one place without fidgeting. Now I do a lot of walking away and making silly movements including waving arms as wait means wait regardless what is happening. I even train on the local rec whilst the children are football training. I then work up to waiting whilst things are thrown around this is not just retrieve items but toys and other things.
So far my dogs are steady for retrieves and recalls so I hope this helps
 
satinbaze said:
……... As Alec said I always train 1 dog at a time. ……..
Click to expand...

Actually it wasn't me, it was Thistle, but you are both absolutely right! It's also unlikely, during the instructional and learning stages that the vital aspect of eye-contact will be maintained, should there be other dogs present.

For those dogs which are making progress, and though I've never done it, the local Rec with all the distractions, would be ideal I'd say. A good call!

Alec.
 
Thank you for everyone who has commented, very helpful. I think you’re right and perhaps the key is to do some bits alone with her now and see how we get on. I think you’re all right, keeping them together is stopping me from getting the pups attention.

She’s busy as in she works like a spaniel even when we are out playing she has her nose to the ground. She sits like a stone when asked, but you can see her eyes buzzing to get going. I actually think she’s going to be acracking little retriever and probably sharper than her mum but with something so eager I’m just not sure how much I should do when she’s still young.
 
satinbaze said:
I don’t do gundog training but I do train for competitive obedience which as far as I am concerned is the basis for all activities. As Alec said I always train 1 dog at a time. I used to leave one in the car whilst I trained another but this just over excited them both so now I only take out one st a time. I also spend a lot of time training the “wait”. Start small and short rewarding stopping in one place without fidgeting. Now I do a lot of walking away and making silly movements including waving arms as wait means wait regardless what is happening. I even train on the local rec whilst the children are football training. I then work up to waiting whilst things are thrown around this is not just retrieve items but toys and other things.
So far my dogs are steady for retrieves and recalls so I hope this helps
Click to expand...

Really helpful thank you. I have a basic “wait” but she is very twitchy so I’m going to start some one to one and build up to this 😊
 
As you know, I don’t work my lot, but I’ve trained them with a gun dog trainer. Zak is an enthusiastic boy, he isn’t the steadiest, he’s squeaky and impatient. Patience and repetition are key.

I think for a 6 month old, your pup is remarkable! Time and patience are needed. Definitely train her away from her dam. I know it’s time consuming, but she will listen much better without her there.
 
I think training with another is a useful skill once the basics are absolutely there, as eventually they are going to have to sit quietly on their bum while someone else gets the bird. I would only train alone until the basics are total though, and now I still mainly train one on one, although once in a blue moon I take another with me.
 
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