Gundog training

[Suzanne H]

We've just bought some training manuals from the gundog club - main aim is to harness Otto's natural enthusiasm for the outdoors and all things furry/feathered.

We have not done enough work with him outdoors instead focusing on tiring the bu&&er out. And we thought training that ties in with his breed would be good fun for all concerned ie we need to work on the point and retrieve, he has hunt pretty well nailed!

He seems to be enjoying it and has taken to it like a duck to water (boom boom). Ultimate aim is to get him to stop and sit when told ie not run off and to find and retrieve a dummy outside rather than chase it then totally ignore it because the smells are TOO interesting.

He needs to learn to pay the same attention to us outside as he does everywhere else.

I think Ian has a secret hankering for a wax jacket, a gun and duck a l'orange.

[kendal]

fantastic. you do know you will have to give us a demo some time. just to show off
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[geri carroll]

that sounds brillant suzanne
nice to see you putting in such an effort with him, he is a lovely dog

[Suzanne H]

I think it could take some time....not because he's daft, but because it's too dark

A lot of it is to tap into his hunt, point and retrieve instincts, but also to increase his steadyness (ie our control over him) and to proof him in various situations.

We're not starting from scratch ie he can do about 50% , but he won't retrieve or heel off the lead outside. And he's definitely NOT squirrel proof.

As I said, we've worked his body outside, but not his mind and you can see when you're tapping into his nature - he just comes alive, but in a controlled way.

[graceb]

I'm sure Otto will do really well in this, he is a lovely boy. I came across some great Gun Dog web sites, but unfortunately they don't ship items to uk. And the one that did, well 4 weeks later i'm still waiting on the item being delivered, although I dont suppose its their fault as it did arrive in the uk 3 weeks ago
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Grace & Dexter

[Suzanne H]

http://www.thegundogclub.co.uk/

This is where we went to....we're doing beginner and junior because he knows bits of both but doesn't do it all. Not officially I hasten to add, it's just for us. We got the manuals and the dummies delivered easily enough.

German Shorthaired Pointers are officially hunt, point and retrieve dogs...but his hunt drive is probably too strong and his point and retrieve not trained enough. He's not bad off the lead, but we have trouble stopping him when he's locked in.

Plus he's now so fit, it's hard to keep his joie de vivre without taking up fell running!!

[Ross/Ali]

Alison's Dad is training his cocker spaniel pup Dylan to be a gun dog to replace his springer who is now retired.

Its amazing what these dogs do, but you have to put in alot of work which im sure you already do!
last time we were down visiting, Dylan had turned to hunting bumblebees!


Dylan and Buster Below:


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[Ann, John JJ and Kyle]

Thanks for posting this I asked John only last week re gun dog training as I felt it would be beneficial for Dexters breed trainig . Have sent for the training manual from the link. Hopefully this will give me some ideas as to how to get this retriever to retrieve.

[Suzanne H]

We have manuals 1 and 2 because while he can do some of the stuff in both well, other things he's not so hot on ie retrieve. Once he has it, he's not giving it back unless you have TWO!!

And it tailors some commands specifically for that kind of work. But you can work with it and with what you've already done.

It has a few tips one of which made me laugh because it's so true.

"Never ever let your dog into your secret.....that if he runs you can't catch him." Ian's blown that one. I never chase him, I walk in the opposite direction - he comes back quicker.