Rosie: Forst training class

calibra · Post by **calibra** » Wed May 10, 2006 5:08 am

Rosie has her first gun dog training class yesterday.

It wasn’t too bad, but I can see this being hard work. Rosie has done 4 months of basic dog training class in a hall, so she knows all the commands. However, take her out in a field and the only command she sometimes listens to is come. She is just to concerned in finding birds and rabbits.

Anyway, this is what we did on our first lesson.

Heel work – We learned how to make the dog walk on a loose leash. My home work is now to do leave walk her for 10min two sessions a day.

Working on the stay command – We done a little work on the stay command. We had to make the Rosie stay and then walk away. We used the whistle to call her over. Once over she has to sit in front of me – I also have more work to do on this

Throw a dummy and make sure the dog does not chase it until I give the command to fetch – After a few attempts, this went well. Again still need to practice this.

Retrieve the dummy – This was bad, very very bad. The dog went and grabbed the dummy, however decided it wanted to play the game “I am not giving it to you, you have to chase me”. So some how I have to resolve this.

As soon as we got on the field, I let Rosie off her lead. She went and flushed a bird out. This bird was a fair way away, and I think she did it just fine. However she done it without a command and wouldn’t come back.

So I have alot of home work to do in the next two weeks before the next lesson.

James

snips · Post by **snips** » Wed May 10, 2006 6:25 am

I would be very careful about putting alot of pressure on your pup to meet the needs of your next class. I think these classes can help many people to learn how to handle their dog and timing on commands, but be careful not to take the independance out of your young birddog. Use lots of praise when he does stuff right and keep him as happy as possible. He is still a yougster.

calibra · Post by **calibra** » Wed May 10, 2006 7:00 am

Hi

Thanks, I will keep him happy. I am not to worried if he masters it or not.

I would like to get her lead walking more than anything else

Thanks

James

portsider44 · Post by **portsider44** » Wed May 10, 2006 8:41 am

I agree with Brenda, every dog matures at a different pace. So even thou some of the other dogs might be the same age or younger than you pup. Doesn't mean your pup is ready for it.

Also from what you said I am not sure if walking on lead is that important now. If it was me, I would be more worried about getting the pup o responding to come even with the distractions of running free.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:11 am

just to be sure everyone knows the objective here, calibra is in the UK, does not own a gun, and does not hunt. the dog and handler have been invited to work as beaters in a local UK style driven bird shoot. not interfering with the other dogs and beaters, and not flushing birds wild, away from the shooters, is kind of a big deal. so manners and dependence on the handler for direction are what is required. different from what we do with pointing dogs here. also, the dogs are used to flush. probably calibra will be working with beaters who have flushers, as well as other pointers.

calibra, i could not find the link to that UK dog board. it was in a post on www.pointingdogjournal.com within the last 60 days, if you want to look through the posts.

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Wed May 10, 2006 9:35 am

Yep. Totally different basket of eggs.

Best,

Sergeant Hunter · Post by **Sergeant Hunter** » Wed May 10, 2006 12:24 pm

Calibra,
One thing I learned from another forum and from wagonmaster on the retrieve is when they start to play there "run away and chase me" game. Immediately as soon as you see them begin, turn around and start walking the other way. This conveys two things to the pup, 1 you are not pleased, and 2 that in order for it to play the game with you it must play along with your rules somewhat. As soon as the dog comes running by you to get in front of you, grab it(not forcefully) and take the dummy from it all the while heaping lavish praise on it. Alot sooner than you think it will get the point. Best of luck to you and your pup, I know I had a blast this past Spring and Summer training my first bird dog.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:05 pm

I wouldn't put it exactly that way. Usually, if you back away or turn and walk away from the pup, rather than going towards it, it will come in to you. That is the theory anyway. But yes, sometimes you do have to catch it when it goes past, entirely true, especially with a playful young dog.

If you go at the pup, it thinks you are chasing.

Margaret, on this board, also puts forward the smart idea of playing fetch in a hallway, so the dog can only come to you, and cannot run away.

Eventually, you might think about force fetch training, but you have enough on your hands right now so try the moving away trick that Sergeant Hunter suggested, and see if that helps.

PS Sarge, how is your Britt doing? Were you able to shoot some birds over it last hunting season?

Sergeant Hunter · Post by **Sergeant Hunter** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:17 pm

Calibra,
Not meaning to hijack your post.
John,
Yes, Duke turned out great this past season. I think it really clicked for him after getting to shoot several birds over him and he was rock solid. By no means am I saying he is perfect. As a matter of fact at the end of the season, I could almost count on him busting the first covey of birds in the morning and then he seemed to settle right down and really get to work. Everyone who hunted with Duke and I commented on how great his nose was and how he really burned up the field. Thanks for all your help this past year and if you are ever down SW Oklahoma way and feel like a little quail hunt or just some company please give me a call.

Wagonmaster · Post by **Wagonmaster** » Wed May 10, 2006 2:22 pm

calibra-

Take your time with enforcement of the obedience commands when distractions such as game birds are present. It is one thing to have a young dog learn obedience in a classroom setting. It is another to learn obedience when there are children playing nearby, or birds flying, or other free-running dogs around. Patience is important, whether you are training for UK style hunting or ours. It won't happen in a couple of weeks.

The difference between driving on a nice quiet back country road, and getting on one of those freeways.

sarge-

glad to hear it. what was important for your dog in the past year was just to get out hunting and get some birds shot over it. build up its confidence and enjoyment. with that under your belt you can proceed to break the dog, or whatever level of training you want to put on it this summer. good luck.

on SW OK, i don't know, you guys have a few snakes down there I hear.

Sergeant Hunter · Post by **Sergeant Hunter** » Wed May 10, 2006 3:18 pm

you remember me getting Duke bit last summer. I hear they are out even stronger this year, but my dog is up at my mom and dad's while I am going through the Big "D".
It was you who I remember it most from. "Birds make the Bird Dog".
I didn't even attempt to count all of the bird contacts duke was on but I think it went a long way toward making him a "Bird Dog"