Search found 1292 matches

by CockerCanuck
Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:14 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: First walks
Replies: 22
Views: 1518

Re: First walks

It’s only recently I have heard about restricting exercise in pups so I never practiced it. From 3-9 months I have always been much more focused on socializing and confidence building. I found the best way to accomplish this was to simply take the puppy with me whatever I am doing. I encourage calm ...
by CockerCanuck
Sat Jan 13, 2024 5:15 pm
Forum: Training Gundogs
Topic: Trained gun dogs?
Replies: 23
Views: 1379

Re: Trained gun dogs?

I think that those of us who have decades long experience with gundogs forget how much we have learned over the years. Much of training and handling has become instinctive to us and we are actually training most of the time we are with the dog, so when we see others messing it up we are perhaps less...
by CockerCanuck
Sat Dec 16, 2023 10:13 pm
Forum: General/Other
Topic: Willow
Replies: 8
Views: 1506

Re: Willow

I have had to make the decision for quite a few old dogs. Never easy but it helps to remember they live in the moment, they don’t have a bucket list, they are so honest and open they don’t have apologies to make or things left unsaid. Their life is complete whenever the end comes. We could learn a l...
by CockerCanuck
Sun Nov 26, 2023 12:36 am
Forum: Welcome
Topic: Introduction
Replies: 7
Views: 456

Re: Introduction

Please excuse the ignorance from across the pond but what is a BMH? I have a fair bit of experience with hunting big game (deer, moose, bear) with hounds but I have come to understand that is very different from the way you use dogs for stalking. I am interested to learn.
by CockerCanuck
Sun Nov 05, 2023 9:51 pm
Forum: Working Gundogs
Topic: Ginger
Replies: 317
Views: 17013

Re: Ginger

While I appreciate a steady dog and train for it and expect it. I am not sure I really want one that “never” broke. Be a bit too much like a robot. I regularly get excited and screw up, how can I expect better from my dog 😉.
by CockerCanuck
Fri Oct 27, 2023 8:56 pm
Forum: Training Gundogs
Topic: possibility of working her
Replies: 2143
Views: 179578

Re: possibility of working her

I will watch for report. Just relax and enjoy the day with Eze. I am sure she will be great. She does not have to be perfect, just make you happy.
by CockerCanuck
Thu Oct 26, 2023 8:41 pm
Forum: Training Gundogs
Topic: Should I pause general retrieving work during hold conditioning.?
Replies: 28
Views: 1525

Re: Should I pause general retrieving work during hold conditioning.?

Just a follow up when I look back on over 60 years with gundogs most of the best trained were the least biddable in the beginning. They make you stick the the program and do the groundwork. The very compliant tempt you into shortcuts which almost always ends up a problem later.
by CockerCanuck
Thu Oct 26, 2023 8:33 pm
Forum: Training Gundogs
Topic: Should I pause general retrieving work during hold conditioning.?
Replies: 28
Views: 1525

Re: Should I pause general retrieving work during hold conditioning.?

Your descriptions of the dog are quite clear which makes it easier to offer advice. Though always difficult without seeing the dog. I picture that you have a precocious pup with a strong desire to please. We use to call this “biddable” but that seems to have fallen out of favour. It’s a wonderful qu...
by CockerCanuck
Sun Oct 15, 2023 12:41 am
Forum: Training Gundogs
Topic: It's all about the training!
Replies: 566
Views: 37661

Re: It's all about the training!

I absolutely sympathize Kibble I was once (long time ago) where you are now. It is a balancing act which is hard to understand without context and experience. You want to have enough control of the dog that it is not in danger or an irritant to others. But neither do you want a robot with no initiat...
by CockerCanuck
Wed Oct 11, 2023 9:38 pm
Forum: Training Gundogs
Topic: Should I pause general retrieving work during hold conditioning.?
Replies: 28
Views: 1525

Re: Should I pause general retrieving work during hold conditioning.?

Agree stop all regular retrieving while you work through this. Next step is to have her hold for longer periods, then hold while you step away from her, then walking at heel, then hold while you sit her walk away and call her in. Then do it all over again with increasing distraction in a park in a f...