snipe02 wrote:Most of the time she gets a reward but now thinking ive slackened off on the reward while jumping forward with the duration in briars she could just be sore and tired not much on her
Would I be right in thinking that the reward has not been some nice game to find and retrieve.....? My lot would think that I'd lost the plot if I got them hunting brambles for two hours with no birds.
Sarah xx
'To err is human, to forgive canine' - with apologies to Alexander Pope
The op hinted in an earlier post that there was plenty of game in the brambles. If not, then I would agree that it's pretty pointless hunting a dog in such tough cover for so long & for so little/no reward.
I realise that the ground is gamey but if a flush is not followed by an occasional shot and a retrieve, then I think it would become very non-rewarding over a two hour stretch. For both our labs and spaniels, the retrieve is the reward which is what I was trying to get at.
Been up for ages but obviously still not awake!
Sarah xx
'To err is human, to forgive canine' - with apologies to Alexander Pope
Ye ive increased the time in brambles and lessened the frequency of the reward my thinking was that generally where I hunt game in winter there is very little game and I dont want them looking expecting a few flushes within a 2 hour period so would you think I need to build this up slowly as inpkenty of finds until she matures then go back to the brambles dont want a dog losing interest when out rough shooting I have enough rabbit shooting available to just keep her at that for a while and its lite ish cover dont want to spoil a potentially top class shooting dog bringing her out for a chase now bit of fun and a retrieve,,,, someone also asked if I had been gard when steadying to game and I was a bit and noticed then and layed off so potentially a cluster if issues causing thus she is a soft bitch
Yup ease off her she's only 16 months for heavens sake, you say she's soft so adjust your training and correction accordingly otherwise you'll take all the heart out of her...
Had her in a pen today and she pegged a rabbit twice dont mind as she is only going to be a rough shooting dog seems to have put a bit of zest in her hunting thanks for all the advice and insight hope thats it I will definitely lay off the briars completely for a couple of weeks and eaee her back in apologies if I seemed all over the place explaining as im only learning and had a lot of theories going through my head will post her progression or regression many thanks more insight and advice welcome
pulser wrote:how did the bitch fair out I would be interested in knowing as I have a bitch out of theo as well she 17months old
Hello there sorry for late reply just to let you know she is doing well as a rough shooting bitch the real fast pace never returned I think the briars knocked it out of her she will still hunt them for hours on end plenty of drive in her but she is not moving at a 100 mph through them just a nice steady pace not slow by any means just nice pulls on when not checked has a fair amount of game shot for her rabbit woodcock pheasant and duck has proven herself on 2 runners very happy with her but she needs to fil, out physically and a lot of maturing yet still a ways to go where did you get your bitch and how is she going
If not, then I would agree that it's pretty pointless hunting a dog in such tough cover for so long & for so little/no reward. 
