Springer Quartering

[Oakesy]

Hi

I am working on quartering with my 12 month old Springer and need some advice please. A trainer I have seen in the past said he was a very stylish hard hunting dog. He tends to pull ahead a lot if I am not on top of him a lot giving him lots of direction with the whistle, however now at times he seems to have a be looking at me constantly for direction and not using his natural ability. I am concerned that i will ruin his style by being directing him too much but if I dont he is ranging way to far. How to I get a good middle ground? Advice please....I have no experience! What sort of range should I be allowing him?

[springermaniac69]

Are you hunting the dog on scenty ground cause that can cause a dog to pull a bit but if the dog is looking at you a lot it sounds like he's waiting or expecting you to throw a ball or a dummy if I was you I would keep dog in motor and go and pre plant some tennis balls in some rashes or white grass whatever ground you have got and get the dog out and hunt the dog up for the balls with the wind into your face make sure she's finding the balls at your feet so she gets the idea of hunting closer to you if she starts pulling on the scent for the balls then you might have to start keeping balls in your pocket hunt her and when he's not looking quickly plant one at you feet with out him looking hope this helps

[howshow]

Interesting. My problem only without the pulling. We did have pulling issues but the planting balls while dog is in the car scenario made matters worse. We found that once the tennis balls were planted we would bring him out of the car, set him off hunting-quartering and within seconds his nose was starting to scent the planted balls.This increased his determination to pull and was counter-productive, for us. We found that dropping balls behind us and taking a few steps backwards without him seeing as he quartered in front of us, then bringing Benson back in towards us for a find, really helped and sussed the pulling issue.We are searching now for a "middle gound" without the sticky style.

[Oakesy]

Thank you for replies. When he is on scented ground with a bit of cover he is fine as I whistle him less frequently but he stays close as the cover slows him down a bit. It is on open ground where there is still quite a lot of scent and he moves so much quicker and was ranging ahead and so I put a long line on him and forced him to stay close with it that he as started looking at me for direction...as he is now expecting me to control him.

I have been planting tennis balls but he is more keen on hunting than retrieving and so wouldnt be fussed if he was ranging ahead and so could just hunt without bothering to retrieve as well. Because he loves hunting so much he had had a tendency to become self employed if I wasnt on top of him forcing him to hunt for me.
How often ideally would you blow a turn whistle for the dog and what distance would you allow him?

I like you howshows let him have about an hour of hunting per day because he needs to be constantly doing something for me or he wanders off and starts hunting for himself if I give him any freedom at all. I dont know how I could reduce time spent hunting without significantly reducing his exercise and in thick cover he will happy hunt for hours even though he hardly finds anything!

[Rascal]

Hi Oakesy,

I don’t know what your aim is with this dog but I’d work on the stuff the dog isn’t so good at or keen to do like retrieving and stretching him by putting some handling in with multiple retrieves etc. You know he can hunt.

There are more ways of tiring a dog than hunting it for an hour a day, make him use his brain and then he’ll probably realise he’s part of a team.

Rascal

[springermaniac69]

Sounds like he's getting all his own way you need to start putting more obedience training into the dog let him realise that your the boss not him

[springermaniac69]

Sounds like he's getting all his own way you need to start putting more obedience training into the dog let him realise that your the boss not him and howshow the dog is looking at him waiting for a signal he needs to start finding stuff with his nose normally stops them from looking at you but I agree with rascal start training the stuff he doesn't like doing he's getting to much his own way

[Oakesy]

I dont shoot so just want him to be a pet but have realised I need to try and work with his natural instincts to train him to a good level.
I do send him for multiple retrieves and can direct him which one I want him to fetch and doing some memory retrieves. He enjoys retrieving when he is not hunting.
I can direct him left and right but done know how to teach him to get back for blind retrieves.
What do you think the next step I should be working on is?
How would you suggest I ensure he knows I'm boss?

[springermaniac69]

Just don't let him get away with anything if you don't want him to do something make sure he doesn't i.e when he's hunting and he's not listening to the turn whistle run out after him and drag him him back to the whistle don't keep blowing the whistle cause he will just think he can keep on doin it cause he can get a way with it. Now blinds if your dog is doing memories and understands your command go back or what ever you use to send him back go and put a short dustance dummy out and send him back for it when he finds it he will start and trust you thinking that they is something there it's all about trust between you and your dog

[Rascal]

You may not shoot but would you ever want to use him as a picking up or beating dog, it’s a fantastic hobby.

Retrieving isn’t optional though if you are sweeping (hunting for dead birds) at the end of a drive..

Start with memory retrieves, most dogs love em, you’ll get some ideas here...viewtopic.php?f=30&t=1668#p17286
and once that’s in place and the dog understands your line up drills both from your side and sat away from you, build in distance and over obstacles, walls, water and through hedges and the like then have a read here.....
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=5063#p60819

By getting the dog to work with you and realise all the rewards come from you, not him doing his own thing will hopefully make him realise you are worth listening to....Without manhandling him....

I'd work on this for now and stop hunting him and get him a keener retriever and listening to you and your commands.

Rascal