Need help, newcomer with a hard headed springer

[Springfield Pointers]

I have always thought one must get ones regimented work done in the yard. Make sure the dog is clear on what the basics are and you are clear that the dog understands what you mean - there is no ambiguity. Once you have a good handle on the dog you can introduce him/her to the real trainers and make sure you have a good handle on it while they do their important work.

[janey]

I have read through this thread and have gained a lot of very useful knowledge and information. Without getting bogged down in details, as a newcomer to the world of springers I am having similar problems to the OP although my pup is only five and a half months and has only bogged off a couple of times - all in the last week. So I'm going to have some 1 to 1 with a trainer, I'm not letting her off lead, using a long line and going back several steps. One fairly simple question - if I can't let her off lead and we are just working close on the long line, how do I give her the exercise she needs to stop her exploding? We don't unfortunately have access to a nice small enclosed paddock where she can have a run but not go into bog off mode - it's either the beach or the open fields - both of which being areas where the problem started! So how/how much please? Many thanks for sharing your knowledge with newbies!

[Naj]

When you say the dog bogs-off, how far does it go, is it chasing or just following its nose & ignoring the whistle, and what do you do when she bogs off?

Naj

[janey]

First time she went out of sight down the beach after seagulls (high up in the sky ones, not the ones on the waters edge). Whistled once but she totally ignored it. Eventually came back towards me. As she approached I whistled again, crouched down and waved my arms. She shot passed within about two yards and carried on in the other direction. I then ignored her completely and after three of four passes she decided to come back. I praised her for coming back (didn't really feel like it!!!) Popped her on the lead and carried on walking. Similar situation the second time which was the following day. We then decided to stay away from the beach for a while. Had a couple of country walks since where she stayed reasonably close. Then today, the same thing happened after crows in the fields. Didn't whistle as she was clearly not going to take any notice. Just turned around and walked in the opposite direction. She eventually followed but was quite reluctant to come too close ( I guess she was expecting the lead). We let her play around us for a minute or two then put her on the lead. So, as I said, one to one trainer, long line and back to basics I guess. But where does that leave running off the excess energy? Incidentally - she has been on the beach just about every day from when we got her at eight weeks. She's previously ignored the seagulls completely!

[Naj]

I wouldn't be too worried over a dog of that age chasing after birds. She is only now noticing the birds because her hunting instincts are just awakening, & she is also entering a natural period of independence. The walking off in the opposite direction & hiding is very effective. I would also be concentrating on keeping her close & practicing turns back to you & recalls, especially if you hope to use her as a gundog, & in which case you don't really want to encourage her get into the habit of ranging out far from you. Try containing her within 30 yards or so, closer if that's a problem. You also need to concentrate on getting her attention back on you if it is beginning to wander, which it will at this age. If she chases & you can't distract her within the first few yards then the best thing to do is turn & walk the other way & when she eventually comes belting back to you give her the recall whistle & praise & a treat when she gets to you, but don't punish her for returning by putting her straight on the lead, otherwise she will learn quickly to stand off you. Encourage her in, reward, then send her off again, then call her back within yards, reward & send her off again etc. Also, practice calling her in, putting the lead on then taking it off & sending her off again within the walk, but don't make it obvious that you are getting the lead ready for her. Call her in, reward, then quietly grab hold of her collar, slip the lead on for a few moments, slip it off then send her on her way again.

Naj

[janey]

Thanks - this all sounds like really good advice. i feel though, after today's little escapade that the recall has gone a bit too shaky
to send her off - I think she's likely to clear off again. So before I do the things that you suggest, I was thinking of keeping her on a long line to work on the recall a bit more. And that's where my original question about exercise came from. How do I give her enough exercise to prevent her exploding while I'm keeping her on a long line? How much exercise does a pup this age really need? I'm not planning on working her - she's a pet - but I want her to be a well behaved one and I figured that some basic gundog training would help.

[Naj]

If you want her as a pet then the obedience side of things will help but I wouldn't go the full hog to working her on game, because that will just open the door to all her natural hunting instincts & you may have a hard job closing it. You really want to learn to manage her prey drive & curtail her chase/hunt instinct & I'm not sure a gundog trainer is the right place for that. You might be better with a pet dog obedience trainer who is knowledgeable in handling prey driven dogs like gundogs. As a pet dog you want to concentrate on keeping her focussed on you, either with tug toys or chasing/retrieving balls & frizbees etc. Ideally, you want the dog to see a bird or rabbit as the trigger to go back to you for a game of tug or a chase after a ball. There's a lot of stuff on u-tube etc. about managing prey drive. One of the methods that is very effective for distracted dogs is called LAT (Look at That) but much of it is just learning to engage with the dog & keeping it focusing on you in the face of distractions, like seagulls on the beach.

Naj

[janey]

Thanks Naj. You've given me loads to go on here - and the guy I'm going to go to is just that - he does pet training as well as gundogs and knows that we don't want to work her. I chose him because his first love is springers! But I'll check out the Youtube stuff and keep in mind everything that you've said. I definitely think some retrieving would be good for her - but not the real thing! The idea of her seeing a bird as a cue for a ball throw sounds perfect!