Bit of help please

[Naj]

Just think how long it took to train other reliable behaviours. The same applies to steadiness to flush. Dummies & artificial situations are no substitute to work on game.

Naj

[Naj]

as DT mentioned, can't you ask your Keeper if there's a bit of dogging-in to be had or a bit of bye-ground that holds a bit of game that he wouldn't mind being disturbed?

Naj

[WGD]

Well I'm pretty sure if I let all my dogs out the back of the truck in the middle of a field with a nice big cock pheasant in view, the dog I ran at the championships in January would be first to it! My dogs must be shite cause they'll all have a go given half a chance.

If the dog performs when it is the dog being worked and handled I wouldn't give it a second thought.

[Cynic]

Well I'm pretty sure if I let all my dogs out the back of the truck in the middle of a field with a nice big cock pheasant in view, the dog I ran at the championships in January would be first to it! My dogs must be shite cause they'll all have a go given half a chance.

If the dog performs when it is the dog being worked and handled I wouldn't give it a second thought.

This is about the best advice I've seen in a long time.
Perhaps if the basic discipline of getting out of the truck were installed then you would have half a chance.

[westcountry]

Well I'm pretty sure if I let all my dogs out the back of the truck in the middle of a field with a nice big cock pheasant in view, the dog I ran at the championships in January would be first to it! My dogs must be shite cause they'll all have a go given half a chance.

If the dog performs when it is the dog being worked and handled I wouldn't give it a second thought.

I hope you are right on this because the young dog in question has been flawless till this incidence. Granted his exposure to game has been very limited and its time to step it up a gear. He is rock steady to shot when hunting and turns on the whistle like a good un. this was the only time he has let me down,

[westcountry]

I'm a bit confused, are you using the dog as a no-slip retriever or as a spaniel? Watching other dogs flush game isn't the same as the dog flushing game itself & being steady to it. Your dog needs direct game contact so you can train it to be steady by whatever method you currently use, but your dog needs to flush stuff off its nose. The use of a rabbit pen is handy for starting off steadiness training, but the rest has to be done in the field on live game contact.

Naj

Simulated shoot day. I had my dog under close control. Other dogs flushed and chased,I stopped my dog on the whistle,thought that was a result! When his mother flushed I gave the stop whistle and he obeyed, I thought that was a result too.

[Judy]

I'm envious! Don't worry about it, just be more aware of what's about when you let the dog out, a young dog being worked is a different kettle of fish to one sitting when your attention is distracted. Nothing to do with the discipline of getting out of the truck. I'm sure if I got mine out to order, sat them up and went to get something like a dummy bag at least two of them might well be tempted to b' off after a nearby phessie whilst my attention was elsewhere. Doesn't make them failed gun dogs, just means I wasn't paying attention.

[Stacia]

He hasn't let you down, you let him down

[trekmoor]

I'm with WGD on this one . I've owned F.T. winning labs that have jumped out of my car and while I was locking it up they bogged off after a bird or a rabbit. I don't think one swallow makes a summer so I don't think you now have a ruined dog either.

Wullie

[Springfield Pointers]

I'm with WGD on this one . I've owned F.T. winning labs that have jumped out of my car and while I was locking it up they bogged off after a bird or a rabbit. I don't think one swallow makes a summer so I don't think you now have a ruined dog either.

Wullie

Indeed. If dogs were ruined if they chased any game in training, everyone would have ruined dogs.