Bit of help please

[jeffD]

I might be more worried if a young dog didn't use the lack of attention to have a bit of fun with a phessie, get a rolled up news paper hit yourself on the head and repeat I must pay more attention

[westcountry]

Thanks everyone,much to take on board from this. Firstly its clear I must expose him to more game in a controlled environment. And secondly its not the end of the world to have a little set back. This is a very silly adolescent young dog who sees everything as a game but is very honest and willing to please.

[Miff]

I might be more worried if a young dog didn't use the lack of attention to have a bit of fun with a phessie, get a rolled up news paper hit yourself on the head and repeat I must pay more attention

Absolutely right. If a young dog hasnt the drive to 'have a go' when given the opportunity it wont be much good. There is a world of difference between all the training you have done on dummies, and even on rabbits in a pen, to the next step on birds. The training must be approached in exaclty the same way; gradual exposure, not too much excitement to start with, cold game, perhaps a dizzied pigeon or two, then one person with a gun to shoot while you concentrate on your dog. There must be a good trainer somewhere near you who would take you through this next stage of training?

[Nickheref]

We all have set backs from time to time with young dogs, experience tells you what to worry about try to correct and what to ignore. I have not had a dog yet that didn't chase something in it's training except one, who was absolutely b******y useless and the only dog I ever gave up on and passed on as a pet.

[trekmoor]

As my crusty old mentor once said ....." I wouldn't give you tuppence for a dog that never tries to run in !"

Wullie

[westcountry]

Thanks all. We have made significant progress in the last week and your advice has been greatly appreciated. My young dog starts work next week and I am quietly confident he will not disgrace us.

[Nickheref]

Just beware of the second day out, often the first is so full of new and strange things happening that they are a bit overwhelmed, it is sometimes the second day when they have had time to work out what is going on when the wheels can fall off and you need to be on your toes. Hope all goes well.

[westcountry]

Thanks Nickheref,that sounds good solid advice. I take him saturday on a small syndicate where there only 5 or 6 guns,4 or 5 beaters and a walking gun who usually sticks close to me as I have the only spaniels which always find more game than the other dogs. Theres usually not much happening and the average bag is 6 to 8 birds. So Im not expecting my young chap to get too wound up and flip his lid. (Hopefully).
Totally understand what you are saying as his mother was goody two shoes first time out and got stronger and harder as she got more days under her belt. In fact shes gonna be a right handful this season so will not be going with her son.
Anymore advice is more than welcome/

[Naj]

Forgive me if I've missed something, but as I understand it you're not really sure if the dog would be steady if she flushed a bird off her nose when hunting. So presuming you are looking for some level of steadiness, to hunt such an unproven dog with a walking gun sounds like a recipe for disaster. The dog find a pheasant, breaks after it on the flush & the gun rewards the unsteadiness by shooting the bird for it. You'd be better off hunting her well away from guns so you'll have one less problem to worry about if she does break.

Naj

[westcountry]

With all due respect Naj,a lot of water has passed under the bridge since my original post. I have hunted this young dog daily and he has flushed pheasants and partridge and been steady to the whistle. I train every day besides managing a busy farm. I really do want this dog to be a good dog and I put the hours into training as and when I can. Im honest enough to recognise my own shortcomings too. Just this evening 2 cock birds came out in front of him and he sat for me.
I totally understand what you are telling me and you may well be correct(probably are) but we have to start somewhere and as the alternative is a major commercial shoot then this is my only alternative.