Your biggest regret with gundog training?

[rhosyn]

Not starting or discovering it earlier in life

[Naj]

Passing on some nice, easy dogs in the mistaken belief that the head-bangers that I kept on would make the better dogs, which they never did. And taking it all too seriously and forgetting that it was supposed to be fun.

[munstyman]

Being too hard on my early dogs and not knowing enough to make better choices.

[Alice]

Not doing my homework properly with my cocker, I wanted a chocolate bitch NOW and I didn't get her from a breeder who knew what they were doing- as a result, I ended up with a dog that was much harder to train than one that had been bred right would've been.

[WGD]

Not making a proper job of my first bitch and not taking a litter off her.

She remains, to this day, the hardest going heavy cover dog I've seen, absolute dynamite and absolutely uncontrollable. Would love to start again with her.

[Rough_mut]

Its very interesting to read some common themes...

Some saying they wish they have kept the softer quieter dogs\bitches whilst others prefer the fire breathers?

Also some saying they regret rushing whilst some advocate getting out on to game as early as possible?

I've come full circle with the game introduction, I desensitized him to it as he was a pet to the point he would swim through 30 ducks for his tennis ball!

Now I'm telling him to pick them up, which he does however I doubt the drive I took out of him will ever be replaced, I suspect although he is driven, he will never have the same go as he would of done in working hands from day one!

Also quite a few people mentioning moving dogs on, can't quite understand this as o have one dog and he hasn't be bought for a purpose as such, however I can only imagine moving one of would a tough decision to make!

Thanks for the input all it makes interesting reading!

RM

[Rough_mut]

Not doing my homework properly with my cocker, I wanted a chocolate bitch NOW and I didn't get her from a breeder who knew what they were doing- as a result, I ended up with a dog that was much harder to train than one that had been bred right would've been.

I have no idea of your experience and I myself have half trained one single dog, however how do you know for sure the one you have is so much harder? Surely even within the same litter there are differences and each handler will have preferences to the types of personaillies with dogs?

RM

[Rough_mut]

Not starting or discovering it earlier in life

Same for me, I'm only 26 saying that but I wish I had started it earlier in my dogs life!

RM

[Rough_mut]

Following advice to have a quiet, steady dog by severely limiting marked retrieves for the priority of memories and blinds. Found it can kill desire and hurt focus, marking and hunting determination. Much later, had to rebuild the dog after maturity, exactly like a beginning pup.

Very interested in this comment... Milner I believe advocates this, my dog has had far too many marks by his guidance, he will always be twitching to go and I have come to accept that, however I do understand the logic behind it, I can't help think my dog would be no where near as fit as he is without marks!

I have had to get him hunting when he hasn't seen something land, and this has prpvenprpven bloody hardwork, I would presume its far easier to tone a beast down than it is to make one go that either doesn't have the good has had the go taken from it!

RM

[Rough_mut]

In all seriousness. My biggest regret with the early ones was not hunting them as soon as possible and often.

I simply don't have the land or game to do this, however I would of though the above would result in some very focused dogs, but to many also a risk. What if not ready etc etc

I was daft enough to take a 4 year old dog on to a shoot with no training, and I am glad I did! As it got me into it! However next time round I wouldn't wait so long!

Rm