He is very sharp, really keen and I am sure it's not boredom as he runs out like a little missile. I suppose it isn't really blinking in that he doesn't switch off from the dummy and hunt elsewhere, he just stops and looks at me as if he isn't sure it should be picked or other observers think he looks like he wants to play and the next step for him would be a puppy bow, but he hasn't gone that far yet.
Think he is just taking the p....
He has been picking up for the winter but I tried to limit this to only a few retrieves each time and in between times his interest in dummies remained.
I think I will try no reaction and see what happens but only send him into cover. I hope I won't be there all night
As an observer , on Sunday he did look like he was perhaps about to go into a play bow. He still puppy jumps up to the dummy sometimes too (I love him for it!). Do you think the fact that he had an audience had any bearing on him not picking straight away?
M Cairns wrote:He is very sharp, really keen and I am sure it's not boredom as he runs out like a little missile. I suppose it isn't really blinking in that he doesn't switch off from the dummy and hunt elsewhere, he just stops and looks at me as if he isn't sure it should be picked or other observers think he looks like he wants to play and the next step for him would be a puppy bow, but he hasn't gone that far yet.
Think he is just taking the p....
He has been picking up for the winter but I tried to limit this to only a few retrieves each time and in between times his interest in dummies remained.
I think I will try no reaction and see what happens but only send him into cover. I hope I won't be there all night
Ok, if it's play stuff, make him busy! See that he got tricky stuff going all the time, no simple single marks for him. Do tricky doubles, if doubles are easy throw a double, turn around and send him on a blind before he get to the double etc etc. Challenge him and give him no time to faff about but in a positive way rather than cause an argument over it.
I agree with Helene, & you're asking for trouble if you are still sending him for retrieves he can see lying on the ground. You could give him a rest from retrieving for a week or so - the break would do him good & providing you were more inventive the problem may well have disappeared on its own after a break. This sounds like boredom to me. He might race out to the retrieve like a missile but once he gets there, the retrieves that you are providing aren't stimulating enough.
M Cairns wrote:Hi Trekmoor, yes it was under his nose, he had spun round to face me and ready to return but just stood over it looking at me.
There's a wee bitch here that will do just exactly the same thing. She lives to retrieve and please and interact with anyone. As well as loving to retrieve she also loves to be handled and told what to do and doing as she's told pleases her and gets her rewards.
If she tries that trick with a certain other family member he speaks to her and tells her what to do and that's just what she wants. Therefore, the behaviour persists. I seldom do much at all with her these days but when I do and she tries that trick with me I turn my back on her and she'll appear back with the dummy. For as long as it sometimes gets her what she wants, she'll continue to try it because it sometimes works.
Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it.
Naj wrote:I agree with Helene, & you're asking for trouble if you are still sending him for retrieves he can see lying on the ground. You could give him a rest from retrieving for a week or so - the break would do him good & providing you were more inventive the problem may well have disappeared on its own after a break. This sounds like boredom to me. He might race out to the retrieve like a missile but once he gets there, the retrieves that you are providing aren't stimulating enough.
Naj
Problem is when competing you don't get a choice of short or long grass.
Think it's time to move on, I am away for a few days and will have access to heather and water so I will try something more challenging for him.
I will let you know how we progress.
Thanks for the comments everyone,
You may be right about the audience Shamy, he probably enjoyed all the gasps
, on Sunday he did look like he was perhaps about to go into a play bow. He still puppy jumps up to the dummy sometimes too (I love him for it!). Do you think the fact that he had an audience had any bearing on him not picking straight away?
