possibility of working her

[Naj]

You like to take your young dogs picking-up, Wullie, but in that scenario you have more control over all the variables, totally different to when you let a dog loose in a beating line, especially one that lacks control around game. And you're experienced & willing enough to use whatever corrections you think are required. Not sure if Ips is.

Naj

[Springfield Pointers]

Sounds to me that the dog is a lot better trained than the majority of dogs on shoots. Exposing the dog to the environment in a responsible way and attempting to keep as best a handle on it will only be good for dog and handler. The OP has already stated that the recall is acceptable, the retreive is well understood and the shoot is short of dogs. It's not like the dog will be left there and picked up after. Providing it's comfortable with being shot over and the dog can be managed sensibly the experience can only serve to benefit. Give the dog exposure, at least it will give you a good picture on where the dog is at in terms of its training and how it relates to applying to work. It will also give you something to aim at with your future training.

[Judy]

Its totally different when you know exactly what you are doing yourself and know when the dog is likely to get ott or can recognise the signs, there are some drives where it would be impossible to keep the dog on lead or even know where it is half the time due to the cover, then it becomes difficult both for the dog and the handler. If Ips goes a couple of times on his own he will know what to expect and will then be able to concentrate more on his dog or he would be able to decide to beat without the dog for a season cos its not ready. Nothing worse than your young dog being taken on a run around by an unruly mutt or two, it goes wild, you get frustrated and there are places where it isn't safe to chase the dog down or even physically possible to chase it, even Usain Bolt ain't going to chase a dog through pampas grass or kale or anyone of a number of cover crops, that is if he could even see it.
Picking up is different, you can keep the pup under control until the end of the drive then send it or sweep with it.

[ips]

I accept everything that is said, I have never been anything but open about my inexperience hence asking advice as to if this offer by my friend would be good for me and my dog. I know it must be difficult to answer as none of you have actually met me or my dog. I have no problem doing it or indeed not doing it all I want is my dog to have fun and be happy and to experience what she was bread for at least experience as much as I am able to provide.
So just to clarify.
Were talking a 16 month cocker bitch trained daily since she was 6 months all be it by a complete novice. Rubbish on a lead but will walk to heel off lead and will wait before I release her going through doors or gates or over our private lane. She will stop and sit by verbal hand or whistle. She will recall reliably in my field or out on walks. She is steady to a thrown dummy if I am slightly in front of her and steady if I am at her side 50% of the time the other 50% she runs in. Off a lead she will hunt no more than 20yds and seems to naturaly quarter she will follow hand commands and recall, stop BUT if she gets hooked on a scent she sometimes becomes deaf having said that I have stopped her when she has been full flight for a rabbit in fact yesterday she flushed a phessie up my lane and did 30yds before I got to the whistle and she stopped and recalled. It seems to me that it falls apart if she becomes really hooked on a scent but even then she comes back once the hunt leads to nothing. SO the way I see it is will exposure to a beating line help or hinder her occasional selective hearing ??
For the record I have no problem having stern words with her but I never used any type of physical punishment on my daughter and I ain't going to start on my dog so even a scruffing is out of the question.
Kind regards
Ian

[Springfield Pointers]

I accept everything that is said, I have never been anything but open about my inexperience

...you know the best cure for inexperience?

[ips]

Absolutely Mr Springfield.
I have to say that I have always been a learn as you do it kind of bloke but I suppose the issue is will my dog ??? Can we both learn by muddling through together ???

[Springfield Pointers]

Absolutely Mr Springfield.
I have to say that I have always been a learn as you do it kind of bloke but I suppose the issue is will my dog ??? Can we both learn by muddling through together ???

Well. Whatever you decide, nobody can say you haven't considered all the angles.

At the end of the day, you decide what you feel you want to do.

Good luck.

[ips]

Many thanks springfield

[Strathcraig]

There is only one thing I would say.

Others have said your dog might be better trained than the others. But there may well be far better trained dogs there. There's nothing I find more irritating than training every single day, hail rain or snow, travelling all over the countryside trying to ensure my dogs are ready to do anything I ask; then getting into the beating line to find that an inexperienced or poorly trained dog has cleared the drive or picking up and have a squeaking, whirling dervish on lead or a wild dog, off lead picking birds that should have been yours.

[ips]

Point taken.
All I can say is my friend said that there are "some good dogs there" but what that means in reality who is to know.
He went on to say that no one has a problem with anyone who is "bringing a dog on" or taking a young first timer so they must be a friendly bunch. As Wullie says if it gets too hot I just pull her out, this will be easy to do as long as I have a ball in my pocket as she will do anything for a ball

I have much to consider in the next two weeks. I am not obliged in any way and as Mr springfield says (of which I am greatfull) no one can say I haven't considered every angle and rushed into a decision.

PS
Took her into the disused pheasant shoot 1/2mile from home this morning (even a pen in there) she hunted the wooded area quite franticly and was deaf to whistle for five mins then she calmed down and became receptive to my stop and recall and worked the area following arm commands, obviously not perfect and no other dogs or people there or phessies so how this will pan out in a "live" situation if I am honest I have no idea.