It's generally known as "The Cocker Frill" every owner has one.
It's all about the training!
Re: It's all about the training!
In life, it is important to know when to stop arguing with people and simply let them be wrong.
Re: It's all about the training!
Ah, not so much a badge of shame, more a membership badge then. Currently I have the puppy class members full flamenco frillage, but working on it.
Retrieve training is progressing, although I am never sure which direction. One step forward etc.
She will now bring a tennis ball back nicely to hand, with only a minor flyby. Unfortunately she still feels the need to give her training dummy an extra spin and a good shake. I guess some creative intermediate retrieve items might be needed? Or should I just stick with tennis balls for a while?
Retrieve training is progressing, although I am never sure which direction. One step forward etc.
She will now bring a tennis ball back nicely to hand, with only a minor flyby. Unfortunately she still feels the need to give her training dummy an extra spin and a good shake. I guess some creative intermediate retrieve items might be needed? Or should I just stick with tennis balls for a while?
Re: It's all about the training!
Or not, ips. A la your quest elsewhere for classic but overlooked musical artists, came across this today - maybe file under "psychedelic gundog training (and 'feeding')" - and for which you'll want to pull up the lyrics so you can follow along as you listen:
https://youtu.be/70KljtwNjxo
Kibble, the fun's just begun
MG
Re: It's all about the training!
crackerd wrote: ↑Wed Jan 26, 2022 2:32 pmOr not, ips. A la your quest elsewhere for classic but overlooked musical artists, came across this today - maybe file under "psychedelic gundog training (and 'feeding')" - and for which you'll want to pull up the lyrics so you can follow along as you listen:
https://youtu.be/70KljtwNjxo
Kibble, the fun's just begun
MG
Good god, I have no words 
Muddling along in the hope that one day it starts to make sense.
Re: It's all about the training!
That's not like you, Ips!!!
In life, it is important to know when to stop arguing with people and simply let them be wrong.
Re: It's all about the training!
.. and the weather
I spent ages last week getting my 7 month puppy to accept her lead calmly, both in the house and out. I was so pleased with the success that I abandoned the short training lead, which I was embarrassed to be still using.
Saturday was blowing a hooley. Trees creaking, fences down, leaves and assorted stuff blowing around. I should have thought.
All was fine to start with. Nice recall practice and coming right in - sit/praise /look at me*/stroke. (so I can hold her collar for a few seconds). She managed several reasonable retrieves. I managed to oncentratie on ignoring all flyby and victory spins and no praise until the retrieve was in my hand (forum advice, thank you)
Nearing the end of the field, I noticed a certain dog approaching so I detoured up the field, which was right into the wind, and called my pup. She came, but when I tried to put her lead on, she decided to play bounce and bite. Not biting down, just mouthing, but unwelcome. Not running away, just round my feet, but quick so I couldn't get hold of her collar or anything else.
Eventually, she must have had enough and I got the lead on. I walked her straight home, missing out the return field. No way I was having a repeat performance.
Back to the training lead, and a few treats in my pocket.
I was so annoyed with myself. I guess weather is context?
*I like that 'what's next' look. If it means she's a fur baby I will have to get her a nice pink jacket to go with her habitual mud wellies.
I spent ages last week getting my 7 month puppy to accept her lead calmly, both in the house and out. I was so pleased with the success that I abandoned the short training lead, which I was embarrassed to be still using.
Saturday was blowing a hooley. Trees creaking, fences down, leaves and assorted stuff blowing around. I should have thought.
All was fine to start with. Nice recall practice and coming right in - sit/praise /look at me*/stroke. (so I can hold her collar for a few seconds). She managed several reasonable retrieves. I managed to oncentratie on ignoring all flyby and victory spins and no praise until the retrieve was in my hand (forum advice, thank you)
Nearing the end of the field, I noticed a certain dog approaching so I detoured up the field, which was right into the wind, and called my pup. She came, but when I tried to put her lead on, she decided to play bounce and bite. Not biting down, just mouthing, but unwelcome. Not running away, just round my feet, but quick so I couldn't get hold of her collar or anything else.
Eventually, she must have had enough and I got the lead on. I walked her straight home, missing out the return field. No way I was having a repeat performance.
Back to the training lead, and a few treats in my pocket.
I was so annoyed with myself. I guess weather is context?
*I like that 'what's next' look. If it means she's a fur baby I will have to get her a nice pink jacket to go with her habitual mud wellies.
Re: It's all about the training!
Sheep
This is a request for help with prevention, please. I never want sheep issues to need a cure.
Yesterday I planned to take my 7 month cocker for a walk along a bridle path. The path was blocked by a fallen tree so I detoured, with my puppy on her lead, over the bank with sheep. She looked at the sheep and pricked up her ears, but no tug or other signs of inclination to bother. She has seen sheep before, but never so close. I said 'leave it' and we just walked past. We then went through a couple of gates and out onto a bracken slope. No sheep in sight so I let her off for a walk/run with a few ball retrieves to keep her close. Then lead on and back through the sheep to the car no problem.
I have had pet spaniels that took no notice of sheep.. I have no reason to expect this pup to be different, its not in spaniel breeding, except that this pup is interested in everything. A few months ago she would prick her ears up at a passing car. She still wants to greet every passing dog.
I wouldn't ever expect to walk her off lead through a field of sheep, but I would like to walk up the hills /fells and for that she needs to be off lead. There will be occasional sheep, especially in the lake district.
My instinct is to go back to that bank and walk her through the sheep (on lead) in the hope that she learns that sheep are not for her interest.
Her recall is usually good, she looks round regularly when walking and is usually back by the time I have blown recall - except when she spots (or maybe smells) rabbits or game birds. In that case she will chase/set up and then come back, looking pleased with herself. She is very fast and I know a hedge/fence is no real barrier.
I do not have my own field of sheep. Not sure how the farmer will react to an on lead puppy on that bank, even though it is open to a public bridle way.
Any advice would be welcome. I have read what I can about sheep on this forum, but mostly cure. I would rather it never got to that stage.
This is a request for help with prevention, please. I never want sheep issues to need a cure.
Yesterday I planned to take my 7 month cocker for a walk along a bridle path. The path was blocked by a fallen tree so I detoured, with my puppy on her lead, over the bank with sheep. She looked at the sheep and pricked up her ears, but no tug or other signs of inclination to bother. She has seen sheep before, but never so close. I said 'leave it' and we just walked past. We then went through a couple of gates and out onto a bracken slope. No sheep in sight so I let her off for a walk/run with a few ball retrieves to keep her close. Then lead on and back through the sheep to the car no problem.
I have had pet spaniels that took no notice of sheep.. I have no reason to expect this pup to be different, its not in spaniel breeding, except that this pup is interested in everything. A few months ago she would prick her ears up at a passing car. She still wants to greet every passing dog.
I wouldn't ever expect to walk her off lead through a field of sheep, but I would like to walk up the hills /fells and for that she needs to be off lead. There will be occasional sheep, especially in the lake district.
My instinct is to go back to that bank and walk her through the sheep (on lead) in the hope that she learns that sheep are not for her interest.
Her recall is usually good, she looks round regularly when walking and is usually back by the time I have blown recall - except when she spots (or maybe smells) rabbits or game birds. In that case she will chase/set up and then come back, looking pleased with herself. She is very fast and I know a hedge/fence is no real barrier.
I do not have my own field of sheep. Not sure how the farmer will react to an on lead puppy on that bank, even though it is open to a public bridle way.
Any advice would be welcome. I have read what I can about sheep on this forum, but mostly cure. I would rather it never got to that stage.
Re: It's all about the training!
I know my puppy likes water. She used to splash the water out of her dish, bounds through every puddle, runs into waves on the beach and swims in dune puddles if she gets a chance.
Yesterday was warm and she had done a lot of running around. At the end of the field there is a water trough and she usually reaches up for a drink. Yesterday she jumped right in. She jumped out and I laughed. She took a look at me and jumped right back in.
Later I took her through the field, which has long and tussocky grass, molehills, burrows and other scrapes, but no stock. She likes this field. I stopped on a knoll and she came to sit beside me. Suddenly he ears pricked and then she whizzed across the field, at least 100yards to set up a few birds, probably pidgeon. I whistled and she whizzed back, looking very pleased with herself. I praised her, for coming back, and didn't worry too much about the unauthorised chase.
I am also playing more in house, just for fun, puppy games. She is quick to learn, and it's easier now that she doesn't always want my hands in her mouth.
I am very grateful for forum advice, especially about being calm and relaxed (or at least trying to be) and remembering that she is a puppy. I have found this puppy quite challenging, and it's good to remember that she is young and I am a novice trainer.
Yesterday was warm and she had done a lot of running around. At the end of the field there is a water trough and she usually reaches up for a drink. Yesterday she jumped right in. She jumped out and I laughed. She took a look at me and jumped right back in.
Later I took her through the field, which has long and tussocky grass, molehills, burrows and other scrapes, but no stock. She likes this field. I stopped on a knoll and she came to sit beside me. Suddenly he ears pricked and then she whizzed across the field, at least 100yards to set up a few birds, probably pidgeon. I whistled and she whizzed back, looking very pleased with herself. I praised her, for coming back, and didn't worry too much about the unauthorised chase.
I am also playing more in house, just for fun, puppy games. She is quick to learn, and it's easier now that she doesn't always want my hands in her mouth.
I am very grateful for forum advice, especially about being calm and relaxed (or at least trying to be) and remembering that she is a puppy. I have found this puppy quite challenging, and it's good to remember that she is young and I am a novice trainer.
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CockerCanuck
- Member
- Posts: 1372
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2016 10:56 pm
- Dogs: Fergal, Hamish, Ceilidh
- Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Re: It's all about the training!
I think you did exactly the right thing with the firm "leave it" and walking on. Now that is assuming she knows what "leave it " means. I always introduce my pups to livestock a bit younger than your dog but I think the same principals should apply. Best to do it before they get older and more confident. I find it best to not show much interest in the stock myself and praise the pup when they ignore them to. Too much correction can heighten excitement and make them think there must be something in this. Just calmly walk by ignoring the stock and praise pup when she does. I would do this always on a leash until you are sure she has figured out they are not playthings. If she does show interest a firm tug on leash and "leave it" and walk calmly on. You don't want to count on calling her back from chasing stock, you want it never to start in the first place.Kibble wrote: ↑Wed Feb 02, 2022 9:24 am Sheep
This is a request for help with prevention, please. I never want sheep issues to need a cure.
Yesterday I planned to take my 7 month cocker for a walk along a bridle path. The path was blocked by a fallen tree so I detoured, with my puppy on her lead, over the bank with sheep. She looked at the sheep and pricked up her ears, but no tug or other signs of inclination to bother. She has seen sheep before, but never so close. I said 'leave it' and we just walked past. We then went through a couple of gates and out onto a bracken slope. No sheep in sight so I let her off for a walk/run with a few ball retrieves to keep her close. Then lead on and back through the sheep to the car no problem.
I have had pet spaniels that took no notice of sheep.. I have no reason to expect this pup to be different, its not in spaniel breeding, except that this pup is interested in everything. A few months ago she would prick her ears up at a passing car. She still wants to greet every passing dog.
I wouldn't ever expect to walk her off lead through a field of sheep, but I would like to walk up the hills /fells and for that she needs to be off lead. There will be occasional sheep, especially in the lake district.
My instinct is to go back to that bank and walk her through the sheep (on lead) in the hope that she learns that sheep are not for her interest.
Her recall is usually good, she looks round regularly when walking and is usually back by the time I have blown recall - except when she spots (or maybe smells) rabbits or game birds. In that case she will chase/set up and then come back, looking pleased with herself. She is very fast and I know a hedge/fence is no real barrier.
I do not have my own field of sheep. Not sure how the farmer will react to an on lead puppy on that bank, even though it is open to a public bridle way.
Any advice would be welcome. I have read what I can about sheep on this forum, but mostly cure. I would rather it never got to that stage.
I'm suspicious of people who don't like dogs, but I trust a dog when it doesn't like a person. - Bill Murray