Partridge preference.......?

[Clam]

The Vizsla is showing a real preference for partridge retrieval. She'll bring back partridge, no problem but when asked poliltely to fetch a phezzie, she'll nuzzle it, mouth it, drag it but all with little vigour or enthusiasm. If she does actually get hold, she tiends to drop it half way back.

Any thoughts............?

[trekmoor]

Send her for running pheasants ?

Wullie

[Springfield Pointers]

Agree with Wullie. One question though... how old is the Vizsla?

[Clam]

She's just over two.

[Naj]

Presumably you've tried her on cold pheasants first, wrapped in a stocking or trussed up with ducktape etc. Are these pheasants that have been shot over her point?

Naj

[Clam]

Not shot over on point but shot whilst sat at the peg. Like i say, the partriridge no probs but not keen on the phezzie. I used the stocking trick with partridge at the end of last season and rather than rush into anything worked up to fresh shot partridge which she retrieved no problem and then a fresh shot pheasant - again no problem. Have done very little over the summer. Perhaps just expecting a little too much.

[Polmaise]

The Vizsla is showing a real preference for partridge retrieval. She'll bring back partridge, no problem but when asked poliltely to fetch a phezzie, she'll nuzzle it, mouth it, drag it but all with little vigour or enthusiasm. If she does actually get hold, she tiends to drop it half way back.

Any thoughts............?

Do you ask her to politely fetch a partridge?...Or has any earlier experience (of the dog) with retrieves on articles been encouraged?
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You could be asking too much?> too soon?, as you have suggested ....Or you may have not been asking enough earlier on?

The 'pick up' and the 'hold', and the 'hold on to', are learned at an early age ......
Of course the 'Want to', is a different ball game ! all done in the nurture phase (imo).
..................
If it were me?.....rather than putting it down to 'Maybe this ,or maybe that'?.....I would have the dog retrieving articles far beyond the likelyhood of what a pheasant is!
....
No doubt we will shortly have a picture of a Boykin ,retrieving a 'moose' from MG
PS....
There is something about 'partridge', that ''some dogs'' like more than other game ....I had a lab that would happily carry one all bloody day!!! feckin annoying!

[Clam]

Polmaise - i think you are right about "asking enough early enough" is about right. It's my first dog and the advice i got from most quarters was " take things slowly". I was a bit paranoid about rushing things. thanks for the comments all.

[Polmaise]

Things 'should be taken slowly' Clam ....Drip feeding I call it.
Progressivley for a dog (pup) ,because every day is just a learning day
..........................
Your 'partridge preference' I believe you have pondered?...is more probably a 'favoured activity/proofed' retrieve for the dog, in shape/size/feel/weight/fun/learned
Perhaps??

[Clam]

I was already there with that thought after your last post...