Cocker Spaniel running ahead.

[Yorkshirelass]

Hi, I thought I'd post in here as more people will see it than on the introductions board.

We have recently taken on a 3 year old working male Cocker Spaniel. He is a fabulous little dog, he's stolen my heart already
His previous owner had him from a pup but from what we can gather didn't spend much time training him, it was more a case of shove him in the kennel and get him out to go on a shoot, other than that he was left to his own devices. When he was taken on a shoot he ran way in front and wouldn't come back and as a result the owner was told (understandably) get that dog out of here or he'll get shot. I can see from the dogs point of view it was a case of I've been let out of my kennel I'm freeeeee! I don't think he even got much in the way of walks. The guy we got him off is a really nice guy, I just think he hasn't got much of a way with dogs and they both work so not a lot of free time.

Anyway, since we got him we can make him sit and stay, walk to heel off lead (although he pulls a little when on lead, but we are working on that.) In the park where there is not a lot of scent he will recall, he will retrieve tennis balls although he won't drop them, he turns his head slightly to the side but will let you take it.
He is really responsive to praise. He won't come back though if he sees another dog coming towards him, he will stay and stand his ground with it.

When we take him to the woods or to the countryside where there are pheasants he is a different dog, really excited and wants to get off and sniff. He runs off and although he does come back he does it in his own time and does go quite far ahead.

We are doing a bit of training everyday, sit, stay, fetch, find, dead. His general obedience has improved, he was good before but there were little dominant traits he had, which are now disappearing.

I don't know if he just needs time and patience or whether he is just one of those dogs that are a bit nuts, either way he has a forever home here but you can tell he wants to work, he is really happy when he is doing his training. My husband would love to take him when he goes beating or on a shoot, do you think this is achieveable? Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Nonehpets]

Have you kept his original name or given him a new one? If you have kept the original consider a new one - but wait and use it as part of an overall strategy. You really don't know how his name has been used in the past and if he has become used to it in a certain context (eg being off away and repeatedly hearing it called he has learned it is meaningless background noise).

Are you using whistle commands with him or just voice? Introducing a whistle if you don't already would help with consistency whether it is you or your husband handling.

It is possible to teach an old dog new tricks so there is no reason he cannot learn to do things differently in general. The cocker owners will I am sure come along soon with specific ideas on how they have overcome some of the things you have described.

He sounds to have landed on his feet with you.

Cathy

[Yorkshirelass]

We have kept his original name, it suits him But we are just using voice commands, the whistle is a good idea, he might respond to that. I was watching some training videos on youtube and his head was cocking when he heard the whistles on there.

Another thing I've noticed is both my husband and myself are present, if my husband gets him to retrieve something, the dog comes back to me even though I don't say anything. He tries to get as close to me as he can. If I get him to retrieve he just comes to me normally and ignores my husband. I guess this is because he has decided I'm his person or could it be he is more wary of men due to past influences? Hubby is at work all day and I am a housewife.

[Nonehpets]

This would be my thinking and approach on this aspect:

If your Husband gives a retrieve command and you accept the retrieve the dog has failed; retrieve does not mean take the item elsewhere.

You could limit retrieves to only when he is with one of you - the risk is he will avoid retrieves for your husband altogether - no good if he wants to work him.

So invent a game - train him the command "touch" (nose to hand) gets a tossed treat/piece of kibble. Once he understands that each of you take turns to ask "touch" and then throw a treat reward - before you know it he is back and forth between you without batting an eyelid. The aim is for the dog to learn it is enjoyable to go to each of you and he gets the same rewards from each of you.

Then develop into a sort of fetch game at the park a bit like "piggy in the middle" you throw an item, husband has another item so he calls the retrieve to him in return for throwing the next item which will be returned to you in exchange for another throw. You can still use "fetch" as long as it is the person receiving and not the person throwing that says it.

If he likes that game you may then be able to develop it further by playing it in the sorts of places where he would go off. I know this possibly feels like the wrong direction if you want him to work but what you are establishing is that you two are his best and funnest place to be around.

Cathy

[trekmoor]

There is nothing at all wrong with your dog. When he runs on ahead when game is around he is doing what any of my cockers would do if I let them. Your dog has never been trained to quarter to his owner. Your dog is a self taught hunter and the most successful "method" for a free-hunting dog to employ is to pull out from it's owner and from the beating line because the birds are mainly up ahead.

Train your dog to quarter, train your dog to recall to whistle and voice and above all train your dog to stop to whistle.

Wullie

[Yorkshirelass]

Some good advice, thank you. I will order a whistle and get training. I'll no doubt have more questions later. Off to read up about quartering training now.