my ESS is now 5 months old, he will walk on his lead perfectly, retrieve a dummy / ball whatever and willingly bring it back etc but he's not busy busy like I see most spaniels. He's dead chilled, very calm and doesn't seem as eager as I have seen other spaniels. He will look up at me but I don't feel like I am engaging with him. What should I do with him next if anything..................help or advice needed
This could either be very very good or something you need to work on. I think it's very very good though but without seeing you interact it's hard to say. Is it possible to get a video snippet? If you feel shy, do the filming yourself with a mobile so all we will see is the dog. You can upload it to photobucket and then share the link here, rather easy.
But if you can't or don't want to do the video, what do you feel is lacking? Is he walking out to the retrieves, trotting or running?
oh I'm not shy lol I'll try and video something. No his retrieve is really fast he's off like a shot but after being to a game fair today and seeing a demonstration from a professional dog trainer I think Kai (my dog) at 5 months doesn't show the engagement his 3 month old pup did
oh I'm not shy lol I'll try and video something. No his retrieve is really fast he's off like a shot but after being to a game fair today and seeing a demonstration from a professional dog trainer I think Kai (my dog) at 5 months doesn't show the engagement his 3 month old pup did
Hmm trying to figure out what it is you feel are lacking. His attention on you? Or wiggly squiggly? Or how fast he responds? Maybe you just got lucky getting a super focused business like pup listening very careful to what you say and want rather than wiggle around? Also, some dogs are later than others. My labradude always was very serious, not much for jumping around acting silly but always keen to train and work. He probably lack a gear for winning trials (or it was me most likely) but he's a reliable hard worker and we at least mostly ended up in the finals at trials so...
Do make that snippet and i'm sure you'll get some responses.
Maybe he will look "busy" if he is hunted over gamey ground ? By the sounds of it your training has been obedience based and too much of that at too early an age can take the "business" out of a pup. Be more of an extrovert yourself if you want your pup to be one.
Wullie
If at first you don't succeed .....find out if there is a booby prize !
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Don't do what doesn't work - do what does.
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In a couple of months you will be wishing you had your "chilled" dog back. Once he gets his confidence and a little bit of independence, he will come alive. At 5 months he is still finding his feet. In the meantime work on recall, you will need it once the "chilled" phase ends.
Well You were all so right Kai has found his feet. He's turning into a man I think. He is 6 months now and I was hoping for advice on when I should progress his training not wanting to rush anything like you all advised. I have maintained some discipline, walking him to heel on the lead but also allowing him puppy fun although he is a big pup and doesn't look as young as he is (he sits as high as my Husbands 2 yr old ESS). Why don't I follow my Hubby's training regime ..............???? well because he's my husband and I don't believe everything he says lol and we did inherit our older dog at 18 months with issues. Could you all please advise me on the type of things I should be doing ie, how much per day and what I should be doing.
I know everyone has their own programme but precise detail would be appreciated
You can upload it to photobucket and then share the link here, rather easy. 
