Gundog Training Forum

Hi

What is meant by the term "soft dog"? How would this affect training?

Thanks

usually refers to temperament, a soft dog can sometimes shut down if put under pressure, or reprimanded even verbally. Training can last longer but in the right hands the dog although taking longer to train, can be a dream to handle.

I agree. A lot also depends on the handler. Some handlers are really suited to soft natured dogs & can really bring the best out in them very quickly. In the hands of a hard trainer who doesn't adjust their methods to suit the dog's temperament problems can quickly develop.

Naj

I'm not a hard trainer, the hardest I am on him is a firm NO. Think he takes advantage of that sometimes

Give him plenty of praise while training. I'm new to training a gundog so this is the only way I know and seems to be suiting us both, had him 7wks now.

Sean

Rooney85 wrote:I'm not a hard trainer, the hardest I am on him is a firm NO. Think he takes advantage of that sometimes

Give it a little longer for you and Forrest to be confident in each other Sean and then if you still feel he is taking advantage of your firm No add a growly tone to your voice.

Dicey sends up a think bubble sometimes when told to stay close which reads"yeah yeah whatever you want" as he goes skipping (he thinks) out of range ... "Dicey Here!" spoken with a growl brings him straight to where he was supposed to be. Don't over use it; judicious growling just underlines that 'firm' has your boundaries and not the pups.

As you say lots of praise perfectly timed for all the good stuff he does; never praise if his performance was questionable; and keep those boundaries when he pushes against them. Most of all enjoy getting to know him.

Cathy

I have a soft dog and for me it is very challenging. I have always had stubborn hard headed dogs and I guess they are more forgiving. My cocker is the hardest going dog I've ever seen, but mentally he's a cotton ball. He shuts down very quickly if there is too much pressure so I have had to change my training methods a lot to accommodate his temperament. I try to use the least amount of pressure and when he starts shutting down a bit of praise can go a long way. Now that I'm getting the hang of it I think a soft natured, hard going dog is probably what the majority of trial winners are. Once you figure them out they are a dream to train because it doesn't take much to let them know when they've messed up. The biggest thing is if he starts shutting down and you can't get what you want out of him, give him something simple he can do (even if its just a "sit"), praise for doing it and then call it a day. When my guy has had too much I'll give him a couple fun retrieves where I even let him run in, just to balance him back out mentally.

Billy is a soft dog (WCS) verging on the neurotic - he will not eat his food if I am not there, but he is a super gundog and very obedient. I have only ever trained soft dogs among the very few dogs I have trained atall . My new pup Woden (WCS) is 10weeks old and is not soft by any stretch, infact he makes the Kray twins look positively sweet! News to follow.

That's good to hear they can still be great gundogs. Forrest doesn't seem to eat his food unless someone's there or he's on his own and starving.

He's getting more confident and bold with other dogs / groups of dogs and having selective hearing when calling him back

bodgy wrote: My new pup Woden (WCS) is 10weeks old and is not soft by any stretch, infact he makes the Kray twins look positively sweet! News to follow.

What a fabulous analogy ... getting comfy for a saga!

Cathy

Rooney85 wrote:That's good to hear they can still be great gundogs. Forrest doesn't seem to eat his food unless someone's there or he's on his own and starving.

He's getting more confident and bold with other dogs / groups of dogs and having selective hearing when calling him back

Sounds like my lab pup. She's very soft, all I have to do is put a stern tone of voice on and she comes running back with ears back, acting all submissive. Had one occasion where I had to chase after her when she ignored recall, and when I caught up, she must have read the body language, and pretty much flattened herself against the floor. She really is a kid gloves dog, and a total contrast to the springer who is very, very hard. You grumble at him, he will grumble back and backchat. It's like dealing with a teenager.