Gundog Training Forum

Hi All,

A bit random but I was mulling over some weaknesses I have with my dog, and it got me thinking what would I have done differently?

Admittedly I only got into this gundog stuff when he was 4 however there are major things which I suppose I am struggling to undo, some gundog related and some just plain dog related....

Socialising
My dog ignores every dog and person we ever see when out on a walk, he is in work mode however sit him in a pub etc with me and you have to pretty much chain him to the floor, one thing I never did with him, bring him places and teach him an of button!

Look at me, always!
Bring primarily a pet and mountain companion, I trained for and promoted what you would all call stickiness, chasing a hare of the edge of crag would be no good! Its been tough to now switch to independant dog, even in the presence of game I would consider him sticky! Probably a blessing in disguise for me as I doubt I could control a fire breather!

Having children!
OK well I dont regret the children however making sure the kids dont throw things got the dog has been a failure, however after a recent incident involving my son throwing a teddy over a 6ft panel fence in the garden and my dog clearing it and getting stuck has shown me that firstly - a 4 year old kid never listens and secondly - a spaniel can go bloody anywhere!

Running in
My dog was allowed to run in without any brakes for 4 years, although he is steady now to balls dummies and game for me (see above for what he's like with the kids!) I can't help get the feeling that he will always be on a fine line between running in and being steady, so by all definitions I would say he isn't steady even though he performs this behaviour for me?

What would you all say is your biggest regret when it comes to gundog training, any major mistakes us newbes can learn from!?

RM

What a great post. Look forward to the replies to this. I wont be joining in though because the list would be too long

I regret never having trialed a spaniel while still able to do so.

Wullie

Following advice to have a quiet, steady dog by severely limiting marked retrieves for the priority of memories and blinds. Found it can kill desire and hurt focus, marking and hunting determination. Much later, had to rebuild the dog after maturity, exactly like a beginning pup.

And now, the dog is clear;
And so I line up the final hurdle.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.

I've trained a dog that's dull.
I've tried for each and every other way;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I've had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried.
I've had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
"Oh no, oh no not me,
I did it my way".

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not his dog, then he has not.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

Yes, it was my way.

Well that pretty much sums it up for all of us! My biggest regret? Not starting out with a simple Labrador instead of Flatcoats! Well, maybe not, that was never going to happen. Seriously, my biggest regret was not Trialling my first F/c who was quiet, soft mouthed, never on lead on shoots, I stupidly assumed dogs had to be perfect to Trial, how naive was that?

In all seriousness. My biggest regret with the early ones was not hunting them as soon as possible and often.

In the same vein as you RM, my regret is simple: not starting sooner.

It absolutely twists my stomach when people say how natural Hattie is at her job ... Why did I not take the breeder's advice and just give it a go when she was younger?

Still, the journey has been fab and you learn so much from your own mistakes. As long as each subsequent dog gets a little better than the previous, I will be happy

pushing the dog on too early when it was young, being eager to have a dog that could be shot over, before the dog was polished in the early stages, ultimately cost me from being able to run her in trials.
hopefully not make the same mistake with the pup i have just now

scot-ish wrote:pushing the dog on too early when it was young, being eager to have a dog that could be shot over, before the dog was polished in the early stages, ultimately cost me from being able to run her in trials.
hopefully not make the same mistake with the pup i have just now

Guilty of that with one of mine, put too much pressure on too early and made her squeaky.