I want to look into the gun dog training with Amy...Where do I start? Will it help her with her basic training and behaviour too, as she seems to be finding herself in trouble more often. So I need to keep her busy. It will just be me doing it as I cant afford to take her to a trainer or anything. She just needs her mind kept busy i think.
Re: Where to start? Apart from the wealth of info on the main site the graded books from the Gundog Club are great! http://www.thegundogclub.co.uk/?page_id=315 There's loads of other info about gundog training on the gundog site too.....have a good read and shout when you have a question ;D oh and welcome to the strange world of retrieving 8)
Re: Where to start? [quote author=jade805 link=topic=2753.msg28120#msg28120 date=1380556556] Will it help her with her basic training and behaviour too, as she seems to be finding herself in trouble more often. So I need to keep her busy. [/quote] Well, we are only a month or so in, and not even at the end of book one (although we've done bits from book two). I'd say it's helped us hugely already in lots of practical "pet life" ways. Sit and stay exercises - getting better at these helps all the time with practical things. In the kitchen (sit instead of raiding the dishwasher), answering the door (sit instead of mugging the postman), getting out of the car... Steadiness training - again, helps all day and everyday. Sit instead of jumping up, or running over to another dog, or whatever trouble Charlie has in mind. Sit and then fetch - improved the stop whistle and control at a distance no end (Charlie will do anything for a dummy throw) which helps as above. Increasing his focus on retrieving means if I have a dummy in my hand, I can control him better than if I had a whole roast chicken (I'm not sure dummies are supposed to be used as control mechanisms, but whatever gets me through the day with a teenager...). I know I sound like a born again gundog trainee - I do feel like it too - but it is just the best thing, I think.
Re: Where to start? [quote author=editor link=topic=2753.msg28136#msg28136 date=1380563848] I bet Charlie thinks so too. [/quote] ;D Although - one of us is putting in a lot of time, energy and thought; and the other is getting chicken for sitting down on his backside and running round enjoying himself. Nope, I'm definitely the one being trained here! ;D
Re: Where to start? [quote author=jade805 link=topic=2753.msg28120#msg28120 date=1380556556] It will just be me doing it [/quote] Jade, you could try a class, which are a lot cheaper than 121 sessions. We're hoping to be allowed into a class soon (there are puppy gundog classes if you can find them) - recall and general control has to be judged good enough first though, and I'm doubtful that Charlie's concentration around other dogs is good enough yet, but we'll see (find out tomorrow).
Re: Where to start? I agree with Julie that a training class is a good way to go, and LOTS of fun, if you can find a good one! Welcome to the 'Gundog Training Beginners' Club'!!!
Re: Where to start? Jade,good luck.....don't forget I'm doing a little bit and I'm on my own through no choice of my own,there's no classes except basic obedience here!...I'm using Pippas articles,The Gundog Club,grade one,Beginner retriever ( which to be honest was lost until last weekend :-[ but I cleared a wardrobe and found it.....although I've discovered we've made a reasonable dent in the basics.....when I get stuck here is where I come ;D........ Chris is responding to his own training too now,he has continued to foster the idea of his faithful Labrador walking along to heel ,gazing ado ringingly at him and responding to his every word.......he has come to realise that Dexter on a walk,given no instruction and allowed to just do his own thing becomes a very different dog to that picture........of course me banging on about this for the last 7 months had no effect at all!hes had to come to it in his own time...ho hum!Now I've shown Chris what I do ( we don't walk together apart from total off lead desert walks at the weekend,there is marital war otherwise!sad but true ;D)he is practicising some obedience excercises along the walk and finding Dexters focus and recall is a lot better,it does make a difference and will as you say keep Amy occupied.dont get me wrong Jade,Dexter is and always will be a pet( I'd have done Gundog work and agility with him in the UK for sure though)here it is all about keeping him interested and occupied during his excercise,if we don't get it quite right we just keep practicing x
