We had an interesting walk early this morning. Not sure whether this goes in the badly behaving section or the gundog training section ;D Anyway.....of we trots along the farm track...off lead after the gate....stop for a poop..... Mid-poop small gaggle of birds swoop over the hedge we are standing at and alight in the field 10 yards or so away. Lilly takes off like a shot , birds take off but not before she grabs one in mid-air!. Seems to do a wee roll and then stands over it for a few minutes. Well....I must say I was a bit shocked! The next 10 minutes are spent with me deciding I would just carry on walking (she was initially ignoring me and I wasn't tramping over the crops to get her) and being followed at a distance by an excited Lilly. She was alternately picking the bird up in her mouth running my way, dropping the bird, tossing it around, "play-bowing" at it, and essentially playing stay away? At the end of the path at my turn-around point I decided to make an effort to get the bird off her. Well I was gobsmacked when after a few mins she actually responded to the "fetch it" command, and the allure of "breakfast" (had a handful of kibble in my pocket....as you do....) and actually dropped the bird at my feet with a "leave it" command Thought to myself I would launch it over the other side of the hedge (I had put her lead on at this point). Picked it up by the legs with a poop bag - Lilly was pretty excited and was nosing it - she gently grabbed it off me, and proceeded to walk the whole way home on lead with the dead bird in her mouth Luckily I didn't meet anyone - too early for small children round here at that time . I have never managed to get her to carry anything for more than a few meters before - just not interested! It was an interesting experience for me. I think she was quite proud of herself 8) She even dropped it without question at the front door on a leave command No idea what the bird was, but weighted at least a pound and looked like a very chubby sparrow - not sure if it could be a moorhen - I will need to examine it more closely and try and work it out. So was this bad?.....or was it actually quite good?.....hmmmm Proves that she does have some of these gun-doggy skills when it suits her ;D
Re: Some Gundog Genes.....maybe..... No idea whether it's bad or good but it sure is flippin' hilarious ;D ;D ;D Who needs a gun when your dog can pluck birds right out of the air??? ;D ;D ;D This is advanced gundoggery for sure.
Re: Some Gundog Genes.....maybe..... Well Lilly I don't really know what to say ;D at least she didn't eat it. I don't know if that's a bad thing or not :-\ You just need to explain to her that ideally the birdie should be shot first then she can pick it up ;D 2 weeks ago Hattie caught a pheasant trapped between two wire fences she plucked and spat out the feathers and ate the whole lot, to say I was mortified is an under statement :-[ 18 months ago Charlie caught a Pheasant and 'dropped' it on command and it just skuttled off totally unharmed. Definitely no gun-doggy skills here
Re: Some Gundog Genes.....maybe..... Wow, she sounds pretty quick on her feet! Carrying a large bird all that way is quite something. Maybe try with a toy and see? Something might have clicked?
Re: Some Gundog Genes.....maybe..... My friends cocker did the same.....blimey that leap would have been a sight to see!dont know enough to balance the rights and wrongs although I think the poor chubby sparrow might say that it was ALL wrong Lilly can obviously carry something when it's something she wants so I think going forward that's your next challenge .....finding something legitimate for her to carry.Bet your face was priceless .....the 'did that just happen' expression for sure!
Re: Some Gundog Genes.....maybe..... Moved on today to picking bits of deer poop out her fur : She waited until I was looking at her before she rolled....honest..... : Think I'm off to fill up the bath.......
Re: Some Gundog Genes.....maybe..... That a a whole different sort of picking up isn't it!yucksville!
Re: Some Gundog Genes.....maybe..... [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=3126.msg33216#msg33216 date=1383319002] She waited until I was looking at her before she rolled....honest..... : [/quote] Much better fun with an audience.... ;D
Re: Some Gundog Genes.....maybe..... [quote author=JulieT link=topic=3126.msg33220#msg33220 date=1383319078] [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=3126.msg33216#msg33216 date=1383319002] She waited until I was looking at her before she rolled....honest..... : [/quote] Much better fun with an audience.... ;D [/quote] Ah.....so I'm not imagining it then...... :
