Re: Why is this so difficult? Yes, thanks Angela and Karen. I had decided last year after the scare with Caddie to have Alice spayed at the first opportunity, she is now at the best possible time to have it done. It's key hole surgery and I am sure she will be back to her normal self within days.
Re: Why is this so difficult? Ah I'm sure too,it sounds a much less invasive way to do it , Best wishes x
Re: Why is this so difficult? Thanks for the reply Heidrun, I have slowly been coming to this realisation myself! I'm lucky in that I live near lots of beaches, so Brods can run safely and well behavedly there, he is a really good lad in these situations. he is also now so into his ball he does a lot of ball chasing in the park (ignoring squirrels, result!) Other than that, we are now sticking to non pheasanty areas (they move about but the local lab and spaniel owners share Pheasant position intelligence!) and I know him so well now I can tell if he is even beginning to go from snuffly scampery to hang on whats that smell-y (precursor to hunt) and call him in and he is heavily managed.... Sometimes I miss it (hence recent lying down in mud). I like the framework of controlled hunting, we have made some steps along the way with that, but I do know I need to work on his whistle commands. A Lot....Have just bought the Grade One GunDog book for him as an early birthday present with a view to working through the grades with him and learning about directional control, I sometimes worry that I have left this too late, but Murphy came to you a committed self hunter didnt he? Helen sorry to move in on your thread but Charlie and Brods are very similar...!
Re: Why is this so difficult? [quote author=debsie link=topic=4349.msg52831#msg52831 date=1391779409] I know him so well now I can tell if he is even beginning to go from snuffly scampery to hang on whats that smell-y (precursor to hunt) and call him in and he is heavily managed. [/quote] There was an HPR in our training session the other day and he was on high alert about 500 yards from where we were going training so he didn't get to hunt at all not even on his long line. We had to find another spot for him later on. It's so good you can read Brods so well and you've got some safer places for him to let off steam
Re: Why is this so difficult? [quote author=bbrown link=topic=4349.msg52833#msg52833 date=1391780075] [quote author=debsie link=topic=4349.msg52831#msg52831 date=1391779409] I know him so well now I can tell if he is even beginning to go from snuffly scampery to hang on whats that smell-y (precursor to hunt) and call him in and he is heavily managed. [/quote] There was an HPR in our training session the other day and he was on high alert about 500 yards from where we were going training so he didn't get to hunt at all not even on his long line. We had to find another spot for him later on. It's so good you can read Brods so well and you've got some safer places for him to let off steam [/quote] It's shame we just don't have anywhere else to walk Charlie as we live in the heart of the countryside so just no other way All well and good in a controlled training session to be able to move somewhere else, I wonder would that dog would have done so well in an uncontrolled situation ??? Well done Debsie, on how far you have come with Brodick. Again no beaches near us, maybe we will have to move
Re: Why is this so difficult? [quote author=editor link=topic=4349.msg52679#msg52679 date=1391699930] The main value of retrieving for Charlie, if he can be encouraged to do it, is that it is a way, perhaps the only way, of enabling a dog that needs to run and run, the opportunity to do so under controlled conditions. A dog on a retrieve is running hard, in both directions. He is also under control. Not hunting, not looking for trouble He is also focused on the handler, because the handler is controlling/providing the retrieves. So whilst there is no virtue in teaching a dog with low, or even no desire, to retrieve, to do so, just to please the owner. It is a way of facilitating 'controlled exercise' In Charlie's case, it appears that he does have retrieving instinct, but that this instinct is overpowered by hunting drive, in situations where he expects or desires, to be able to hunt. This is very common in hunting dogs, and can often be overcome with judicious management. Whether or not it can be overcome in Helens case, remains to be seen. But it is an option for Helen to consider. Thank YOU Pippa x [/quote]
Re: Why is this so difficult? hi Helen, the squirrels losing out to his ball in the park is our big recent triumph, but he is still like Charlie if he gets a wiff of wildlife...I'll keep you posted on our whistle mangement developments. Its hard not having less challenging areas to walk, Im looking to move house in the next year or so and I am actively looking near beaches!
Re: Why is this so difficult? Would love to hear how you get on Debsie. Charlie is doing pretty well with his recall and his stop is not too shabby now stopping for a ball retrieve instead of food so hoping that's a plus. If you move near the beach I will be very jealous Good luck x
Re: Why is this so difficult? Helen........I recently brought Harley a glow ball as we sometimes go out when it's starting to get a bit dark. It lights up red on impact or with a slight touch. Prior to this she would maybe do one or two retrieves max. Now, she constantly wants to retrieve with this new ball. It cost £3 in pets at home. Just thought it would be worth a try?? (Obviously after you have sorted out your flooding )
Re: Why is this so difficult? Hi Helen. I'm going to make a suggestion which might be frowned upon but which works for Scott my lazy monster and gets scout revved up. Puppy in the middle aka piggy in the middle but with a pup not a pig. We play at the weekend when the OH decides to come out and involve himself. It's fun for all. Dog races to and fro being allowed to get/retrieve the ball every few passes. Not being the best catch in the world my dogs get to retrieve the ball regularly. : Your kids could get involved aswell. No retrieving rules just fun with a ball or whatever you choose. I taught the none retrieving dogs in the family, mixture of all sorts to retrieve playing this as well. If I thought the ball might not come back I'd have two. If they absconded with the first ball we'd carry on playing without the puppy in the middle. It wouldn't take long for the excitement to get the better of them. Lots of whoops and whey hays of encouragement obviously. Like I said it might be frowned upon as it might cause formal retrieving issues I don't know. All I know is we have fun and as my dogs are never going to be tested at formal retrieve I'll take my chance. Charlie might find it fun too and the whole family could join in. ;D Jen
Re: Why is this so difficult? Hi Ternaya, that is a brilliant idea I am going to get one of those this evening. Thank you Hi Jen, also a great idea, but it will have to wait until the rain stops as you have no idea how difficult it is to tempt teenage boys out on a dog walk and in the RAIN : I think it would be ok to do this unless the experienced amongst us would disagree :-\ Thank you both for thinking up ideas for us, much appreciated xx
