gun dog puppy training toys
Discussion
Our springers have dummies like these:
http://www.workingdogcompany.co.uk/details.php?pro...
My wife has a wrapped a couple in pheasant wings. These are kept in the freezer between training sessions so the wings don't go manky.
http://www.workingdogcompany.co.uk/details.php?pro...
My wife has a wrapped a couple in pheasant wings. These are kept in the freezer between training sessions so the wings don't go manky.
Head to a game show and pick some up cheap (and a fun day out too, although always ends up more expensive than intended).
Don't worry about it looking life-like initially - it's more a case of getting the right weight. Then move on to adding some feathers, or using dead birds.
Saw a brilliant message on a dummy the other day: "Please don't pick me up. I'm not lost, I'm just waiting to be retrieved.". The number of times we've been stopped by someone having dropped a dummy and carried on walking so that we can send the dogs back for them!
Best of luck, and let us know how you get on with the training!
Don't worry about it looking life-like initially - it's more a case of getting the right weight. Then move on to adding some feathers, or using dead birds.
Saw a brilliant message on a dummy the other day: "Please don't pick me up. I'm not lost, I'm just waiting to be retrieved.". The number of times we've been stopped by someone having dropped a dummy and carried on walking so that we can send the dogs back for them!
Best of luck, and let us know how you get on with the training!
How old?
I have two that I work regularly and I am planning to trial my 2 and half year old this season.
To be honest you can start them on anything as long as it becomes a game and fun to pick it up. A tennis ball, we used a Polo ball as they can't chew them, a puppy dummy (that a half pound instead of a pound one) from about 12-16 weeks is a good option. I would advocate that you can't get them retrieving too early or too much, just stop when they get bored. Make it fun and carry on for as long as they want to in the first 16-20 weeks as that will plant the seeds for later on. Drop me a line if you want to? There are some great books out there too, Training a Working Spaniel is good, I can't remember the author now but she (its a lady) has trialled and has had dogs with professionals too.
Where abouts are you based? You could do a lot worse than get the dog into some classes with a good instructor too.
I have two that I work regularly and I am planning to trial my 2 and half year old this season.
To be honest you can start them on anything as long as it becomes a game and fun to pick it up. A tennis ball, we used a Polo ball as they can't chew them, a puppy dummy (that a half pound instead of a pound one) from about 12-16 weeks is a good option. I would advocate that you can't get them retrieving too early or too much, just stop when they get bored. Make it fun and carry on for as long as they want to in the first 16-20 weeks as that will plant the seeds for later on. Drop me a line if you want to? There are some great books out there too, Training a Working Spaniel is good, I can't remember the author now but she (its a lady) has trialled and has had dogs with professionals too.
Where abouts are you based? You could do a lot worse than get the dog into some classes with a good instructor too.
TimCrighton said:
I would advocate that you can't get them retrieving too early or too much, just stop when they get bored.
Depends on the nature of the dog. Our retired lab (13) was constantly thrown balls/sticks/dummies etc when she was a pup and has an element of OCD about her because of it.I've seen dogs who can't walk past a tennis ball/stick without feeling the need to pick it up and insist that you throw it and get super excited just at the thought. The training should be fun, but the dog needs to understand that it is retrieving only when you tell it to, and that you are the one who decides when it is play time. Some dogs cope better with this than others - just something to watch out for.
therealpigdog said:
Depends on the nature of the dog. Our retired lab (13) was constantly thrown balls/sticks/dummies etc when she was a pup and has an element of OCD about her because of it.
I've seen dogs who can't walk past a tennis ball/stick without feeling the need to pick it up and insist that you throw it and get super excited just at the thought. The training should be fun, but the dog needs to understand that it is retrieving only when you tell it to, and that you are the one who decides when it is play time. Some dogs cope better with this than others - just something to watch out for.
That's where the training has to develop into steadiness training as well. They need to be super excited to pick up, particularly with a Cocker where the more natural instinct is often to hunt, unlike a lab. Agree you need to gauge the dog and that is good advice, but up to 20 weeks I don't think you can implant that enthusiasm to retrieve too much with a Cocker I've seen dogs who can't walk past a tennis ball/stick without feeling the need to pick it up and insist that you throw it and get super excited just at the thought. The training should be fun, but the dog needs to understand that it is retrieving only when you tell it to, and that you are the one who decides when it is play time. Some dogs cope better with this than others - just something to watch out for.
TimCrighton said:
That's where the training has to develop into steadiness training as well. They need to be super excited to pick up, particularly with a Cocker where the more natural instinct is often to hunt, unlike a lab. Agree you need to gauge the dog and that is good advice, but up to 20 weeks I don't think you can implant that enthusiasm to retrieve too much with a Cocker
true - I've never trained spaniels, and it is pretty easy to get a lab excited about picking up!My working ESS was a bugger to get to retrieve but had amazing hunting skills. Sorted him with plastic drinking bottles and he still loves to retrieve them as a bonus to the usual game dummies etc. If you can get a rabbit or pheasant put it into a tight as a great smelly toy to retrieve.
Haha! This is generally the case! We had much more to learn than the dog when we got our first but it soon falls into place.
Fairness and Consistency are the most important things in my opinion.
Its never too early to start training on a whistle (get yourself an ACME 210.5 which is the best tone for a spaniel) and try to train as much to the whistle as possible - its a great thing to do as it means that whoever is walking or working the dog can deliver the most important commands (stop, turn, recall) and the dog doesn't need to hear a voice or learn a voice.
Do you shoot? Do you intend to work her?
Fairness and Consistency are the most important things in my opinion.
Its never too early to start training on a whistle (get yourself an ACME 210.5 which is the best tone for a spaniel) and try to train as much to the whistle as possible - its a great thing to do as it means that whoever is walking or working the dog can deliver the most important commands (stop, turn, recall) and the dog doesn't need to hear a voice or learn a voice.
Do you shoot? Do you intend to work her?
Good stuff. I would always encourage someone with a working breed to go and spend a day with a shoot to understand the role the dogs play - but with someone who already shoots its much easier.
If you like to shoot for your own dinner then I guess you'll want to train her for rough shooting which is a perfect WCS discipline. I've had mine flush and pick up everything from rabbits to pheasants, partridges to snipe.
I bought a dummy launcher for ours as well when they got to about 9-12 months as that got them used to the bangs as well.
If you like to shoot for your own dinner then I guess you'll want to train her for rough shooting which is a perfect WCS discipline. I've had mine flush and pick up everything from rabbits to pheasants, partridges to snipe.
I bought a dummy launcher for ours as well when they got to about 9-12 months as that got them used to the bangs as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYEjSKqbIQ0&sns...
Glen as a puppy retrieving canvas dummy with pheasant wings on it.
I carry small "puppy dummies" when out walking more so as their smaller to fit in my pocket.
Glen as a puppy retrieving canvas dummy with pheasant wings on it.
I carry small "puppy dummies" when out walking more so as their smaller to fit in my pocket.
One of Glen a couple of years back with a "puppy" dummy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQb8gjxyyok&sns...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQb8gjxyyok&sns...
Sexual Chocolate said:
She is 12 weeks old. Been using a ragger and now onto a dummy. She picks up really well and comes and sits in front of you.
We started training with a guy called Alan Atkinson. Really good though its not really the dog that needs training just us.
Training at 12 weeks old is great fun, she will not need much but a little every day will be great for you both. Good that you are having lessons too. Only last week we visited our trainer's trainer for a lesson (wonder if he has a trainer too!). We started training with a guy called Alan Atkinson. Really good though its not really the dog that needs training just us.
So keep learning, watch your dog as she works so you can hopefully spot her next move before she makes it.
Working dogs is so rewarding
DSC05564-2 by KennyDrew, on Flickr
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