GraemeGSP
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Dummy work questionHi folks,
Sorry if this question has been posted before but I'm new here and I can't find a relevant answer using the search function so, here goes...
My 12 month old GSP just wont pay any attention to the dummies if I try to train him on ground where there is the scent of game. He just wont pay attention to them.
The most he will do is run up to the dummy but then he just sniffs around it and goes off at a tangent.
This morning I was training in an old land full site near my home and there are only 2 or 3 pheasants in residence there... he got the scent of one (I actually saw it run into the brambles but he didn't). Once he'd got a wiff of it, there was just not working with him. He would recall, sit and stop to the whistle but just would not show any interest in the dummies...
How can I progress his retreiving skills onto game scented ground? Is it just a matter of try, try and try again?
I lost patience today and just stromed off home, not even looking at him. Its a 10 minute walk and he just skullked at heel the whole way.
The good thing about that was that I didn't have to remind him to stay at heel when I passed another two dogs (dogs that he would usually attempt to play with given half the chance)
Any help would be greatly received...
Cheers,
Graeme...
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BritAnnie
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I don't have much success in many areas but I had a little in this one. I had the same problem with Allez and I started using skin and feather covered dummies where there was the remotest chance of game. I also took my big dog in the car with me and if he didn't pick it up I threatened to let her have it - even going so far as taking her out of the car once. Seems cruel to Hester but she got a retrieve of her own at the end, and it seemed to get Al started off.
BA
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BenB
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Why do you need your dog to retrieve dummies?
Has he retrieved any game?
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Greyghost
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My rescue didn't have a clue about retrieving when I got her. She wouldn't so much as look at a dummy. I covered it with rabbit fur and ran round the field like an idiot, making a right racket, making out like I was THE MOST exciting thing in the area.
When they let me home and I got out of my straight jacket...............hehe
I don't often take the dummy out with me but today was a lovely day and I decided to have a go. No more rabbit fur on, I got her attention and threw it. There was only one time she didn't look very interested and so I ran in with her. Other than that we had loads of beautiful retrieves today with a lovely sit and present every time.
So it can be done and my girl can sniff for England.
Do you use treats? Will she work for higher treats??
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windem bang
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Hi Graeme, what you describe is pretty common  It sounds like you have a sensible dog on your hands ! 
A few questions:- Does he ALWAYS pick dummies in non gamey areas ?
Have you kept retrieving fun ?
Have you kept retrieving interesting ?
How keen a retriever is he in non gamey areas ?
You may have to go the rabbit skin dummy route but for the time being I would avoid it if possible. If he is keen enough on plain canvas dummies normally I would stick to them only using a very occasional rabbit skin or feathered one just to give him the "feel."
Bill T.
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BenB
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You can't eat dummies so there is no point in shooting them = ergo there is no point in training the dog to retrieve them. 
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josie
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....except when you need to practise directions, blinds, retrieves over obstacles and any other sort of retrieve training, obtaining enough dead birds out of season can be tricky...
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BenB
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ignore me - i was attempting humour.
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Roy
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tell that to all the clubs, societies, and trainers up and down the country trying to help us with our hobby. we dont all shoot. 
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Greyghost
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| BenB wrote: | | You can't eat dummies so there is no point in shooting them = ergo there is no point in training the dog to retrieve them. |
But you do need to get them to retrieve dummies in tests and if you enter fun day scurries 
[Sorry took a phone call. Kind of missed the momentum] 
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BenB
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Please reread my last post.
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Roy
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apologies,message sent before your last post, no grumbles intended
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Greyghost
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| BenB wrote: | | Please reread my last post. |
Please read my explantation on the end......
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Greyghost
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| Greyghost wrote: | | BenB wrote: | | Please reread my last post. |
Please read my explantation on the end...... |
Yikes the phone went again. I'm going for a cuppa
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BenB
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Greyghost
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Thank goodness you didn't spit the dummy out Ben
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BenB
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oh gawd - here we go again....
it was just a dokken gesture
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Roy
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im off to shoot that bloody dummy,
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Helen
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You lot are bonkers lol. Ben, dummies taste quite nice actually
Would be interested to hear the answers to Bill's questions - in particular, does he retrieve away from non gamey areas?
Helen
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windem bang
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Never took to dummies myself but did just fine on the real thing ! 
Bill T.
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GraemeGSP
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| Greyghost wrote: | | Do you use treats? Will she work for higher treats?? |
Yes, I use treats... cooked liver or lambs heart. I'm cutting down the use of these though. He wont take a treat if he is too excited about something (rabbit or squirrel for instance)
| windem bang wrote: | Hi Graeme, what you describe is pretty common It sounds like you have a sensible dog on your hands !
A few questions:- Does he ALWAYS pick dummies in non gamey areas ?
Have you kept retrieving fun ?
Have you kept retrieving interesting ?
How keen a retriever is he in non gamey areas ?
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When away from gamey areas he always picks them up (quite often by the string)
I've only been doing retrieving work for about the past 3-4 weeks... no more than 10 minutes at a time. If he looks bored or disinterested I make a game of it, rough housing and allowing him to chase me with a dummy and stuff (I tried that this morning too).
He is not a terribly keen retriever. He can run round me at times or run in the wrong direction and throw the dummy up in the air and jump 6 feet to catch it again a quick "ATT ATT" usually stops that and he comes running. He is coming on though and runs to the dummies with gusto.
I tried again this afternoon in the same spot and he was fine. No scent of a recent pheasant to put him off (plus the effect of the huff I was in this morning . when I got home i went straight out into the garden and fed the ferrets before I fed him. He hates that).
I have used a rabbit skin tied to a dummy but I've been using this as a "treat" retrieve so far. I only have one skin left and I've cut it in half so it lasts longer.
Thanks for the replies folks
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cressy
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This is something I can relate to .
Chase (13 mths) is now very keen to retrieve but in more gamey areas I am doing fast seen lobs of dummy and not expecting control. If he sits waiting you can see the nose switch on  .
So control is practised away from game and I will slowly add in control in a more distracting environment while ensuring he stays keen.
For a short time I thought he was going to blank the dummy so I would go with him, smear sausage on the dummy and then let him carry it. It may not be a scientific approach but it got him happier to pick it up in distracting areas.
I now rarely treat him but I do sit on the ground and cuddle him .
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Helen S
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I think you're on the right lines Roy, ie. if he refuses a retrieve in a gamey area he doesn't get to hunt there either, just put him on the lead and straight home. I took to expecting a good but easy retrieve before releasing my bitch to hunt, if the retrieve was sloppy or needed me to prompt her she had to do another until it was done right. Sometimes I had to growl at her if she blanked the dummy but she soon got the message. If she really blanked/refused then I just took her home on the lead - no free running.
You have reminded me that I need to do this at the shoot now where we are currently training
Helen S
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windem bang
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I agree with Helen S insist on at least one decent retrieve before she is allowed to hunt . I would take this a stage further and insist on another retrieve after 5 minutes or so of hunting. The hunting would be rewards for the retrieves.
You're not far from me (Livingston) give me a shout if you want a little help. Meanwhile do you know there are gundog training classes for your breed near Doune ??? That's not too far from you either. There is a class this Sunday. Meeting 9.30 -9 .45 a.m. finish usually between 2 .30 - 4p.m. You would be very welcome to come . Again , give me a shout if your interested.
Bill T.
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GraemeGSP
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Thanks for all the replies folks... Very informative. I'm very happy that I've not been scolded for doing the completely wrong thing
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BritAnnie
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| Quote: | | There is a class this Sunday |
When is the first one after I move, Bill - probably SKC day - 18th May? In which case will there be one in June around 15th or 22nd?
BA
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windem bang
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Hi Annie, the one in May is on Sunday 11th MAY. Meeting place is near Doune. 9 .30 ish !
Don't think I'll be there - I'm off spanielling !
Bill T.
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Greyghost
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| GraemeGSP wrote: | | Thanks for all the replies folks... Very informative. I'm very happy that I've not been scolded for doing the completely wrong thing |
Oh you sound dissapointed. Ok, lets turn him over and give him a good spanking guys. I'm sure he wants it really 
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windem bang
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OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH  Can I get one too please 
Bill T.
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Greyghost
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| windem bang wrote: | OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH Can I get one too please
Bill T. |
Join the queue Bill 
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