springer

[ferret_uk 4]

just wondering if any one can help me out. I have ran lurchers for many years but my mam and dad r moving home and gave me there springer bitch she is 19 month old and never seen a days work as she was kept for a pet. Now i have her i would like 2 get her working with my lurchers doing abit of flushing and on the whistle but honestly dont know were 2 start all info would b great thanks ferret_uk

[rickyspringer 15]

Should be easy to get the dog working with the lurchers, what you want the dog to do should come natural, obedience is the key and take everything step from step form there. 19 months is a good age also, still trianble if its not compltely unruly.

 

One to One work will be the key in the early days of training.

 

As for getting the dog on the whistle, ie for recall i will blow a number of times, very quick. to introduce this call the dog by name whistle and give the dog its food... keep building on this as the dog gets better at recalling...then whistle out of the blue when the dog comes loads of fuss... THE MAIN THING IS, when using the whistle on recall don't over use it, by being whistle happy, voice is okay at times also, don't set the dog up to fail, for example if the dog is off on a scent or running away don't blow the whistle in the early days of training, the dog will learn to ignore it if its not fully 100% on it.

 

The main thing for spaniel work is the dog must have brakes, ie the stop whistle, i introduced this whilst dog was on the lead, walk one pip of the whistle you want the dog to be sitting instantly, if the dog cottons on to the game, test the dog at heel whilst off the lead, then keeping building this up.... very close distances and slowly further and further away, you want to progress to distractions. If the dog doesn't stop at a distance, chase after it and return the dog to where you blew the whistle.The dog should cotton on.

 

And last but no means least for bushing i think any working spaniel should be able to do this, encourage the dog to search the bush or hedgerow "G" the dog up little encouraging words and so on, even direct the dog, as soon as the dog is on a scent breeding should come to the fore and the dog will naturally give the area a could hunting better still if there is game in there.

 

Hope I have been of some good help and I have made some sense, enjoy the dog and I hope the dog does what you want of it, good luck.

 

PS remember basic obedience is the platform you want to work off, and don't worry about the bitch being a pet for 19months, I know welshboy got his dog at 3, he was a pet and the dog is working well for him... Hopefully he will put his 2 pennies worth in. aswell as some others.

[ferret_uk 4]

thanks a lot for that mate

[poacher3161 1,766]

I presume the dog has not heard the whistle maybe a good idea to give it a few pips [bANNED TEXT] feeding it and [bANNED TEXT] its comeing back with the other dogs.

[welshboy454 3]

just wondering if any one can help me out. I have ran lurchers for many years but my mam and dad r moving home and gave me there springer bitch she is 19 month old and never seen a days work as she was kept for a pet. Now i have her i would like 2 get her working with my lurchers doing abit of flushing and on the whistle but honestly dont know were 2 start all info would b great thanks ferret_uk

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