Its not the dogs fault!

[stroller 341]

Ive had a problem this season in that my little kelpie x has stopped retrieving, which for a bit of a cripple like me is a nuisance. But on thinking about it it was fairly obvious why.

 

Maggie

 

My missus started a dog day care/boarding service which she runs from home and its been a success right from the word go and we regularly have 10 or twelve dogs a day and we have converted part of our house which is a fair size in a little village surrounded by fields with loads of right of way. So every thing was hunky dorry my dogs as well as the customers dogs were getting loads of exercise and maggie my little dog was in mint condition.

 

The problem started i beleive with the rabbit population around here exploding and maggie was only too happy to hunt them and caught fairly regularly. Now she isnt the best tempered bitch and only really tolerates my sons dog who she grew up with near her catch, (ask anyone who has been out with me what an evil cow she can be).

 

Jet and her playing

 

So the scenario is maggie catches rabbits when out with relatively starnge dogs so isnt eager to bring in to my missus who isnt that keen on picking up dead rabbits to start with, but who knows i would like the meat for the ferrets. So she goes and takes the rabbit off a maggie who is fiercely protecting her kill from all comers. Missus picks up rabbits to stop any fights happening and takes the rabbits home and everyone is happy. EXCEPT what has happened is that maggie has clicked on that she doesnt need to retrieve cos someone will pick up the rabbit for her and still tell her she is a good girl. and off she goes and catches another one and the process is repeated.

 

What has reinforced this behaviour has been my son taking rabbits from her when she kills as his own dog doesnt retrieve and so he is quick off the mark through habit of picking the rabbits up from the dog.

 

Jet mostly saluki might not retrieve but hard to beat ferreting or as a catch dog

 

How to solve it has been fairly easy but its a long road, she wouldnt pick up a rabbit skin dummy so i got her playing down the narrow path at the side of the house with a tennis ball bouncing it and getting her excited she quickly starts bringing it in and we have a laugh and a lot of praise and if she hesitates with 1 ball i bounce another one into the game and just when i think she is at the height of her excitement i threw in the rabbit skin dummy and she did a perfect retrieve.

 

Now its still a long way to her retrieving back in the field but its a start.Ive learned the following lessons

 

1. Keep training your dog during the off season even 5 or 10 nmins a day will do

 

2.just like a gun dog too much freedom off lead can lead to problems

 

3. dont be lazy in keeping a good relationship with your dog.

 

At the end of the day she marks really well and hunts like a demon it would be a waste to let her keep not retrieving

 

I hope my mistakes can help someone out there.

[wi11ow 2,657]

we never stop learning thanks

[birddog 1,354]

every day is a school day, i'm sure it'll come good, she looks a cracker

[Moll. 1,770]

Definitely some food for thought there, i must polish up my lots retrieving soon.

I know other people who use narrow side paths for retrieving and jumping with good effect

[lurcherman01 16]

now this is what this forum should be like,cracking write up...

[Flick75 32]

Really interesting thread....some good points raised.

 

 

 

 

Edit: nice photos too.

Edited February 19, 2012 by Flick75

[Casso 1,261]

thats an interesting write up, with great pics,

with a few dogs out it become more difficult to obtain behavior we all wish to see in the dogs, because once the energy has gone from the rabbit ie dead rabbit, it becomes a prize to be guarded,

its a harder behavior to break in the day because at night with a single dog you can make the retrieve a must do if the dogs wishes to keep hunting, in a case where the mutt wont retrieve and has dropped short and came back without the bunny, i make him retrieve for us to keep lamping which is what he want anyway, it can take 5 , 10 ,20mins( easier if your out on your tod,) but i would make him do it, and do it every single time, you might have to sacrifice time and bunnys, but the mutt will learn if he want to continue he must fulfill his side of the bargain, best of luck with it stroller,

[Westy76 546]

Good post

[sowhat 1,572]

Interesting write up, and some good pics too

Nice looking dogs pal,

Edited February 19, 2012 by sowhat

[birddog 1,354]

i think it's best to remember that all dogs are a wee bit different and we have to adapt our methods to suit the individual. i have one that retrieves anything anywhere, even at times i think she poses when she has an audience, my other one is great local and at home but in company you'd think she'd never had any training. but great post to keep the grey cells working

[KittleRox 2,147]

aye good wee read and pics, atb

[johnrthrfrd 223]

Ive had a problem this season in that my little kelpie x has stopped retrieving, which for a bit of a cripple like me is a nuisance. But on thinking about it it was fairly obvious why.

 

Maggie

 

My missus started a dog day care/boarding service which she runs from home and its been a success right from the word go and we regularly have 10 or twelve dogs a day and we have converted part of our house which is a fair size in a little village surrounded by fields with loads of right of way. So every thing was hunky dorry my dogs as well as the customers dogs were getting loads of exercise and maggie my little dog was in mint condition.

 

 

The problem started i beleive with the rabbit population around here exploding and maggie was only too happy to hunt them and caught fairly regularly. Now she isnt the best tempered bitch and only really tolerates my sons dog who she grew up with near her catch, (ask anyone who has been out with me what an evil cow she can be).

 

Jet and her playing

 

So the scenario is maggie catches rabbits when out with relatively starnge dogs so isnt eager to bring in to my missus who isnt that keen on picking up dead rabbits to start with, but who knows i would like the meat for the ferrets. So she goes and takes the rabbit off a maggie who is fiercely protecting her kill from all comers. Missus picks up rabbits to stop any fights happening and takes the rabbits home and everyone is happy. EXCEPT what has happened is that maggie has clicked on that she doesnt need to retrieve cos someone will pick up the rabbit for her and still tell her she is a good girl. and off she goes and catches another one and the process is repeated.

 

What has reinforced this behaviour has been my son taking rabbits from her when she kills as his own dog doesnt retrieve and so he is quick off the mark through habit of picking the rabbits up from the dog.

 

Jet mostly saluki might not retrieve but hard to beat ferreting or as a catch dog

 

How to solve it has been fairly easy but its a long road, she wouldnt pick up a rabbit skin dummy so i got her playing down the narrow path at the side of the house with a tennis ball bouncing it and getting her excited she quickly starts bringing it in and we have a laugh and a lot of praise and if she hesitates with 1 ball i bounce another one into the game and just when i think she is at the height of her excitement i threw in the rabbit skin dummy and she did a perfect retrieve.

 

Now its still a long way to her retrieving back in the field but its a start.Ive learned the following lessons

 

1. Keep training your dog during the off season even 5 or 10 nmins a day will do

 

2.just like a gun dog too much freedom off lead can lead to problems

 

3. dont be lazy in keeping a good relationship with your dog.

 

At the end of the day she marks really well and hunts like a demon it would be a waste to let her keep not retrieving

 

I hope my mistakes can help someone out there.

Nice read Keith and I can vouch for the evil cow bit don't think magpie and meg( my dog) will ever get on and the best thing between them is about 2 fields.

Atb Keith.

John.

[trigger2 3,144]

she sounds like a very intelligent bitch and personally i dont think it will be long before she is back retrieving. interesting read aswell.

[weasle 1,119]

The very reason i always cringe when i see pictures of packs of lurchers.

[blan89 159]

funnily enough my lurchers retrieve was shit until i got my terrier,he wants to get the rabbit to me before the terrier takes it off him.