3 year old springer new to me training advice

[Mat2803 18]

Hi all I'm getting a 3 year old bitch springer that's not wanted buy its owner.

Now I would like to use it as a flusher and retriever dog but I don't think it has had any experience in this field although I know it used to get the odd rats and baby rabbits.

Now I know the dog has not had the attention that it deserves or craves or the basic living conditions couped up in a 6x4 kennel now I've built a nice big kennel and run and she's got a 30 yd x 20 yd garden to play in and will be walked daily that she's not been getting.

I'm under no illusion that traing is going to be easy as bond and trust is going to be first on my list then the basics but I'm just wondering if u guys/girls have any advice on the above if this is not possible then as I'm already committed and she is a lovely bitch and her temperament is great she will make a lovely pet if that's all she is witch is good enough for me thanks for any advice

[Irish Lurcher 1,013]

I say fair play for taking on the dog, but me I would have got new pup, all the best with the training, as you said it wont be easy..

[ftm 3,357]

YES FAIR PLAY TO YOU MATE BUT I THINK IT CAN BE DONE I THINK IT WILL BE A TOUGH OLD ROAD YOU WILL HAVE TO WALK .BUT IF YOU BOND 1ST AND THEN TAKE THINGS VERY SLOWLY IM SURE YOU COULD ACHIEVE A CANNY LITTLE WORKING BITCH -BILLY

[eddie3 9]

theres a short piece in last weeks shooting times about just that , "saying it can be done " good luck.

[Mat2803 18]

Thanks guys like I said I'm in for the long haul and not one to give her up if she's not doing what I want so time is what I've got on my side

[spec 45]

what's she like with a tennis ball, to start with? is she keen on it/ keen to retrieve?

 

with her background with the rats I'd be wondering how softer her mouth is- does she leave any marks on the ball/show an inclination to chew it?

 

what's she like on walks, does she want to stick with you, but at the same time not worry about getting into cover? Is she busy, but close?

 

if you can give a positive answer to all of the above I'd say you're in with a better chance of getting something out of her.

 

Good luck- let us know how you get on when you've got her.

[Casso 1,261]

Hi all I'm getting a 3 year old bitch springer that's not wanted buy its owner.

Now I would like to use it as a flusher and retriever dog but I don't think it has had any experience in this field although I know it used to get the odd rats and baby rabbits.

Now I know the dog has not had the attention that it deserves or craves or the basic living conditions couped up in a 6x4 kennel now I've built a nice big kennel and run and she's got a 30 yd x 20 yd garden to play in and will be walked daily that she's not been getting.

I'm under no illusion that traing is going to be easy as bond and trust is going to be first on my list then the basics but I'm just wondering if u guys/girls have any advice on the above if this is not possible then as I'm already committed and she is a lovely bitch and her temperament is great she will make a lovely pet if that's all she is witch is good enough for me thanks for any advice

dont worry about the training for a while bud, the first thing a dog needs is to feel safe ,that's number one,you can build from there,if an animal feels nervous or vulnerable in its surroundings its untrainable because its functioning on its instincts which are fear based,

 

i wouldn't make a huge fuss of it either its just adding energy to a system which already has shaky foundations,

 

food is the way to build trust, have the bitch coming into your space to feed , hand feed her if you can, its a lot easier with dry, hand feed her while out on walks , no corrections for jumping up, manage her rather than discipline her, no corrections for mouthing you

 

teach her to bark on command for a treat if your able, its a great way of relieving stress in a dog, fear biters can to cured if you teach them to bark instead of acting on their fear,

 

study and watch her and learn from her actions hows she feeling inside, dont let her get too stressed out in new situations with you until both of you develop an understanding ,

 

remember her first owner is her template for humans, which ever way he was with her is how she feels its going to be with with you, so what im saying dont blame yourself if things arent going well at the start, you've a lot of ground work to catch up with,

 

and after a while create a desire in her for a ball or some item that applies to her prey drive , if you control her drive you will capture her heart, best of luck with her

[Mat2803 18]

Hi iv had lottie now for 2 weeks and she seams to of settled in really well she cryed a bit at night but that stopped after 3 or 4 days she's eating really well she is a very loving bitch and follows me every where I go I'm mean every where. At first she would not play fetch but now she loves it her mouth is really soft i had a piegon the other day and placed it in our garden showed her the piegon and told her to fetch surprisingly she picked it up and followed me with it un till i took it out of her mouth no markes she really has a soft mouth she loves her walks and is good on and off the lead responding to my whistle and not to calling her back by name she runns the bushes and bramble how well I don't no but she lifted a phesent in the local country park and spotted a rabbit did not chase the rabbit but tracked it back to its warren I think she knows she's not fast enough to catch it this is all off here own back the only thing iv don with her is show here love walked her fed her and treated her when she's don good apart from the pigeon I'm really pleased with her and in a few weeks I'm gonna start to do sum light training one thing iv noticed is she really loves to jump up me it seams to be an attenchen think