Training my Lurcher

[maltoid 0]

Hi all

 

It seems I started off on the wrong foot and would like to put it right, I asked for my other thread to be deleted as it seems I may have upset some of you.

 

I am new to Lurchers I have a Whippet that I use for ferreting which she is very good at but she does not work on the lamp as she is affraid of her own shadow and walks to heel all the time I have never had to train her to do this it is just natural to her. I have always thought that it is because she is from racing lines.

 

I also have a Bedlington that is a marking and bushing dog she is also good out ferreting but not on the lamp When walking she has instant recall so is not a problem.

 

Now the lurcher on the other hand will chase anything but is ALWAYS on the leash around stock, he is only ten months old and stands at 28 1/2 inches so I am only training him at the moment for recall (get ignored more often than not) and to do this I have him off the lead. I tried one of those extender leads but it was dangerous to him as he tangled up in it.

 

When out walking him usually from dusk untill 11-12 we quite often see other animals that I don't want him to chase I have a correction collar that I use to train him on recall mainly on beep setting which works quite well. my question is if I stop him chasing these could it affect him later on when I want to use him for other quarry. it will not all be lamp work as the Beddy will flush for him.

 

Hope thats better way of putting it

Thanks

Edited June 19, 2012 by maltoid

[tomano1 80]

That's better mate it's funny when u first get in to the forum ATB TOMA

[Simoman 110]

Firstly if your dog is only recalling some of the time, then you DON'T have a recall. I would go back to basics in an enclosed area such as a garden and ensure your recall is 100%, THEN i would start adding small distractions, only then would i take the dog somewhere else and continue with this training, perhaps on a lunge line. At no point until you have a solid recall would i let the dog off the lead anywhere it can be given the chance to ignore you.

 

Forget the electric collar, not being rude but your question would indicate you don't have a great deal of experience training dogs and unless you have impeccable timing using the collar will set your training back and make things much worse.............

[Simoman 110]

Phil my advice would be always wear sports socks as it summer foot odour will ruin your puma trainers

[skycat 6,173]

Keep the lurcher away from ALL game until you have a solid recall. To achieve this you must build the correct relationship with the dog: he must see you as the source of all good things, and also as the leader in his life. If you haven't yet trained a solid recall I'd suggest going to some local training classes........yes, I know they're for pet dogs, but they will teach you how to get the dog to respond to you when there are distractions, even if those distractions are only other dogs running about.

 

What you have to understand is that it takes a good deal of skill to over-ride the prey drive in dogs which are highly driven, and unless you have respect from the dog, respect which is not put there by using a shock collar, but by consistent and fair training, you will always be fighting a losing battle. Your dog is also young, probably going through one of the several phases that young dogs go through, when they try to test their limits and your power over them. Raging, shouting, beating etc will have no good effect on the dog. You need to learn HOW to train before you can achieve any sort of result.

 

You say that the dog ignores the recall command more often than not, but you also say that you are using the beep on a shock collar with good results: which is it?

 

Once again, please go and get yourself trained in how to train a dog before things get out of hand completely. I'm not criticizing you, and we all have to start somewhere, and you've undoubtedly been lucky with your other two dogs whose prey drive is probably lower than that of the pup, but easy dogs don't teach us very much: it's the more challenging ones which teach us more.

 

You don't say what breeding your lurcher is: some are much harder to train than others: Saluki types in particular can push owners to their limits because the Saluki has never been bred to 'do' obedience: it is not something which has ever really been required of them: just to chase and kill.

[maltoid 0]

Thanks for the advice obviously I need training too, The collar I use has 8 level settings and I have only used it on level 2 as on my wrist I can feel it but it is not uncomfortable I put it on setting 8 to test it and would not do it again to myself so deffo not on the dog, The beep seems to distract him enough I also have a whistle that I am using with him but it is very loud.

 

The breed of the pup I can only go on what I was told by the breeder of him which is sire grey/whip/saluki dam grey collie whippet.

 

I have tried the reward method and even kept him hungary but he is not interested I have tried liver, cheese, sausage, Chicken, dog treats, pizza crust but he is so excited being out he just drops it on the floor.

 

But he does love a fuss in fact I think that might be the way to go

[birddog 1,354]

a reward doesn't have to be food, a police dog's reward is often a ball, sometimes more people orientated dogs rate a fuss more than an edible reward