Springer worry

[Jimy1971 13]

Had my 2 year old springer bitch down at the marina this morning after a run through the fields nearby.We had been down feeding a flight pond and wandered around for an hour or so. She was in top form after rising about 10 snipe while we were out. I put her sitting on the path and threw a ball about 30 yards out and when she was told she flew out and picked it.She swam back in with it but struggled to get up onto the bank. After that when I threw 2 balls back in she wouldnt go back into the water for them.

 

Any ideas what thats all about? Shes never been afraid of water before.

 

Cheers

Jimmy

[Casso 1,261]

Had my 2 year old springer bitch down at the marina this morning after a run through the fields nearby.We had been down feeding a flight pond and wandered around for an hour or so. She was in top form after rising about 10 snipe while we were out. I put her sitting on the path and threw a ball about 30 yards out and when she was told she flew out and picked it.She swam back in with it but struggled to get up onto the bank. After that when I threw 2 balls back in she wouldnt go back into the water for them.

 

Any ideas what thats all about? Shes never been afraid of water before.

 

Cheers

Jimmy

 

she's associating the struggle with the bank with the water in that place, i would let her back into water somewhere handy for her with a few easy throws to get the water issue straight in her again,

 

its a perfect example of how much of the environment a dog takes in , in a negative situation,

best of luck with her,

[ftm 3,357]

as above mate make it easy for her i had same probs and it worked for me but NEVER be afraid or EMBARRASSED to give your dog a helping hand in these situations [trust /bond ] comes to mind- good luck billy

[Jimy1971 13]

Thanks lads,

Took her out this morning to a different spot, water was just about deep enough for her to swim. I threw a ball in 4 or 5 times and she happily retrieved it. Hopefully its problem solved. Going down to the pond later so hopefully will get a bird or 2 for her to retrieve.

 

Got 1 more question. My mate just paid €450 for a 3 year old fully trained springer. As it turns out the dog is very hard mouthed. Is there any way to reverse this?He's going ballistic over it and is getting no comeback from the dealer in question.

[MikeMac 1]

I was once told (and please don't take it as accurate) that if you do some retrieves with a sharp toothed hair brush it teaches them to hold it gently so they don't hurt themselves. I may be wrong though

[bigdaz 688]

I was once told (and please don't take it as accurate) that if you do some retrieves with a sharp toothed hair brush it teaches them to hold it gently so they don't hurt themselves. I may be wrong though

 

More likely to stop the dog retrieving I would think.

[ftm 3,357]

heard a similar tale just last week and someone suggested a dummy wrapped in barbed wire ! wtf is that going to achieve -sore mouth at the very least -billy

[Jimy1971 13]

I was once told (and please don't take it as accurate) that if you do some retrieves with a sharp toothed hair brush it teaches them to hold it gently so they don't hurt themselves. I may be wrong though

 

 

 

 

Yeah have heard all those methods too,thumb tacks in dummies etc.W*****s all . Been going back to basics as someone advised me to.Been getting her to retrieve frozen birds and then giving her a treat when she delivers it.Someone else reckons it could be that she got too much work on dummies and hasn't had a shot retrieve in a long time.