Lurcher retrieve

[Guest FOXDOG]

Just had mine out in the garden, he retrieved a ball 3 times Then I threw a dead rabbit and got a very very sloppy retrieve to about 2 foot. Kat when the dog catches a rabbit he walks a bit then drops it, gives it a bite and runs back to me leaving the rabbit half alive When he has it in his mouth or is standing over it if I walk towards it he will feck off with it I think he thinks I am trying to rob him Hes about 20 months old and if I really want to get him over this problem

[Kat 3]

Just had mine out in the garden, he retrieved a ball 3 times Then I threw a dead rabbit and got a very very sloppy retrieve to about 2 foot. Kat when the dog catches a rabbit he walks a bit then drops it, gives it a bite and runs back to me leaving the rabbit half alive When he has it in his mouth or is standing over it if I walk towards it he will feck off with it I think he thinks I am trying to rob him Hes about 20 months old and if I really want to get him over this problem

Id have left the session after the 3 ball retrieves to be honest.He knows there's something important in the bunny bit as his behaviour changes. I expect you get a bit impatient too and belive me he'll sense exasperation!

The thing that often lacks in these cases is simple obedience. You should be able to give him a command to stay still & sit then recal him in. The previous advise is suitable when the dog isnt coming to you. Hence the reason for ignoring the rabbit until the recall is 100%. Then using the dead bunny at just a few feet away. Dont run before you can walk [bANNED TEXT]... theres no way that you can enforce the recall with any pressure when hes so far away that he can clear off. These exercises are not going to be sufficiently covered in a few days in time for this seasons hunting. A lot depends on your timing and praise, body language and tone of voice. Ive just pm'd someone with a slightly similar problem and ill pm you what I told him.

[J Darcy 5,871]

i think what is important is to have a whistle that means "recall" to the dog....without that its going to be hard....

[Kat 3]

i think what is important is to have a whistle that means "recall" to the dog....without that its going to be hard....

Whistles are good if the dog has been taught about the command from the off. The trouble with the whistle and the dogs these guys have probs with is that the dog is already ignoring verbal commands so why add another audible command for them to ignore? By rewarding the dog with something that totally floats its boat you stand a chance of getting the dog working for you and not you for it.

[Guest FOXDOG]

Thanks for the replys I probably should of left it after the ball J darcy do you mean a whistle that you buy or just whistle yourself?

[J Darcy 5,871]

i think what is important is to have a whistle that means "recall" to the dog....without that its going to be hard....

Whistles are good if the dog has been taught about the command from the off. The trouble with the whistle and the dogs these guys have probs with is that the dog is already ignoring verbal commands so why add another audible command for them to ignore? By rewarding the dog with something that totally floats its boat you stand a chance of getting the dog working for you and not you for it.

 

 

Well..... I disagree.....if the dog was mine i would just go "back to basics".... no meals for the dog at all, only food given when they come back to the recall whistle. something tasty like chopped ham or sausages. after a day or so then i would expect the dog to be very keen to return indeed. :clapping: then the meals can begin again, but still carry on with the whistle, but phase the food out over the space of a couple of weeks. If a slight re-cap is needed then its no big deal.

 

i beleive you can teach a dog the recall at any reasonable age.

 

getting the dog coming back immediately is as important as anything when retreiving trainign lurchers. Even instinctive retreivers can sometimes go "off the boil" so to speak if they are not taught to retreive properly IMHO.

 

but what is a retreive?.. is the young lurcher dog bringing you the item back to "please" you,

or is it bringing it back because its been trained to do so......

 

 

OR.....is the dog simply coming back to the recall, whether carrying something or not?

 

 

Interesting subject....... JD