Advice Needed On Soft Springer Bitch

[craig09090 11]

As above, I've just been given a trained ess bitch,

How ever she's not done much if anything at all in the last 2 years or so she is rusty!

My problem is she's soft natured so I don't want to push her to hard! Any advice on the best way to refresh her would be great!

 

Cheers craig

[Dan Newcombe 58]

Firstly, do very little to start with, just enjoy getting to know her and building up a trust.

 

Go right back to the basics and sitting with the food bowl etc then progress from there as if you are training her from scratch but progressing through the stages much quicker because she should already know them

 

Or that's what I would do anyway.

 

If you have other dogs make sure and take her separately plenty of times so that she bonds with you rather than the other dogs as well or you will store up problems for yourself!

 

Dan

[Philluk 181]

The biggest problem here is you will get so many opinions, what one person wants a dog to do is not the same as the next person, I trained my dog when a rabbit runs to chase it, some want their dog to flush and sit, neither is wrong we just have different needs, as you saw by the comments on the guy who grabbed the ears, to some its bad to others they deserve it. telling a dog off is the easiest way to ruin a dog yes sometimes you want to grab them by the ears and kick the shlt out of them as they have dome something right then all of a sudden it goes to rat poop but then do a quick retrieve and go home. we have all been there and if yours is one of the more nervous ones you have to tread even more carefully. and never raise anything other than your voice, its ok saying back to basics we say that all the time on here but for the novice trainer what is the basics?

 

wherever you live find a gundog breeder and contact them or google gundog classes you may find one a long way off ask if they know one closer ask if they can recommend gun dog training classes and do them, do them as long as you want, you will meet other dogs which is good and you will be guided on the right path.

 

what I will say is be careful on your voice the deep voice will make her drop the high pitch friendly voice will make her play, use this to your advantage go for walks sit in a field on a nice evening and play use that high voice and have fun, when she does something right even a sit and stay use that high voice tell her good girl more often, its a good encouragement, and when she is dropping to the floor because she doesn't like something be aware how you handle it, another dog approaches and you pull the lead tight will let her know something is up, if its another friendly dog let her go don't try to stop her because her focus will be on meeting the other dog not you, all you will do is shout for nothing, if its a nasty dog different matter.

 

Finally remember you have a second hand dog, why have they got rid of it? the dog has lost its bond with its owner and now a stranger has taken over, so you need to build that bond, trust and love, understand the dog may have issues and spend your time building a relationship before starting to tell her what to do.

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Good advice there

Edited June 3, 2014 by Phil Lloyd

[craig09090 11]

Thanks for your replies guys I think I knew what was going to be said, I put the post up as I wanted to be sure.

She had to be rehomed du 2 marriage break down.

I've seen the bitch work an I wud say she's not amazing but ok! I just put it down to her not doing much!

She seems to be a lot more confidant now she's getting used to me, an seems to want to be around me so fingers crossed!

[Philluk 181]

Then the foundations are laid, the fact she is not a fantastic worker doesn't matter you can improve on that in time. the nervousness is probably down to a lot of shouting in her previous house.

 

good luck and enjoy

 

keep us informed how she is going.

[craig09090 11]

Cheers phill we do

[craig09090 11]

Just a quick update, took her out for few hours this morning with the 410, there is a few things that needs to be addressed but other than that I'm a happy chappie ?

[craig09090 11]

[craig09090 11]

Just worked out how to up load a pic lol

[dbm 49]

Just worked out how to up load a pic lol

Only coz I told you how ya thick c##t lolol