Retrieving From Water.

[C.green 3,231]

Just thought I'd ask on here see if anyone has any ideas I've got a young 10 month old pup here mainly saluki/greyhound with small collie and bull influence. I keep a few ferrets and instead of feeding them lots of rabbit I shoot a lot of waterfowl off the wetlands near my place. My old dog has allways been a natural retriever of fur and feather and has retrieved shot geese bobbing out to quite some distance through ice and weed ect. The pup is not quite so keen he will drop rabbits and birds he's caught bit short but will bring shot and cold game back beautifully and has done so since a baby to the gun. Now I know these ain't gun dogs and sometimes that bird is just a little too far out for the best of lurchers but my pup just seems to switch of as soon as water is involved he'll play about in it with the other dogs and will follow them in if they enter but is just not interested on his own. I've tried using bottles so they sit higher in the water than a dummy tried putting the dummy on a string to keep it moving tried geeing him up before hand but it seems like as soon as water is involved its out of bounds. I'm very pleased with him with everything else he's catching a few rabbits every week picking up birds to the gun on dry land ect ect. So any one had this problem before or got any good ideas to try and up his confidence around the water ?

The only other thing I can think of is to wait till the warmer weather and try again see if that makes a difference. I'm not too bothered about it but would just come in handy save me having to wait for the wind to blow the birds into the bank close enough for me to grab. Cheers all.

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Yeah,.its frustrating ,...but I think you hit the nail on the head, with regards to waiting for the warmer weather, etc.

 

Same as yourself,..I like my cur dogs to fetch shot birds ,..especialy ducks,...so it pays to start them off in the water, during the Summer months...Obviously to produce a good retriever in rivers, lakes or shoreline,..the dog needs to be a confident, strong swimmer. Chucking dummies during the heat, (even getting in yourself) often gets em going.

 

All the best, Phil.

[Giro 2,648]

Ive had dogs that where reluctant swimmers but getting them down the beach in the summer really helped..

 

They can walk out gradually and it wont drop away quickly like a river.. ( well it dont where i am)

Edited February 15, 2016 by Giro

[leegreen 2,173]

As said summer is the time. I have found getting in the water helps, it gives the pups confidence to know you are there and also you can correct their swimming position.

[mackay 3,377]

Every lurcher I've had has retrieved off water, hunted coots and moorhens with the same enthusiasm as fur.

Best advice I could offer is definitely start them in the summer months, make a game of it and make it enjoyable.

Some ten month old gundogs pups with the coat and the breeding for the job have to be entered carefully to water, especially midwinter.

[trigger2 3,145]

at 10 months old if the dogs not over bothered about going into the water then personally i dont think alot will change with it now. some dogs like water others dont.

[skycat 6,173]

Saluki types, are as a rule, not over fond of water. It's not that they can't swim, but more because they have little or no subcutaneous fat and therefore feel the cold much more than dogs with say, more Collie, Bull or other terrier in them. Dogs generally obey their genetic heritage to a great extent, and when you consider that Salukis are not, historically, water dogs, many don't adapt to this type of work. Having said that, I've had a couple that were so highly driven that they would go through water, fire or brick walls to get what they wanted ... it all depends on the individual. But you can't make a water-loving dog out of one that doesn't like getting its feet wet.

[C.green 3,231]

Thanks Phil and leegreen hadn't thought of leading him in the more I think about it the more I'll leave it off until the warmer weather there's a place near me I've seen gundog trainers getting there dogs in and out the water because as said its a gradual slope. It's not that he doesn't like water though lads he just ain't interested in picking anything up while he's in there I've got picks of him in and out the river while fishing at a real young age up until Christmas time but dummy's feather and fur he's just not interested if it hits the water. Cheers for replies folks.

[LOL 212]

Just thought I'd ask on here see if anyone has any ideas I've got a young 10 month old pup here mainly saluki/greyhound with small collie and bull influence. I keep a few ferrets and instead of feeding them lots of rabbit I shoot a lot of waterfowl off the wetlands near my place. My old dog has allways been a natural retriever of fur and feather and has retrieved shot geese bobbing out to quite some distance through ice and weed ect. The pup is not quite so keen he will drop rabbits and birds he's caught bit short but will bring shot and cold game back beautifully and has done so since a baby to the gun. Now I know these ain't gun dogs and sometimes that bird is just a little too far out for the best of lurchers but my pup just seems to switch of as soon as water is involved he'll play about in it with the other dogs and will follow them in if they enter but is just not interested on his own. I've tried using bottles so they sit higher in the water than a dummy tried putting the dummy on a string to keep it moving tried geeing him up before hand but it seems like as soon as water is involved its out of bounds. I'm very pleased with him with everything else he's catching a few rabbits every week picking up birds to the gun on dry land ect ect. So any one had this problem before or got any good ideas to try and up his confidence around the water ?

The only other thing I can think of is to wait till the warmer weather and try again see if that makes a difference. I'm not too bothered about it but would just come in handy save me having to wait for the wind to blow the birds into the bank close enough for me to grab. Cheers all.

My lurcher has a lot of saluki in her and never had a problem getting her in the water.while the dog is still young get her playing with another dog that likes water.If she will play with a ball or a lure throw it in shallow water and let the other dog retreive it. Then throw it back in and let her have a go make a game of it.when she is fetching it out of shalow water make it a bit deeper till she will fetch it from any were.Most things with dogs take time keep at it she will come good

[C.green 3,231]

Thanks for reply LOL I got my old dog retrieving a similar way just making it all a big game and allways ended on a high. Will certainly miss having the old dog about that's for sure.

Edited February 15, 2016 by C.green