Tips For A Newbie

[JoeButters1992 20]

Hi all

 

So this is my first season and i am running a 15 month old Bull Grey x Bull Grey (The blue and white one in Prof Pic), so i took him out for the 3rd or 4th time tonight. This was the first time i took him out on his own the previous times he has been watching experienced dogs watching and working with them.

 

The fields we went are full of bunnies so there was plenty too see, he is starting to pick up the beam however he will often completely ignore the beam or whats in it, is there any tips you can give me as far as beam training for both me and me mutt any advice will be much appreciated.

 

He did get 3 really good runs in tonight i will say for him however there is a lot of bush cover around so they managed to out smart him haha.

 

 

Thanks Joe

[blackmaggie 3,376]

Take your time Joe and pick his runs walk up has close as you can and give him the best chance of catching and spotting and don't take or slip another Dog just you two will be best

[JoeButters1992 20]

Well i was thinking that the one on one will be better for him but wasn't 100% so wanted to just get some info cheers mate

[tsteve9999 456]

If the fields are alive with rabbits it could be that the dog can see them and fixes on one of them rather than the one in the beam, especially if there's a bit of moon Both my dogs have done it at odd times over the years,

[terryd 8,420]

Just takes practice so it seems. Having loads of rabbits flying about is some times not a good thing. Better of with one or two in a field. You don't want the dog getting excited and storming around the place and its easier to focus. Slow and steady and get good habits in place rather than worry about catching. If only thats what I had done

[jake824 517]

Good advice terry. That's what I'm doing with my lads young bitch now. We re going to ground only holding a handful of bunnies to get her spotting. At first she could nt spot so we went back to basics taking her over the field with a soft toy and throwing it into the dark then put the lamp on and let her fetch it . Did nt take long and she runs the light well now.

[JoeButters1992 20]

Thanks for the tips guys, ive also just made a decoy for him (Dummy wrapped in a rabbit skin) which i was going to use with a similar method to how you mentioned Jake.

 

ill start using quieter fields without as much flying around see if he becomes a bit more focused

[toby63 1,236]

Good advice terry. That's what I'm doing with my lads young bitch now. We re going to ground only holding a handful of bunnies to get her spotting. At first she could nt spot so we went back to basics taking her over the field with a soft toy and throwing it into the dark then put the lamp on and let her fetch it . Did nt take long and she runs the light well now.

thats what i was doing when my dog was young ?

[troyboy17 631]

for once some good advice instead ofcalling the dog for everything

[Bobtheferret 1,248]

Good advice given lads, slightly piggy backing on this tread (hope you don't mind Joe!) my bitch actually seems to struggle to see rabbits in the lamp. She catches very well by day but when I take her out at night she often just doesn't seem to even see the bunny I have the lamp on, she has good vision in daylight hours. Has anyone heard of a dog that has a eye fault that affects there night vision??? Thanks for any replies in advance. Atb

[whitefeet4190 1,725]

I wouldn't be taking a young dog where there were loads of rabbits mate sometimes that can do more harm than good especially when the rabbit makes it to the hedge and then he stars chasing the others round instead of coming back to you, like what's already been said slowly slowly catch the monkey ? an pick his runs carefully, even if u walk over 100 rabbits to find that one easy one then I'd say that will be far better for the dog but not everyone will agree or nobody might agree ? But that's why I think u should go lamping with as many people as u can then make up ur own mind what works an what doesn't but then again what's right for one dog might not be right for the next one ??

Atb

[JoeButters1992 20]

Good advice given lads, slightly piggy backing on this tread (hope you don't mind Joe!) my bitch actually seems to struggle to see rabbits in the lamp. She catches very well by day but when I take her out at night she often just doesn't seem to even see the bunny I have the lamp on, she has good vision in daylight hours. Has anyone heard of a dog that has a eye fault that affects there night vision??? Thanks for any replies in advance. Atb

No problem at all, if the thread helps answer questions for anyone its a good thing

[JoeButters1992 20]

Well im off out tonight with him too a place with a much smaller rabbit population so fingers crossed ill keep you all posted.

[Casso 1,261]

Good advice given lads, slightly piggy backing on this tread (hope you don't mind Joe!) my bitch actually seems to struggle to see rabbits in the lamp. She catches very well by day but when I take her out at night she often just doesn't seem to even see the bunny I have the lamp on, she has good vision in daylight hours. Has anyone heard of a dog that has a eye fault that affects there night vision??? Thanks for any replies in advance. Atb

No better animal to pick up a signal like a dog ,

 

give her a signal when you spot a bunny , it won't be long before she can chain the sound you make with a rabbit appearing

I prefare a dog to run on command if he is running on command he is activity looking for movement on the run out,

Experience will sharpen it all up then in time

Edited November 29, 2016 by Casso

[straight2hand 303]

My advise is pick your nights, for example when there is no moon and there is plenty of cloud, that way the dog will only see what you show it. The dog will soon start to add up you and the lamp are the source of the rabbits and that you are the one in control of it. Don't worry too much the dog about spotting moving targets the dog will soon start to watch the beam, focus more on the right behavior at first e.g recall as soon as the lamp goes off etc. IMO the easy part is getting the dog to chase the rabbits the difficult part is getting to curb it all and go when you say and to start to work the beam on squatters etc

 

Hope it goes well for you, be patient and don't worry about numbers its all about the right behaviors in the early days.