Gun Dog Training

Caroline_a

Ok, so a couple of months ago I took Junior Dog to Good Citizen Beginner class. For the most part he refused to listen, ignored my yummy treats and just wanted to investigate the room and the other pups. It wasn't all me either, he wouldnt do anything for the trainer either except look daft.

So... I have now enrolled him into his first gundog class. We go this weekend, it'll be just him and me, (the Shep who sailed happily through Good Citizen with barely an issue has to stay at home unfortunately), so we'll see how we go. Certainly the trainer I emailed (and told all the truth) seemed optimistic enough!

So... has anyone else done this, what do I need to take with me (they said 'oh we have anything you need to buy here' - I've probably got more dog kit than they have!!), and am I setting myself up (again!!) for ritual humiliation??:rotfl:

krlyr

Have you done any self-control exercises at home? You may find that he finds the sights and smells more interesting than you and struggles to listen even in a situation without other dogs. Personally I would have spent some time teaching him more focus on you (e.g. the "Watch me" command) and self-control. If you go on Youtube and look up "pamelamarxsen" she has some great videos on getting a dog calm/focused on you around various distractions (and has one for the watch me command)

Caroline_a

Yes we do lots of that. He has to sit and wait before he gets his food (they both do), before he goes in or out of a door, etc etc. At home he's ok, particularly if I have something (like food) that he wants, but I thought that the discipline of gundog training would enable him to act more naturally (if that makes sense).

Edit - just re-read. To clarify - I meant in my first post by 'just him and me' that we wouldn't be taking the Shepherd, there will be other dogs there, including his half brother.

krlyr

Those bits sound good but have you done much work around distractions? Sounds like he's very distracted by his environment in certain situations and that is something best dealt with by slowing building up the level of distraction, rather than throwing him in a place full of interesting things (dogs, smells, toys, etc) and trying to train discipline there. So, for example, teach the "Watch me" in the house, with him on his own. Then teach it with your other dog in the room. Then upgrade to the garden, where there's a few distractions but nothing amazingly new. Then the driveway, the street, an empty field, the park on a quiet morning, the park at a slightly busier time, working up to busy areas full of more and more distractions.

rising_from_the_ashes

Wishing you luck Caroline. One of ours (many years ago) was absolutely impossible - she nipped (hard), destroyed everything and wouldn't listen to anyone.

It got to the point that we sought professional advice and she went to a gun dog trainer for around a month - and was a totally different dog when she came back!

Caroline_a

Thanks RftA - he isn't naughty really, doesn't nip, clean in the house, gets a bit excited sometimes and to be honest, around the house and even for an off-lead walk he's lovely, comes back every time, loves other dogs, people. I just thought how fab would it be to have a dog that would sit when he's 400m away...... or is that me dreaming?? :rotfl::rotfl:

He has had the benefit of learning manners from a large Shepherd who has kept him in his place... but honestly it's been (says in a very quiet voice) a breeze... whereas the Shep nipped, took his time to come back, barged past me, despite the fact he would do it perfectly at class... just a general teenage nutter. Sid however is like the village fool.... everybody loves him though, so he gets away with murder!!

gettingready

Daft look, village fool - Caroline.. I an a verge of reporting you to RSPCA for not having any respoect to your pup;)

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

BTW - havent seen a piccy of th little one for a hile now... so get that camera out

Caroline_a

'Little one'... err he's not so little any more!! The only photos I have that are recent are him looking absolutely filthy - I've realised now that it's his normal look. So much for getting a pale dog. I'll see what I can do on Sunday if they let me take him off the lead...

Daft look, village fool

- he loves it, honest. He's happiest when you're laughing at him!!

gettingready

LOL

I call Zara names too, and she too seems to enjoy it...

She KNOWS she is my prncess anywa

Waiting for those photos girl....

Lirin

Gun dog training will be good, and good luck with it. It is very very much about control and dominance. I've helped raise gundogs most of my life- anicely trained dog is not only obedient, controlled, and responsive- they've also proved to be some of the most loyal dogs I know.

Kylyr's advice is great, but beware as gundog training is harsher, or seems so from the outside.

My current two aren't specifically gundog trained, but will obey commands- though training a loopy Lab is a little different to most dogs I've had!

Good luck, would love to know how you get on.

Caroline_a

Sometimes harsher isn't always wrong. I think we can get too focussed on positive reinforcement which is fantastic, but when you have a dog that is deliberately wilful (and my Shep could be like that!!), you sometimes have to get tough! This doesn't mean smacking imho, but stern words are a useful tool. This is his problem (to me ) because when I say 'no!' to him.... he has this soppy 'whathaveIdone.....!!!' expression, and then I just go all soppy with him. Mea culpa.. whereas the Shep would be 'Whatevaaa'...

Dogs... gotta love them, eh?