First time on chain gang

[MNUplander90]

Hey all I have a 16 month old Llewellin Setter that I have just put on the chain gang for the first time today. This is my first birddog so I have been taking things slower than most I'm guessing. But before a year old and up until now she has had many many off leash runs in various cover types. She was introduced to birds young and many pigeons since. She also has been introduced to the gun and is bird crazy for sure!! From when I first took her home at 8 weeks I have been using clicker training teaching her to recall, heel and whoa as well as some tricks all while keeping it positive. She is a pretty confident girl and there is not a thing out in the field that frightens her at this point, hard charging the entire time. However, I am now moving on and using the huntsmith method for further training, I need to teach her that she must obey all commands and clicker training wont be the answer I believe. She has also been on a training table since she was young, huntsmith puppy dev, and behaves very well on that. Today I put her on the chain for around 30 minutes. She initially fought with some pulling for literally less then a minute and then just stood there tail hanging. She soon laid down and relaxed with a few whines here and there. She really surprised me out there, I was expecting some serious gusto out of her. But for the full thirty minutes she calmed down pretty good. However, When I went to go retrieve her off the chain, I got her to stand but the main line itself seemed to frightened her a bit? she stayed standing while I was there but tail was between the legs and she was staying far from the mainline. I got her to be somewhat comfortable by backing up and re approaching and stroking her tail a bit. She seemed to be better but still apprehensive. Once I snapped a lead to her collar I took her off the chain and she was apprehensive to cross the main line just by walking but once she got over it she was excited and ready to play. I was just wondering if that behavior just means she needs more time on the chain and eventually will be comfortable or if there is something else I should be doing or something I should not be doing? Any responses are much appreciated.
Thanks all!!

 

[shorthairs4life]

Hey all I have a 16 month old Llewellin Setter that I have just put on the chain gang for the first time today. This is my first birddog so I have been taking things slower than most I'm guessing. But before a year old and up until now she has had many many off leash runs in various cover types. She was introduced to birds young and many pigeons since. She also has been introduced to the gun and is bird crazy for sure!! From when I first took her home at 8 weeks I have been using clicker training teaching her to recall, heel and whoa as well as some tricks all while keeping it positive. She is a pretty confident girl and there is not a thing out in the field that frightens her at this point, hard charging the entire time. However, I am now moving on and using the huntsmith method for further training, I need to teach her that she must obey all commands and clicker training wont be the answer I believe. She has also been on a training table since she was young, huntsmith puppy dev, and behaves very well on that. Today I put her on the chain for around 30 minutes. She initially fought with some pulling for literally less then a minute and then just stood there tail hanging. She soon laid down and relaxed with a few whines here and there. She really surprised me out there, I was expecting some serious gusto out of her. But for the full thirty minutes she calmed down pretty good. However, When I went to go retrieve her off the chain, I got her to stand but the main line itself seemed to frightened her a bit? she stayed standing while I was there but tail was between the legs and she was staying far from the mainline. I got her to be somewhat comfortable by backing up and re approaching and stroking her tail a bit. She seemed to be better but still apprehensive. Once I snapped a lead to her collar I took her off the chain and she was apprehensive to cross the main line just by walking but once she got over it she was excited and ready to play. I was just wondering if that behavior just means she needs more time on the chain and eventually will be comfortable or if there is something else I should be doing or something I should not be doing? Any responses are much appreciated.
Thanks all!!

In situations where a dog perceives something as negative always make a positive follow. So next time out on the chain gang when you take her off, then follow it up with a positive. Maybe some bumper retrieves or frozen bird retrieves etc. Eventually the dog will get excited about the chain gang because it knows something positive will be coming soon.
For my dog it usually means next is a 30 minute brace in a field trial. My dog loves the chain gang.