Hi all this is my first post, I need some help, I've got a 1 1/2 year old Brittany that I've been working since I got her. I do use a e-collar on her, the problem is that within the past month or so I just can't keep her from running off, I've lost her three times now, the last time I looked for 7hrs and had to give up, someone called me at 12:00 that night to pick her up. This is the first dog I've ever trained so I really don't know all that much about it, do you think she will come out of this, there's no way I could bring her into the big woods like this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I can't slow her down
- Thread starter Tim
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PheasantWhisperer
Member
Well first, exchange the e-collar for a long cord. About 50 feet. There's no point in an e-collar if she runs off. Cant shock a dog when its outta sight. You need to start by doing things to keep her close to you. have you had her on birds yet? Yard broke? Whoa broke? Has she pointed birds yet? Sounds like she needs more time in the yard. If she starts to run off and you say whoa and she doesn't stop, then she needs to be whoa broke in the yard. Is she chasing after other animals when she runs off?
Crossing shot
New member
I have had many britts. Some run far, some stay close. My far britt wears an Garmin Astro. It's a GPS collar. It has been around for a few years. You should be able to buy a used Astro for $400 or less. If I had to chose between an Astro or an e-collar, the astro wins.
With the Astro, I do not worry about getting my dog back. That gives me the courage to make the dog track me. I do not yell much for my dog. Yelling tells the dog where you are, so it does not have to worry about losing its pack. A female britt should worry about this. You can start this now without an Astro by playing hide and seek at home.
Couple months ago, took the dogs to a farm where they could run. Close dogs close. Far dog, with Astro, ran 300 yards to north and came back within 10 minutes. Then same except northwest, west, etc. Always came back in a few minutes to check and jump in the pond.
How often does your dog get to run? Does it stay in house?
With the Astro, I do not worry about getting my dog back. That gives me the courage to make the dog track me. I do not yell much for my dog. Yelling tells the dog where you are, so it does not have to worry about losing its pack. A female britt should worry about this. You can start this now without an Astro by playing hide and seek at home.
Couple months ago, took the dogs to a farm where they could run. Close dogs close. Far dog, with Astro, ran 300 yards to north and came back within 10 minutes. Then same except northwest, west, etc. Always came back in a few minutes to check and jump in the pond.
How often does your dog get to run? Does it stay in house?
I agree with P Whisper...
On the end of a rope at all times - training, pooping, everything!
My Max is smart enough to arrange a tree or brush in between the two of us and out of sight he goes - in pursuit of a critter. Not running away now, but used to when he was younger. He's now 6.
I watch him constantly off the leash and occasionally put the collar on him to reinforce some sloppy behavior.
And when hunting - he would be in the next county if I didn't continually bring him back in range! Strong prey drive has it's consequences!
On the end of a rope at all times - training, pooping, everything!
My Max is smart enough to arrange a tree or brush in between the two of us and out of sight he goes - in pursuit of a critter. Not running away now, but used to when he was younger. He's now 6.
I watch him constantly off the leash and occasionally put the collar on him to reinforce some sloppy behavior.
And when hunting - he would be in the next county if I didn't continually bring him back in range! Strong prey drive has it's consequences!
Dakotazeb
Well-known member
It's not a Brittany problem. Can happen with any breed. Never had the problem with my Brittany once e-collar trained and conditioned. She runs big but knows that 2-3 blasts of the whistle means to come back.
Working with a check cord is one method but you can't always have a check cord on the dog while hunting. You should also be able to train with an e-collar. That is provided that your dog knows the basic commands to begin with. If the dog knows the "Come" or "Here" command either by voice and/or whistle then using an e-collar when the dog dis-obeys should work. With some dogs mild stimulation works and with others they can tolerate some rather heavy e-collar stimulation.
If you continue have problems I would suggest the assistance of a professional trainer. Or find a local bird dog club and seek some assistance from folks there. Good luck.
Working with a check cord is one method but you can't always have a check cord on the dog while hunting. You should also be able to train with an e-collar. That is provided that your dog knows the basic commands to begin with. If the dog knows the "Come" or "Here" command either by voice and/or whistle then using an e-collar when the dog dis-obeys should work. With some dogs mild stimulation works and with others they can tolerate some rather heavy e-collar stimulation.
If you continue have problems I would suggest the assistance of a professional trainer. Or find a local bird dog club and seek some assistance from folks there. Good luck.
The commands she responds to are come(she changes direction and heads my way) Here ( she comes straight to me) Stay (she stops till I give her the come call), Easy( slows her down if shes going crazy) I know these are all unconventional but up till now its been working. She wears a bell to give me a heads up.
She is in the house all day till I get out of work at 3:00 or so. I try to bring her out to run her every day but its usually 4 days a week. Our runs consist of me basically trying to keep her in while still letting her get some energy out. I did try hunting her last year, she was only 7 months though so I had to be careful with her. Does she point, not really.
I had her on a tag line when she was young but she pulled until her neck was raw. I do teach her all commands in the yard till she knows them well before putting her on the collar. She is a bonehead (very stubborn takes quite a bit on the e collar) but when she wants to be, she is very good.
I've been thinking of the Alpha but I just can't swing it right now.
She is in the house all day till I get out of work at 3:00 or so. I try to bring her out to run her every day but its usually 4 days a week. Our runs consist of me basically trying to keep her in while still letting her get some energy out. I did try hunting her last year, she was only 7 months though so I had to be careful with her. Does she point, not really.
I had her on a tag line when she was young but she pulled until her neck was raw. I do teach her all commands in the yard till she knows them well before putting her on the collar. She is a bonehead (very stubborn takes quite a bit on the e collar) but when she wants to be, she is very good.
I've been thinking of the Alpha but I just can't swing it right now.
Crossing shot
New member
Sounds like you two are a pack.
My brother-in-law took in an adult GSP that rarely left the kennel. Just ran in circles all day even when he brought it to his farm. Never had a pack. Brother could not handle him. Always ran off and got lost. Then he got mad and yelled at the dog. I felt sorry for the dog and took him.
Duke was able to come inside my house. Got lost during mushroom season. Trees confuse him. Barking at cars in parking lot. He was scared. Bonded all summer. Played enough hide and seek so he would look for me with his nose as well as his eyes. Bought an extra astro collar before the season. First time out, he gets lost (before the season). Too far away to hear my whistle. I could see on the Astro that he finally cut my trail and hunted me down.
That was the last time he got lost. The only reason I need the Astro now is to find him on point.
What kind of birds do you hunt?
My brother-in-law took in an adult GSP that rarely left the kennel. Just ran in circles all day even when he brought it to his farm. Never had a pack. Brother could not handle him. Always ran off and got lost. Then he got mad and yelled at the dog. I felt sorry for the dog and took him.
Duke was able to come inside my house. Got lost during mushroom season. Trees confuse him. Barking at cars in parking lot. He was scared. Bonded all summer. Played enough hide and seek so he would look for me with his nose as well as his eyes. Bought an extra astro collar before the season. First time out, he gets lost (before the season). Too far away to hear my whistle. I could see on the Astro that he finally cut my trail and hunted me down.
That was the last time he got lost. The only reason I need the Astro now is to find him on point.
What kind of birds do you hunt?
mnaj_springer
New member
Sounds like you need to work on some obedience. And for hunting get a GPS collar.
I live in Northern Maine, her pedigree looked good. I hunt grouse, partridge up here. When we hunt we are in heavy logging country 50-80 miles from the nearest paved road, if I can't get her back that's going to be it.
That's really the way it seems, I guess I thought that keeping her in check with the e collar while out for our walks was a form of obedience. Maybe she just needs some more yard work.
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small munsterlander owner
Banned
I'm not a training expert but I read & was told u gotta be able to have ur dog come when commanded, whoa when commanded & heel when told b4 u take em hunting I also say retrieve things also but that won't save a dogs life like the other 3 basic commands will... Once u can do all 3 in yard & in park & off lead u should be good to go...
My dog maid me wanna pull my hair out 1st year & half after that we were a team best dog I've ever hunted with home & hunt wise... It just takes time & repatition man trust me it will pay off...
Simple obedience is a must they gotta know who boss is & come mean come every time
FLDBRED
Well-known member
Don't despair this can be fixed but it's going to take a lot of patience on your part. First put the collar away for a while, it actually might be part of the problem.Everything you do with the dog from now on has to be under a controlled environment, but make it fun. He doesn't come off lead until you feel confident that you have his full attention. This is a little unconventional for a hunting dog but your situation warrants a different strategy. Think of him as a good companion dog and work on that first, the hunting WILL come later. Start training him as an obedience dog and throw some hunting skills in with that training like working with birds. While walking with him ALWAYS return the same way you went and let him lead on the way home, he'll be using his nose to get back to your home/truck. Take a walk with a friend or wife/kids and let them hold your pup while you jog away and hide a short distance away. Then let him track you down while still on the lead, praise the heck out him when he finds you, make it a great fun game, again through some bird hunting skills in when you can.You and him need to develop that special bond that makes him want to be you more than anything else, take him with you when ever you can, be it to the store what ever, soon he'll whine when you leave the house without him and when you do let him off lead he'll be checking back to see where his buddy is!
FLDbred is steering you correctly. Put away or better yet-throw away the ecollar.
Playing the hiding game reinforces the dog's drive to hunt WITH you. I started this with my dog at a very early stage and still do it if he ranges out too far.
A great read for what you are doing is Bond of Passion by Web Parton. He takes the reader through the entire process of training a bird dog. He answers all the questions you may have in the book (including the running off).
Good luck.
Playing the hiding game reinforces the dog's drive to hunt WITH you. I started this with my dog at a very early stage and still do it if he ranges out too far.
A great read for what you are doing is Bond of Passion by Web Parton. He takes the reader through the entire process of training a bird dog. He answers all the questions you may have in the book (including the running off).
Good luck.