spaniels and heeling...wow!

I think she looks like a dandy. Steady until sent, then a very nice hold out of the water till delivery. On the 2nd one you could see she wanted to shake but waited. Very nice.

A good training group has a lot of advantages though, access to birds & someone to shoot for you while you focus on your dog. Cocker owners tend to be a lot like their dogs, a little quirky but very gregarious. : )

I'm going dove hunting tomorrow with a bunch of folks from my club. I'm sure a good time will be had by all.
 
Perhaps I was just a bit sensitive. I have to remember when I ask for opinions I will probably get them :)
I actually have looked for training groups but the area I am currently in (SF Bay) there really are no spaniel groups. There are a few retriever groups that do meet ups in the area but it clearly states on there on-line application that they only accept AKC retriever breeds and I do not believe my pup falls into that category. I did join a spaniel field trial club and am looking forward to attending there yearly trial in January but they do not do training dates (I believe people are just so spread out it does not make sense). In addition to there yearly trial they have one meeting a year so not many opportunities there. So that leaves me joining a general obedience club which although it may help with the obedience part really is not concentrating on what I want to do with her (hunting).
To be honest it seems that should have purchased a lab if I wanted to be able to do group training in the central part of California.
 
I agree a good group is a great idea. I learned also a long time ago, to never rule out any tool in the tool box, staying diverse can be a critical key.;) some tools you certainly would rather breeze right through training and not have to use, sure. But never, toss tools away. Many times its when you need them the most. Looks like a fun dog. Good luck:thumbsup:
 
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Looks like you have a really nice dog and are off to a great start. I"m not sure about the heeling issue. I have had the same "problem" with my GSP since she was a pup and worked on it with varying techniques and intensity over the years . She is now 8 yrs. old and still heels 1-2 ft ahead of the standard heeling position. I was never as stubborn as she was on the issue. Anyway I agree that your dog can be trained to heel in any manner you decide on, but it will take more patience and persistence to get her right at your side consistently.
One trainer I listen to is fond of saying "What they are doing is what they are learning"
 
Thank you FCS. I really have gotten some great ideas and very much value the input. I do believe this is a wonderful forum and will continue to enjoy it going forward.
 
Looks to me like you've got yourself a great pup. And at 7 months is still very much a puppy. Puppies do puppy things. My setter is 3 and is like FNEWGUY describes. He and I have a bit of battle of wills about getting him to heel properly. He's like your pup, curious and there's way too much going on out there to distract him.

I'm probably like many on this site, I've trained a few dogs in my life, one at a time and am not a pro. I've made mistakes will all of my dogs and will continue to make mistakes. But all of my dogs have been good hunting dogs and companions. I think people sometimes get too caught in in seeking perfection.
 
It really is great to get all of this input!
Although I still have heeling in the back of my mind I have decided to pick my battles and focus more on leash manners and putting some gundog basics on my pup. It seems she is at the age where training is stacking up and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed so perfect heeling does not seem as important. We finally found a field where we can shoot off blanks to start some gun conditioning so that will be my priority for the next few weeks. I also feel that I should start getting her steady to flush/shot since my husband is hoping to do a bit of upland hunting over her this season. We have quite a bit of opportunity for duck hunting in our area but almost all of it is from a boat so I really also need to get her working (retrieving) from a boat but I have a few months to put that together (glad of that).
This is my first gundog and I have made the decision to try to train her myself (not send her to a pro) so the learning curve is steep and the chances of messing up is high so I really appreciate all the input I have been getting.
I guess in the end remembering she is just a pup and hopefully has many years to perfect her training would be wise for me to keep in mind. :)
 
Try vertically twirling the last 3 feet of the leash with your left hand really fast and close to your body like a propeller. After she sticks her nose into that once or twice, she'll will quickly figure out her place at your side.
 
I just wanted to give a update on my pup who is now 11 months old. Not long after this post I started taking weekly lessons from a pro who lives a few hours from me. It really has helped me with my pup to have a game plan and someone to help guide me in her training. Obedience, placeboard training, collar conditioning and the force hold has been our main focus over the past four months. It has been a eye opening experience and we have both grown and learned a bunch since starting. The pro wants her out in the field and going well on birds before firming up the heel (something he waits on with all spaniels it seems) so although she does not have a formal heel her leash manners are much better. It looks like we will start working her with the entire group (a actual spaniel group) in the field over the next few weeks and I am really looking forward to that as there is so much more to learn. We will be working on steadying her up next and who knows I may even enter a trial or test sometime in March if I am feeling brave :)
If I am able to get a video of the first time she is shot over I will definitely post it!
 
CONGRATS on making excellent progress with your ECS pup since last August. Sounds like you and your pro and your pup are all on the same page.:)
And a training group is a great way to get farther ahead with yr training faster. Thanks for the progress report. :cheers:

NB
 
Nice, Dottie.


Seems like both hunting partners have grown, eh?

I kind of cheated when training Mick. I got a book, gave it to him, and told him he needed to train himself.

It's been five years, I believe he has read the introduction. :D
 
Force hold/force fetch makes the transition to other training go much smoother. The dog learns how to turn off pressure and will be a much more willing participant. Nothing wrong with attrition training but I think it limits you on how far you can go and much the dog can learn. Sounds like you and the dog are learning the right way.
 
In a headwind she stays probably within 20 yards unless she scents a bird but in a crosswind (like in this video) then she tries to punch the field so I am always pulling her back closer to keep her from getting more 30 yards.
 
chrokeva said:
In a headwind she stays probably within 20 yards unless she scents a bird but in a crosswind (like in this video) then she tries to punch the field so I am always pulling her back closer to keep her from getting more 30 yards.
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I never try to keep my in to close until about 1.5 or so. I want them as birdy as possible and absolutely crazy to hunt. That first season I sacrifice some birds in building desire. I can always reel them in later.
 
westksbowhunter said:
I never try to keep my in to close until about 1.5 or so. I want them as birdy as possible and absolutely crazy to hunt. That first season I sacrifice some birds in building desire. I can always reel them in later.
Click to expand...

Interesting....we are talking flushing dogs (spaniels) right? If my dog was any more birdy she would be pulling me out to the field on my stomach..haha. I try to keep her working within gun range and if she is quartering correctly (not punching the field) I just move quicker to keep up with her and to allow the gunners to move up with me so they can take a shot when she flushes.
 
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