Hey guys, I'm having a little trouble with Louie and I have decided once and for all I would like to get him into some retrieval work. That way I can tackle his recall as well and learn how to properly use the whistle and his potential. Does anyone recommend any good positive trainers/lessons I can take in Nottingham. And if not any tips for me teaching him myself? Unless anyone on here could take the time to come out for a day or two to help me train him... Also what dummies do you recommend? I would like to get him into swimming and retrieval - so I may need to tie a line to it - as I have made the mistake of throwing something thinking that the dog would retrieve it but then I lost it 'cos the dog didn't fetch it I would like to eventually work him with cold game and even more eventually fresh game. My OH is already talking about getting a gun licence - but thats another story and is probably not going to happen for years and years...
The closest the Gundog Club train is at Crich. The man who takes the lessons is brilliant and he calls a spade a spade but is a very warm, genuine bloke. Lessons are also very expensive. I dont recommend Black Lab Blue Sky. I think he offers gundog training but is very Cesar Milan in his outlook so if you dont like CM you'll probably hate this guy! I can always help you if you like and i've definately learnt alot from training Flynn (most importantly i've learnt the hard way the things NOT to do!) I dont claim to be an expert by any means but I can pass on what I have learnt. I also have various dummies and i've got birds wings/rabbit skins and Dokken dummies (a floating orange knobbly thing!)
I've contacted Fallowfen Gundogs - they look OK but they are quite expensive. So I've rambled on at them about Louie. Leanne that would be fantastic - let me know when you're free, I'm free most Sundays. Plus I know you and I have seen Flynn work so I can trust you more than some company/club - I may not be allowed there anyway, I talk too much Thank you so much, you know you don't have to, but I appreciate it all the same.
Fallowfen came up when I Googled, think they are in Newark arent they? I'm very interested in gundog stuff and it will be a chance for me to learn lots of things as well so I really dont mind. Sundays are good for me too but this Sunday i'm at a game fair trying to win some prizes in the scurries. You have my number, just let me know when you want some help, 99% of the time i've never got any plans so chances are i'll be free.
I’d get this DVD http://www.questgundogs.co.uk/Products/Details/241 teaches you how to use whistle and left, right, go back etc. Dummies, I would recommend 1 half fur, 2 canvas. http://www.questgundogs.co.uk/ProductCategories/Details/1 For water work, http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/item--Water-Retriever-Dummy--water-dummy---dogs Does he retrieve?
Yes sure, good luck this weekend, I'm visiting venues with my sister for her wedding - yawn! I'll just be bringing Louie though when we sort something out, that way I can get him to concentrate properly.. Thank you, you're a star! I'm not big on DVD's I learn through doing. I'd much rather have someone out in the field with me. If I do something wrong I muck it all up. But thanks anyway - I do read books so will look into some gundog books also. He retrieves but I wouldn't say it is reliable, soft mouthed or hard mouth - when he plays frisbee he will sometimes come back mouthing it, sometimes not and doesn't always bring to hand, or even back the entire way..he is 10/11 months so I'm not expecting him to be great at it at the moment. I would love to get him into water retrieval but he loves birds - chasing them that is - so hopefully this will work. He has one hell of a nose on him though - this old lady walked her dogs today - then put some bread in the field and we were the other side of the field when this happened - he smelt it straight away and was over there like a flash - the wind was blowing in his direction so it was pretty easy I guess..
Ok well if it would be better we could go for a walk first then you could leave yours at my house with the OH (No bunnies at ours yet) whilst we take Louie out - I have no idea where to start training though. Oh dear I'm clueless!
Lol, Flynn wouldnt stay with your OH, he'd be in a sheer panic! I'd just leave him at home. I dont think Bestwood CP is a good place as Louie is familiar with it and will probably want to get up to his usual stuff instead of concentrating on what we want him to. I think an unfamiliar place is the way to go as he wont have any expectations of what he's going to do and somewhere where there are relatively few distractions. We want somewhere boring basically! If I dont have Flynn then we can put Louie in my car and drive to a suitable place. I have Newstead & Annesley colliery in mind. There is a boring playing field which hardly anybody uses and also the good water is up there.
It's Thoresby Game Fair, in North Notts near Clumber Park, think it's the first of the year. If you Google Countryman Fairs there are lots all over the country and they are perhaps the best known ones.
As long as there is no birds then we are fine lol. That sounds brill though Leanne, we'll have to sort it out next week Thank you.
It's just the chasing issue - I have a 30ft line - but it never seems long enough. It does depend if there are many about - if it's birds like crows that go on the grass then once he's gotten rid of them it shouldn't be a problem but if there are water fowl, I'm not sure how well concentrated on the task he will be...
We will just start on the boring playing field first, no point trying his water retrieves until he's got the hang of them on land. There are no waterfowl on the field.
Ok that sounds simple and best. I hope you can throw or do you place - he has a good sit and stay, for a short distance. And he stays when something is being thrown. You'd laugh at him now my brother - in all his wonderful wisdom - has brought his hamster down and put him on the floor - with a Louie stalking him, good job his leave in the house is good!
