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Slow Water entry
#1553626
07/26/10 02:26 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,839
kdub
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,839 |
Lately when training with water retrieves with dummies, my 6 month lab is slow to start making the retrieve. He seems distracted, like he would rather be chasing ripples and bugs on the water. He will make the retrieve, but I have to command him back several times. I don't think I am overdoing him on retrieves because we only do three -6 a day. My thoughts are that maybe
I need to throw shorter retrieves (I have been using the retrieve-r-trainer)
I need to concentrate more on obedience, he will be getting collar conditioned in a few weeks which I think will drastically help our obedience training.
I need to play fetch as a game more in the hall (in the hall, because he likes to run off with the bumper in the field), we do more water retrieves, because then he does not have the option to go the other way where we are training.
Any suggestions? Thanks Kdub
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: kdub]
#1553662
07/26/10 02:40 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 755
catchrcall
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 755 |
I'm not a gun dog guy, so maybe this is worthless, but I'd say he's six month old, his attention span is short, and he's probably going to wander off after quite a few butterflies at that age. shoot, he's still a toddler. maybe it's different with bird dogs?
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: catchrcall]
#1553683
07/26/10 02:46 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,839
kdub
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,839 |
I think you have something there, he does have a short attention span still, and if there's a grasshopper between him and his bumper, the grasshopper is more appealing I love my dog like crazy, but he drives me insane.
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: kdub]
#1554150
07/26/10 01:36 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,916
TreeBass
Old Weller
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Old Weller
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,916 |
yep, sounds like he's being a pup. Have fun and "play games" with him to get your results
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: TreeBass]
#1554192
07/26/10 02:00 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 405
Gengo
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 405 |
At 6 months do you know if he is possible teething? Maybe the hard bumpers hurt his mouth so he is looking for reasons to not have to retrieve? My pup lost his teeth around that time and his mouth was too sore for regular bumpers.
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: TreeBass]
#1554196
07/26/10 02:03 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,411
Mud Shark
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,411 |
KDub, that is going to happen. Just like everyone has said, he's a little pup. Keep things fun right now, make sure to stay positive all the time and praise him a ton when he gets back to you, before you take the bumper. ( if you try to get the bumper before that, it can turn into a game of keep away, and that ain't good). Just be patient right now. Also, pigeons oflive birds should get his interest.
Mud Shark
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: Mud Shark]
#1554516
07/26/10 04:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,006
Qwaak
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,006 |
I have a 7 month old and when I first introduced him to water he was alittle slow i put him with my buddys dog that is a 1000 miles an hour now hes a bullet train around water. (good and bad depending on who you ask) if you hunt where theres lots of stumps and stuff you dont want your dog to impale it self running hard but if your in ponds and things like that where the dog needs to get it and get back before next set you want more speed. put your pup with a older dog that acts the way you want it to act and chances are monkey see monkey doo. im no expert by any meens thats just my
"He thought about the rituals he'd abandoned and began to feel again the rhythm of the marsh, the ebbs and flow of something greater than himself." www.killerchefs.com facebook
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: Qwaak]
#1554735
07/26/10 06:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,411
Mud Shark
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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Posts: 1,411 |
Good advice about the older dog. I have to say though, I want 100 mph entry, if a stump keeps the dog from getting the bird, I don't want it. That shows me desire and will to please. Just my opinion. I think its the handles job to make sure that there are no stumps or stick that could hurt the dog on a water entry, from the ground or a dog stand.
Mud Shark
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: Mud Shark]
#1554766
07/26/10 07:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,006
Qwaak
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,006 |
i think its the stumps you dont see that are the ones you have to worry about
"He thought about the rituals he'd abandoned and began to feel again the rhythm of the marsh, the ebbs and flow of something greater than himself." www.killerchefs.com facebook
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: Qwaak]
#1554797
07/26/10 07:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,029
TexasEd
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,029 |
My dog isn't reckless about her entry but she isn't too timid either.
I think somewhere in the middle is best for a working dog that actually hunts places with submerged obstacles. At some of the tests/trials the dogs go in so fast they could really get hurt on submerged rocks or stumps.
That said in kdub's case I'd bet on the teeth or needing to lay off retrieves and concentrate on obedience for a while (week or two). When you come back to retrieves there will be a new energy.
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: TexasEd]
#1554936
07/26/10 08:39 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,561
Cappy_TX
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,561 |
Teething and a sore mouth, WARM water and not much fun making long swims in it ... and being a 6 month old pup are all parts of it. Try just a few happy bumpers on land with SOFT objects. I even resort to the use of fabric frisbees for happy bumpers and trust me ... they get really happy real quick!
Cappy ... At my side for thirteen years, in my heart forever.
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: Cappy_TX]
#1556327
07/27/10 02:05 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,839
kdub
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,839 |
Thanks for the advice yall. I think Cuervo has all his adult teeth now. But the warm water difinitely is an issue. Today I threw a few shorter retrieves with my dead fowl, and he seemed to regain his prior enthusiasm for water retrieves.
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: TexasEd]
#1556972
07/27/10 07:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 74
waterlandkennels
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 74 |
yes i would do less marks in water. No more than 4 throws and if he is not eager the 1st one dont do another one. water needs to be a really good place and lots of fun. So if you have to get another dog in with him do it. It just has to be fun for him and if he is not eager about 1 or 2 retrieves throwing more just makes it into work.
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: waterlandkennels]
#1557015
07/27/10 07:27 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,928
FowlDreams
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,928 |
I didn't read everyone's post so I may be repeating something...
But it sounds to me like his "switch" just hasn't flipped on yet... of the 2 dogs I've fully trained there was definitely a point in time where they just "got it" and started putting things together. You really see their brain begin to develop. The first pup I had, her "switch" came on at about 7 mo, and the one I have now didn't really "get it" until about 9 mo. fwiw...
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: FowlDreams]
#1557225
07/27/10 08:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 74
waterlandkennels
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 74 |
also the puppy needs force fetch it changes everything. force fetch teaches:(they have retrieve no matter what is going on. to retrieve is how they please you so it makes them want to retrieve. and lastly to understand a correction on why they get introuble). So it gives the foundation to all advanced training. can a dog be trained with out ff? absolutely but you will strugle in your communication with the dog and you will have no bases to be able to give a correction. so would be unfair to give a correction without ff. So save some headaches and your insanity and help the dog by doing ff.
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Re: Slow Water entry
[Re: waterlandkennels]
#1558002
07/28/10 01:36 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,839
kdub
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,839 |
^^^^^ Good point. We will be doing ff after collar conditioning. I've got a lot of reading to do.
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