Exciting! Looking forward to your updates.
Cassie's Gundog training log
- Thread starter Selina27
- Start date
That sounds excellent, good girl Cassie.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Does SWMBO know she's "SWMBO"?Are you going to the graded classes with SWMBO?
Looking forward to hearing all about it! It sounds like Cassie is doing really well
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
We did, and it was full on! Cassie didn't get up until 10.30 having had breakfast and a wee at 8ish!
I wonder -- it suits I think!
I was smiling to myself this morning as I recalled her voice last night calling out "don't panic" every time 2 dogs had got together for a bit of a hoolie on the field. Not always Cassie either!
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Yes I was only thinking that this morning. Last night we had 2 hours plus solid training.
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Well done Cassie , and you too @Selina27 . Sam used to adore his gundog training , he was a passionate retriever and whilst his finer points were never that fine , he got such enjoyment from it , hopefully Reuben will do, once his is over his silly stage ( are they ever ? ) . Lovely to read of such grand progress with Cassie xx
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
It is exciting, it is quite a commitment for me both financially and in terms of distance, which is why I haven't done it before. But I feel really good about it today, it's great to find out what we can already do well, and strenghten both those things and those that need more work. I like that it is bringing things together and giving us focus.
I don't know if we will be ready for the assessment on the given day, but I've decided not to stress about that but enjoy working towards the given standard.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Thank you @kateincornwall . She's absolutely worn out today! The thing with Cassie is that still, at 3, she's highly distracted by other dogs so doing all this off lead for 2 hours is a big deal.
But you know, 18 or so months ago during and after that phantom pregnancy (remember that?) I thought I'd never be able to do this with her -- I'm so pleased I didn't give up!
But you know, 18 or so months ago during and after that phantom pregnancy (remember that?) I thought I'd never be able to do this with her -- I'm so pleased I didn't give up!
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Cassie is just a little older than Squidge, who is still massively distracted by other dogs, and probably always will be, because she has such limited exposure to them. Even after four days of gundog camp last summer, she was super excited by the others (albeit, it was almost always one dog out at a time, so she didn't have much chance to acclimatise to it). Three years is still very young in Labrador terms, and it sounds like she did absolutely amazingly.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Haha yes -- at one point she managed to get together with the other Labrador in the group (who's very handsome) and his owner groaned " oh no a Labrador fest!". To be fair SWMBO said I should be very pleased with her.
It's tricky this though. Cassie see's dog's here that vary from a GSD who attacks other bitches, a tolerant GSD, a tolerant Labrador, a playful Labrador, a terrier who from the word go has refused to interact with Cass, a deaf terrier who is a bit unsure of a fit black hooligan, to a frankly slightly bonkers Romanian sheep dog. So she's used to having to alter her attitude.
She's had a lot more exposure to other dogs in the last 6 weeks, spending 4 days with Carbon showed her that it's possible to relax with another dog.
Yeah. She did
. For her.
Well done Cassie and Selina
Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
I think your progression with Cassie has been amazing - I follow with interest.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
This is really nice of you Alison, it feels to me that I do a lot of faffing about, I'm quite sure that in other more experienced hands Cassie would be flying now. The general concensus is she is a "thinking" dog who has natural ability in spades, who would probably flourish in a shoot scenario. It took me ages to suss out what sort of dog I have, but we are happy doing this together come what may!
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Is there a mod or similar who could put my Graded Gundog Scheme thread in here? And add Graded Gundog Scheme to the title? Thank you!
- Location
- Argyll & Bute, Scotland
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Now we are halfway through the 8 weeks classes for the GGS. Looks like I have plenty of time to write a catch up as Cassie has curled herself up firmly after breakfast and a wee, following last nights session, during in which she did a great deal of running about and consuming sausages. Her ideal night out I would say.
Week 3 -- last week, we practised the retrieves, a memory, 2 x 50 yard marks and directionals, the latter being the first time for her. She did have a couple of silly sessions , not returning to me directly or rushing up to other dogs, but overall she did well, especially the directionals which were no problem. Delivery to hand still a bit iffy.
My homework was to practice drawing her to me by guiding her in using my arms. My daughter says I look like the Angel of the North -- so you get the picture!
Week 4 -- we did place board work, teaching the cue "place". Cass loved this as it involved sausage being thrown! She entered into the spirit it's fair to say. Next we practised positioning of ourselves ready to send them for the dummy, we did this in pairs and therefore practised "wait" for our dogs while we became the "focus" for the other dog. No problems with this. And finally stop whistle -- 10 reps not jumping out of the pen, again fine but Cass needs to respond a teeny bit quicker, which I'm sure we can achieve. We did "nodding dog" so that we can hammer home the cue when they sit back down.
So much homework this week -- for the placeboard we have to do "round the clock", so that they can return to their "place" from wherever they are, next to you or behind you.
Better go an get started!
Oh, and I should say --- THERE WAS NO RUNNING TO OTHER DOGS
even when a couple of others broke and came in her direction she managed not to join them -- this is a big deal for Cassie.
At the end there was a bit of getting together with leads on --aaargh -- but overall I'm very pleased with this aspect.
Week 3 -- last week, we practised the retrieves, a memory, 2 x 50 yard marks and directionals, the latter being the first time for her. She did have a couple of silly sessions , not returning to me directly or rushing up to other dogs, but overall she did well, especially the directionals which were no problem. Delivery to hand still a bit iffy.
My homework was to practice drawing her to me by guiding her in using my arms. My daughter says I look like the Angel of the North -- so you get the picture!
Week 4 -- we did place board work, teaching the cue "place". Cass loved this as it involved sausage being thrown! She entered into the spirit it's fair to say. Next we practised positioning of ourselves ready to send them for the dummy, we did this in pairs and therefore practised "wait" for our dogs while we became the "focus" for the other dog. No problems with this. And finally stop whistle -- 10 reps not jumping out of the pen, again fine but Cass needs to respond a teeny bit quicker, which I'm sure we can achieve. We did "nodding dog" so that we can hammer home the cue when they sit back down.
So much homework this week -- for the placeboard we have to do "round the clock", so that they can return to their "place" from wherever they are, next to you or behind you.
Better go an get started!
Oh, and I should say --- THERE WAS NO RUNNING TO OTHER DOGS
even when a couple of others broke and came in her direction she managed not to join them -- this is a big deal for Cassie.At the end there was a bit of getting together with leads on --aaargh -- but overall I'm very pleased with this aspect.
Last edited: