- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Last week Cassie and I had a 1.2.1 gundog training lesson, the first session we've done since August when the GGS lessons finished. It's funny but for some reason I don't feel as driven about it as I did, I was so keen that Cassie would learn to use her ability, to get some satisfaction in her life, in the beginning. Passing the Grade 2 feels like a big deal, mainly because at one time I was having trouble getting her to retrieve at all and easily seen marked retrieves were as difficult as anything. I'm not phased by the Grade 3 requirements, with training and consistency she can do it all. (Except for the swim, but that's another story).
But overall, I wonder how much more I want/need to do with her, I don't want to be worrying about the short comings in my training but just enjoy her for the dog she has become. I didn't understand in the beginning that hunting and searching is far more enjoyable to her than retrieving, I thought all Labradors were keen retrievers and I thought I'd done something wrong somewhere. But I can see now that I didn't and just needed to train the dog I have. Day to day, she's great and is such fun with her character and little quirks, like they all are, and I do believe she is contented.
But anyway, we had our lesson, working on improving delivery to hand and discussing many things, the hour very quickly went by! So we have plenty of homework. Next time we will work on hunting, which I want to do.
One thing we discussed is her frustration levels which at times in a group session burst out through Cassie's head resulting in demented kangaroo type behaviour. (Reminiscent of teenage tantrums). SWMBO seemed to be choosing her words carefully ..... " her natural ability (Cassie's) outweighs her understanding of what she is required to do in the circumstances" ....... hmmmm I've been thinking about that, is she trying to say
my little girl has a rubbish handler??!! I shall have to ask her next time!!
But overall, I wonder how much more I want/need to do with her, I don't want to be worrying about the short comings in my training but just enjoy her for the dog she has become. I didn't understand in the beginning that hunting and searching is far more enjoyable to her than retrieving, I thought all Labradors were keen retrievers and I thought I'd done something wrong somewhere. But I can see now that I didn't and just needed to train the dog I have. Day to day, she's great and is such fun with her character and little quirks, like they all are, and I do believe she is contented.
But anyway, we had our lesson, working on improving delivery to hand and discussing many things, the hour very quickly went by! So we have plenty of homework. Next time we will work on hunting, which I want to do.
One thing we discussed is her frustration levels which at times in a group session burst out through Cassie's head resulting in demented kangaroo type behaviour. (Reminiscent of teenage tantrums). SWMBO seemed to be choosing her words carefully ..... " her natural ability (Cassie's) outweighs her understanding of what she is required to do in the circumstances" ....... hmmmm I've been thinking about that, is she trying to say
my little girl has a rubbish handler??!! I shall have to ask her next time!!