Cassie's Gundog training log

[Stacia]

Yes, back in September, see earlier in this thread. I feel inspired to keep at it now. A lot of what I did when she was younger has gone in, but it seems like we can polish it now! (Cassie that is, not SWMBO)

Just wondered if you had gone again since then?! Will you go again?

 

[Selina27]

Will you go again?

I have booked a couple of "training shoots" one in December and on in January, otherwise I planned to go every 3 or 4 months, to give us something to work on

 

[Selina27]

Today I am feeling so pleased that I did all that gundog training with Cass as a youngster. We are at a happy point where every couple of weeks we can go out and have some fun and both of us enjoy ourselves!
In contrast to yesterday the morning is bright and sunny with a warm wind. Just what Cass loves I know, and indeed she indulged in a massive zoomie as soon as we got into the field.
We started with ping pong recall - guaranteed to crank up the enthusiasm levels, she loves doing that.
Then we did some marks and blinds , as best I could on my own, but I am working on improving the go back cue so that was fine. She used to drop the dummy, but following months of improving her bringing me my slippers and placing in my hands via hand touch she now looks for my hands to place it in them.
All only little things in the big scheme of gundog work I know but I find it very pleasing.
I had a bit of a light bulb moment with the rabbit skin dummy, she loves it so much she sometimes plays with it , so I decided that from now on it's going to be her post retrieving reward and we can play tug with it!
What took me so long ?!!
How much I have learnt along the way!
She's never been a dog to indulge in playing with a ball or any toy when on a "walk". She seems to need it to be set up as "work".

 

[FayRose]

Brilliant, that's what its all about isn't it @Selina27 , seeing the joy in the dog when she's 'working'? Good for you and gorgeous Cassie for all that fun training

 

[Selina27]

Brilliant, that's what its all about isn't it @Selina27 , seeing the joy in the dog when she's 'working'?

Yes, how right you are!

Lovely to hear from you, how is dear Molly?

 

[kateincornwall]

A lovely read @Selina27 , I also so enjoy seeing my dog ` working ` , challenging them tires them out too , grand photos xx

 

[Stacia]

So good to read @Selina27, remember way back that she wouldn't be interested in retrieving but I was quite sure she would and now she does

 

[Beanwood]

Love the partnership you both have!

 

[HAH]

This is such a great read @Selina27 , you clearly understand each other very well - what a super team Also loads there I find very impressive, small in gundoggery terms or no!

 

[Selina27]

remember way back that she wouldn't be interested in retrieving but I was quite sure she would and now she does

So true, and you were one of the people who helped me learn to understand her xx

 

[David]

Loved reading about that. I found myself out there with you!

 

[Selina27]

I found myself out there with you!

Wouldn't that be grand? I would really enjoy having another person/dog team to "work " with!

 

[MellowYellow]

Such a great read!!

 

[Selina27]

@HAH, just carrying on the conversation we started on Odin's thread, would it be worth contacting the trainer in question and discussing that method of loose lead training? Maybe they would be willing to work with another approach?
I never have really cracked llw !!

 

[HAH]

@HAH, just carrying on the conversation we started on Odin's thread, would it be worth contacting the trainer in question and discussing that method of loose lead training? Maybe they would be willing to work with another approach?
I never have really cracked llw !!

It’s an idea, thanks for thinking of it - but it’s more that it’s indicative of their whole ethos. I’m not looking to run a crusade, just find a trainer who fits my needs. Loose lead walking is one of the things I’m less fussed about (ours is good enough!), I’m more interested in fun gun dog games - but I’m not going to compromise standards to do this. They’re also not that close to us so would have to be worth traveling to.

 

[Selina27]

I’m more interested in fun gun dog games - but I’m not going to compromise standards to do this

Ah yes, I see what you mean.
I eventually travelled a long way to a +R trainer , but once the lovely positive training school we have here got established she started doing workshops for them and has mentored a gundog trainer there. So now they are doing Pet Gundog classes which I think are great, to give folk the opportunity to provide outlets for their companion gundogs.
So what I'm saying is maybe someone near you would start such a thing one day. Hopefully!

 

[HAH]

give folk the opportunity to provide outlets for their companion gundogs

This is so lovely, exactly what we need.

maybe someone near you would start such a thing one day

Fingers crossed! The area is ripe for the plucking, there are wall to wall companion gun dogs round here. Or maybe we need to move nearer to an established site?

 

[Selina27]

The area is ripe for the plucking,

Career change opportunity for you ?

 

[HAH]

Career change opportunity for you ?

The thing I’d struggle with most is the owners! I hugely admire people who go into training, I don’t think I have the temperament

 

[Selina27]

The thing I’d struggle with most is the owners!

Ah yes -- there is this xx