We do a 'hunting dog' exam here that involves following a trail of cold game. Maybe you could use this to do some training with Cassie? It's very easy to set up - you just drag a dead rabbit or pheasant for a certain length, through the woods or through grass. We start off with about 100m and work up to 300m. At first we do a straight line with just a short kink in the trail, then progress to doing a couple of swerves. It's amazing how fast the dogs work these trails, and it really tires them out. Might be worth a try? I have several pheasants, a couple of rabbits and a duck in my freezer, ready for when I start this training with Merlin...
The Pig meets Shot and Game
- Thread starter Lara_Pigletina
- Start date
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Yes. But as Heidrun says you will be with a trainer and you might not like their methods, though the rabbit pens (three) I have been in over the years, there was never any harsh handling.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
I think Andy Gray has one, doesn't he? And he's traditional but respectful of people who want to do things positively? I've never met him, but I know of some positive people who have been to him and felt welcome.
I have not come across that name before. Do you mean Robin Gray?
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
That sounds interesting, I'm sure I could do that. Would it be best to start with longline? Depends I suppose where I do it. And what happens when they find it, how do I reward her?
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
No, Andy from Poppymead Gundogs?
I never used a line. In my experience of doing this and watching other dogs do it, they are so intent on working that a line would just disturb them. For Poppy, the reward for successfully following the trail was simply finding the rabbit/pheasant at the end, and bringing it back to me. I then had a rabbit-skin tennis ball, which I gave her to reward her for delivering the game to hand.
This sounds great - i need to teach a retrieve from scratch with the Pig before that though as she won't retrieve feathery things. Bunny fur is ok though...do you think instead of getting a dead thing, I could put some scent on a normal dummy and drag that along instead?
What a perfect statement!We go training to learn, not take a perfectly behaved dog, that comes later
ooh he is in Newbury I think - v close to me!
Ok we shall continue to work hard on recall! We can recall away from rabbit holes now (with rabbits in them) and sitting rabbits at a distance, but no chance with running rabbits. And I don't really now have access to reliable running rabbits or pheasants at the moment, they just pop up unexpectedly! Perhaps I will drive to a walk that goes close to an estate with pheasants, because they will be all over the place then...
Yes, definitely you can!
Here is a little video of the Pig retrieving a dummy. It’s a bit boring but I was proud of it as she did not see me drop the dummy and so was being sent out blind and still went out quite keenly. Admittedly I have made it a little easier by sending her down a path but she usually runs relatively straight without the path.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
She is looking fabulous.
What a lovely happy girl.
What a lovely happy girl.
Brilliant! You've done so well with her @Lara_Pigletina .
That’s gorgeous @Lara_Pigletina ! Such a strong outrun (that’s my ‘One Man and his Dog’ terminology there) and then where is she... there she is! Good girl.
) and then where is she... there she is! Good girl.
I only put things on there to share with the Labrador forum 
That's brilliant @Lara_Pigletina, she's doing so well, you must be very proud of her and a testament to your hard work and persistence in training.
How is the Pig getting on with baby Willow these days?
How is the Pig getting on with baby Willow these days?
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Looking very nice, keen and a good retrieve to hand