9th February 2011 - Rearsby, Leicestershire
Our trainer Stewart North at Workinggundogs.co.uk had the pleasure of meeting Ex Tigers player Neil Fletcher and wife Debbie today together with their 15 week Black Labrador Retriever Puppy Toby on one of our gundog home visits.
Neil was introduced to Stewart and workinggundogs.co.uk through England Rugby International Leon Lloyd and friend Joe Lomas, both have a keen interest in shooting and working gundogs.
Neil & Debbie for many years had a Chocolate Labrador and when they lost him, thought he could never be replaced and decided to go without a dog for a short while. Debbie realised the family was incomplete without a dog and decided to surprise Neil at Christmas with Toby!
Neil has always had a keen interest in shooting and takes up about 6 invitations a year, loves picking up and jumps at the chance of some pigeon shooting when he is not working.
Like most good owners of a new puppy Neil and Debbie want the best start for the dog, don't want to make any mistakes! And lack confidence in starting with a new pup all over again.
Neil starting reading a book Gundog Training Made Easy by Tony Price from Tawnyhill Gundogs, which gives some valuable guidance, but when it comes to putting into practice it's always a lot more difficult. Neil has also seen a number of gundogs, whilst shooting and picking up and knows it's quite easy to go wrong and produce a gundog which is too much of robot or becomes a self employed hunting machine.
As with all our gundog home visits we discuss the dogs breeding, training, management and aspirations of the client. Neil & Debbie are typical gundog owners who are not looking for some field trial machine, but just a family companion, which primarily will be a pet, which will be taken out occasionally shooting or picking up during the season.
What's very important to the Fletchers is that the dog is stimulated and challenged.
After discussing the attributes of the pedigree and any possible health issues covering hips, elbows and eyes, Neil & Debbie are much better informed, although wished they had sought such advice before they bought Toby.
That said Toby looked in great condition and possessed those typical Labrador retriever characteristics being inquisitive, biddable, good looking and trainable.
We discussed all the basic foundations of training a young gundog involving heelwork, sit, stay and recall commands and simple retrieves.
Heelwork position, lead control and reward, was something Neil was particularly interested in. Neil holds Toby's slip lead in a typical obedience style using both hands, we discussed using one hand for lead control, rewarding with the same hand and reinforcement techniques with the slip lead.
Sit and Stay with distance and time can be started in home and garden and be incorporated around feeding time. Recall can also be practiced with hide and seek and the use of treats.
Careful consideration should be given to amount of exercise and lead control, too much freedom will lead to a self assured dog who does not respond well to leadership commands, too much obedience will produce a gundog which cannot think for its self and could lead to less pace and style!
Labradors should always be keen to retrieve, but far too often gundogs come in for training who do not retrieve, there are many reasons for this, they may have been scolded for picking those Jimmy Choo Shoes!, they got bored with the same old dummy grandfather had! Some training aids are left as toys, which should always be avoided.
We use a variety of training aids, shapes, weights, textures etc...
Keep the retrieves interesting with some memory work in a controlled spaced!
Neil is a typical 2nd row lock 6'6" his body language is very important and needs to be used wisely, together with correct vocal tone. Stewart discussed positive reinforcement (punishment) and reward techniques and the importance of having a measured response to behavior good or bad.
Stewart never did get to drink that cup of tea! obviously talks too much! but looks forward to meeting Neil and Debbie on the training ground, when the Toby is 6 months of age.
Working Gundog Home Visits provide the vital introduction and point of contact for those occasions when clients get concerned about the wellbeing and training of their new companion.
“Remember Let them be puppies. Give him just as much as you expect in return. Be in command. But don’t be out of control. And remember, this is your dog, which is merely a reflection of what you’ve taught him. Most of all, have fun—gun dog training is not a race”.
Contact details on the web.
No comments:
Post a Comment