An Taín Hunting Outfitter
Well-Known Member
I have a strange query which I realllllllly need help on.
i know on this site we usually talk about in the field issues but here is an at home one which is beginning to become persistent so I need to nip it in the bud.
Here are my 2 scenarios:
1). I get dog from pen, dog goes on lead excited as hell as he knows he is going somewhere, dog asked to sit, boot opens, dog waits for command 'hup' and boom dog shoots into the boot. No problem.
When leaving relatives dog lead out on lead, and same again boom! Dog flies into the boot. No problem.
2). I go to pen, get dog. NO LEAD this time, dog asked to heel, dog flies off, boot opens, dog refuses blindly to respond to any command whatsoever. Will not heel. Will not sit. Will not recall. 45mins spent waiting or I go to open the front door so dog runs over as if to get in and then I can CALMLY put my hand on his collar and lead him over to the boot. Loads of praise and 'hup in', dog jumps into the boot. But dare I take my hand of his collar before then.
Leaving relatives, dog gets mad excited as he hears my car keys jingle and knows he is going somewhere in the car. I walk out of relatives house with dog off lead, open boot, no front door to open as he knows it's not his house so cannot use this ruse like at my own home and then....boom! Off he shoots and will not respond in any way whatsoever. Wait for 25-45mins sometimes thinking what am I doing wrong.
So the problem is not just recall. He just goes on complete rebellion. He is 10months old. When he activates this state he is not showing a fear response as in "I am not coming back as I am afraid". Instead he stands very tall and goes straight into hunt mode but even when I get on my hunkers and call he looks and kinda says "screw you, you can't catch me' and off he goes.
I lead train him every day on a long line. He recalls, sits, stays and hunts up exactly as I command with loads of praise. I make this very fun for him, sometimes includes items he enjoys as time out for me and him. I reward his on the long line recall with the tiniest pieces of bacon lardons trying to phase out 'off the lead disobedience', and it works wonders, but on the long line only.
so my queries to those who have been through this is:
1. What has brought about this complete lack of obedience when off the long line?
2. Has anyone been through this before and how did they remedy it?
3. How do I reward good behaviour rather than focus on reprimanding bad behaviour, if I can't even get close to him when off the long line?
4. Also this is a problem which the pup came to me with but I am having trouble phasing out? It seems the happier he is the more disobedience I receive when he is off the long line.
i am thinking of this in a hill scenario, as in "stop! Do not follow that running pregnant ewe!". If his tracking is spot on but obedience is lacking he is in no fit state for the hill.
keeping him always on the long line is my alternative for now but I need him to follow at my heel, steady to he shot, long line on and begin tracking. The Irish hill and wild woodland is so wild it will not suit to always have him on the longline. He must be able to follow me independently.
Thanks guys, hope the post isn't too long.
p.s. As with many BMHs this wee pup can be as bold as brass with some things and when deciding to hunt up disobediently (broke my heart a few times running off for 45mins during a stalk) but very nervous in other things especially in my presence. It is like he is afraid of me but I only ever try to boost his confidence and reward positive responses. He does get the odd 'noooooo' (said calmly) but the same as any other pup pushing the boundary.
also I have trained some great springers for the gun, but this pup just isn't responding to the same reward mechanisms.
i know on this site we usually talk about in the field issues but here is an at home one which is beginning to become persistent so I need to nip it in the bud.
Here are my 2 scenarios:
1). I get dog from pen, dog goes on lead excited as hell as he knows he is going somewhere, dog asked to sit, boot opens, dog waits for command 'hup' and boom dog shoots into the boot. No problem.
When leaving relatives dog lead out on lead, and same again boom! Dog flies into the boot. No problem.
2). I go to pen, get dog. NO LEAD this time, dog asked to heel, dog flies off, boot opens, dog refuses blindly to respond to any command whatsoever. Will not heel. Will not sit. Will not recall. 45mins spent waiting or I go to open the front door so dog runs over as if to get in and then I can CALMLY put my hand on his collar and lead him over to the boot. Loads of praise and 'hup in', dog jumps into the boot. But dare I take my hand of his collar before then.
Leaving relatives, dog gets mad excited as he hears my car keys jingle and knows he is going somewhere in the car. I walk out of relatives house with dog off lead, open boot, no front door to open as he knows it's not his house so cannot use this ruse like at my own home and then....boom! Off he shoots and will not respond in any way whatsoever. Wait for 25-45mins sometimes thinking what am I doing wrong.
So the problem is not just recall. He just goes on complete rebellion. He is 10months old. When he activates this state he is not showing a fear response as in "I am not coming back as I am afraid". Instead he stands very tall and goes straight into hunt mode but even when I get on my hunkers and call he looks and kinda says "screw you, you can't catch me' and off he goes.
I lead train him every day on a long line. He recalls, sits, stays and hunts up exactly as I command with loads of praise. I make this very fun for him, sometimes includes items he enjoys as time out for me and him. I reward his on the long line recall with the tiniest pieces of bacon lardons trying to phase out 'off the lead disobedience', and it works wonders, but on the long line only.
so my queries to those who have been through this is:
1. What has brought about this complete lack of obedience when off the long line?
2. Has anyone been through this before and how did they remedy it?
3. How do I reward good behaviour rather than focus on reprimanding bad behaviour, if I can't even get close to him when off the long line?
4. Also this is a problem which the pup came to me with but I am having trouble phasing out? It seems the happier he is the more disobedience I receive when he is off the long line.
i am thinking of this in a hill scenario, as in "stop! Do not follow that running pregnant ewe!". If his tracking is spot on but obedience is lacking he is in no fit state for the hill.
keeping him always on the long line is my alternative for now but I need him to follow at my heel, steady to he shot, long line on and begin tracking. The Irish hill and wild woodland is so wild it will not suit to always have him on the longline. He must be able to follow me independently.
Thanks guys, hope the post isn't too long.
p.s. As with many BMHs this wee pup can be as bold as brass with some things and when deciding to hunt up disobediently (broke my heart a few times running off for 45mins during a stalk) but very nervous in other things especially in my presence. It is like he is afraid of me but I only ever try to boost his confidence and reward positive responses. He does get the odd 'noooooo' (said calmly) but the same as any other pup pushing the boundary.
also I have trained some great springers for the gun, but this pup just isn't responding to the same reward mechanisms.
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