Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Did you buy them yourself from the supermarket?
Introducing game to dog
- Thread starter BenBhoy
- Start date
Game
I started my Weimaraner litters on game when they were 6/7 weeks old. I'd have them all loose in the back yard fresh from a feed and a sleep so they were full of untapped energy and ready to take on the world. I'd make sure I had a fresh piece of sambar skin about 3 Feet by 3 Feet of from a shot yesterday sambar. I'd enter the yard and put it on the lawn. It was instantly mobbed by the pups. It was great to see them all around the edge with each one grabbed hold of an edge and pulling for all its worth in a futile attempt to run off with it.
Wet/Rough Environment.
The same 6/8 week old pups were also taken to a local swamp and let loose. This gave them experience of dealing with rough and wet environment...climbing over/through short swamp grasses and having to swim in the short 4 to 5 feet wide deeper bits.
Dummies
I'd start my pups on feather dummies when they were 8/10 weeks of age. For 'one on one' training' I made up puppy dummies. An 8 inch length of 1/2 inch dowell with strips of polystyrene taped all around its length. Around this I'd cover it in cotton sheet. On top of this I taped small duck wings along its length - usually 3 - then trim so that there were no overhangs. It's overall diameter was such that it was just a comfortable carry for the pup. Not too small and not too big. The polystyrene had some "give" which is better than something hard...the pup doesn't have to grip it hard in order to hold it.. It also allowed the dummy to float when we went down to the lake for water games with it.
.
After giving the pup a look at ithe dummy I used the passage way in the house as a controlled training evironment. I'd kneel down with the pup beside me with my arm around it holding it to my side. I'd throw the duck dummy to the other end of the hall way whilst telling it "Look" . My command word to retrieve was "Go" and release it. The pup would streak forward and grab it and with encouragment it had no where to go except back to me. I used total excitement to "wind" the pup up....nothing formal. A term I coined to describe this excitement to clients was to be a "16 year old giggling school girl'..aka bubbling over with excitement ...nothing gruff. The idea was to make the event the best thing in the pups life.
I started my Weimaraner litters on game when they were 6/7 weeks old. I'd have them all loose in the back yard fresh from a feed and a sleep so they were full of untapped energy and ready to take on the world. I'd make sure I had a fresh piece of sambar skin about 3 Feet by 3 Feet of from a shot yesterday sambar. I'd enter the yard and put it on the lawn. It was instantly mobbed by the pups. It was great to see them all around the edge with each one grabbed hold of an edge and pulling for all its worth in a futile attempt to run off with it.
Wet/Rough Environment.
The same 6/8 week old pups were also taken to a local swamp and let loose. This gave them experience of dealing with rough and wet environment...climbing over/through short swamp grasses and having to swim in the short 4 to 5 feet wide deeper bits.
Dummies
I'd start my pups on feather dummies when they were 8/10 weeks of age. For 'one on one' training' I made up puppy dummies. An 8 inch length of 1/2 inch dowell with strips of polystyrene taped all around its length. Around this I'd cover it in cotton sheet. On top of this I taped small duck wings along its length - usually 3 - then trim so that there were no overhangs. It's overall diameter was such that it was just a comfortable carry for the pup. Not too small and not too big. The polystyrene had some "give" which is better than something hard...the pup doesn't have to grip it hard in order to hold it.. It also allowed the dummy to float when we went down to the lake for water games with it.
.
After giving the pup a look at ithe dummy I used the passage way in the house as a controlled training evironment. I'd kneel down with the pup beside me with my arm around it holding it to my side. I'd throw the duck dummy to the other end of the hall way whilst telling it "Look" . My command word to retrieve was "Go" and release it. The pup would streak forward and grab it and with encouragment it had no where to go except back to me. I used total excitement to "wind" the pup up....nothing formal. A term I coined to describe this excitement to clients was to be a "16 year old giggling school girl'..aka bubbling over with excitement ...nothing gruff. The idea was to make the event the best thing in the pups life.
Yep. Just giggling at the thought of sending my wife on a surreptitious mission to buy tights for me
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Get help when you start trying stiletto heels.Yep. Just giggling at the thought of sending my wife on a surreptitious mission to buy tights for me
The earlier the better.
Ged_GRS
Active Member
I am introducing deer to my Irish Water Spaniel. He is 4 years old, walks to heel, is trained to my whistle, retrieves anything I throw or point at. Some people would say that I have left it too late! They say a deer tracking dog should be introduced to deer blood at three months. and 4 years old is way past it. Talking to gun dog training specialist they advise basic training only until a dog reaches two, then specific more complex work can be done. I do not know what to believe.
What I can say is that Irish Water Spaniels are in the top 3% of trainable dogs but they are stubborn and slow to mature. With this in mind I do not think it is too late. (I am going to try anyway regardless)
I have a bottle of fresh deer blood which I intend to water down by 5 parts water to one part blood. I will use deer skin and blood to lay easy trails, building up to 1/4 mile extended trails once our confidence builds. Irish Water Spaniels are capable of remembering and acting on commands with as few as 5-6 repetitions. even less if its something they really like. My dog is devoted. willing. and very playful.
Do you think I can train a professional deer dog using these methods. All criticism welcome as I intend to try anyway. What are your thoughts, waste of time? Or doable with time and patience?
What I can say is that Irish Water Spaniels are in the top 3% of trainable dogs but they are stubborn and slow to mature. With this in mind I do not think it is too late. (I am going to try anyway regardless)
I have a bottle of fresh deer blood which I intend to water down by 5 parts water to one part blood. I will use deer skin and blood to lay easy trails, building up to 1/4 mile extended trails once our confidence builds. Irish Water Spaniels are capable of remembering and acting on commands with as few as 5-6 repetitions. even less if its something they really like. My dog is devoted. willing. and very playful.
Do you think I can train a professional deer dog using these methods. All criticism welcome as I intend to try anyway. What are your thoughts, waste of time? Or doable with time and patience?
Brittany boy
Well-Known Member
You won’t know till you try but if your dogs as good as you say then no reason why not.
Scotty99
Well-Known Member
Probably a bit too early yet. Give it a few more months and continue working with dummies until retrieving becomes automatic. I introduce feather first by putting a hen pheasant in a pop sock and tie it with a cable tie. Gets them used to the scent and weight and balance without them licking or pulling at the feathers. Once they are fetching it back without any issues I gradually roll back the pop sock, I/4, 1/2, 3/4 and then off all together. Gets them used to the feathers in the mouth. You could also use this approach with rabbits.
OLD WIFES TAILS , You have to train this that or other dogs when they are young ! Utter rubbish
BETTER ADVICE , Train the dog in front of you , not the one in the book!
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