Lurcher training

[Mickey Finn 3,087]

Just a quick question about introducing a pup to the gun. I have this Hancock ( yeah, i know) 3/4 grey 1/4 collie pup. He's just passed four months now. He's a fine pup, and just a little hard headed. But, he's picking up on his training pretty well. His recall is showing some promise. His hallway retrieves are 100%. He's more nose oriented that sight oriented. Which will work really well over here. But, he's still oblivious to game. Deer, rabbits, turkey's, squirrels. I've shown him everything I can.

 

He'll chase a lure on a pole til he's exhausted. He's shows interest at blood trails, and game drags. But, nothing with his eyes. He's been fine with the huge amount of fireworks that go off in my neighborhood. Thunder and lightning, don't bother him. But, we usually have a pup chase game when we do our gunfire introductions. I thought I might tease him with a domestic rabbit to sort of spark his interest. Or maybe a clipped winged pigeon.

 

What do you guys think is the best way to go?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

p.s. If anyone feels the urge to slam Hancock. Feel free, just be sure to give some good training advice first. lol

[Casso 1,264]

Just a quick question about introducing a pup to the gun. I have this Hancock ( yeah, i know) 3/4 grey 1/4 collie pup. He's just passed four months now. He's a fine pup, and just a little hard headed. But, he's picking up on his training pretty well. His recall is showing some promise. His hallway retrieves are 100%. He's more nose oriented that sight oriented. Which will work really well over here. But, he's still oblivious to game. Deer, rabbits, turkey's, squirrels. I've shown him everything I can.

 

He'll chase a lure on a pole til he's exhausted. He's shows interest at blood trails, and game drags. But, nothing with his eyes. He's been fine with the huge amount of fireworks that go off in my neighborhood. Thunder and lightning, don't bother him. But, we usually have a pup chase game when we do our gunfire introductions. I thought I might tease him with a domestic rabbit to sort of spark his interest. Or maybe a clipped winged pigeon.

 

What do you guys think is the best way to go?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

p.s. If anyone feels the urge to slam Hancock. Feel free, just be sure to give some good training advice first. lol

Your answer is in your question,,4 months old,,not sure what you expect from a pup of that age, i wouldn't really be expecting much drive for anything,,

a pup of that age is still trying to figure out if its prey or predator to other bigger animals,,its still in its instinctive precautionary mind set,,

encourage confidence in your pup,,prevent as much as you can his instinctive nervousness in situations,,jolly him along and dont overtax him,,

too many nervous experiences now even with you , will teach him that ,thats how he deals with situations in the future,,

any interaction with you that gets his tail up and him smiling ,will develop a positive mindset,,

what you need to do is plant a Yes We Can seed in his mind,it will influence his approach to the big bad world,,

you are his biggest influence, he needs to trust you before he can more on to bigger things,,

so dont worry bout quarry for the time been,,best of luck

[skycat 6,174]

At 4 months old I would expect even a pure sighthound pup to be more nose orientated than sight orientated. Take the pup out where it can smell interesting scents, let it follow scent: it won't go far at this age: I even start dummy training on a rabbit skin dummy around this age, hiding the dummy in long grass so the pup can go and find it. With your pup having Collie in his breeding his nose will be very well developed, and he should have a good instinct to use it: not sure what tasks you had in mind for him when he's full grown, but a lurcher which can use its nose as well as its eyes will always be a more complete hunter than one you just run off a slip: there are people who take their lurchers out with a gun: and a dog which can find wounded prey with its nose is invaluable.

[Mickey Finn 3,087]

Just a quick question about introducing a pup to the gun. I have this Hancock ( yeah, i know) 3/4 grey 1/4 collie pup. He's just passed four months now. He's a fine pup, and just a little hard headed. But, he's picking up on his training pretty well. His recall is showing some promise. His hallway retrieves are 100%. He's more nose oriented that sight oriented. Which will work really well over here. But, he's still oblivious to game. Deer, rabbits, turkey's, squirrels. I've shown him everything I can.

 

He'll chase a lure on a pole til he's exhausted. He's shows interest at blood trails, and game drags. But, nothing with his eyes. He's been fine with the huge amount of fireworks that go off in my neighborhood. Thunder and lightning, don't bother him. But, we usually have a pup chase game when we do our gunfire introductions. I thought I might tease him with a domestic rabbit to sort of spark his interest. Or maybe a clipped winged pigeon.

 

What do you guys think is the best way to go?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

p.s. If anyone feels the urge to slam Hancock. Feel free, just be sure to give some good training advice first. lol

Your answer is in your question,,4 months old,,not sure what you expect from a pup of that age, i wouldn't really be expecting much drive for anything,,

a pup of that age is still trying to figure out if its prey or predator to other bigger animals,,its still in its instinctive precautionary mind set,,

encourage confidence in your pup,,prevent as much as you can his instinctive nervousness in situations,,jolly him along and dont overtax him,,

too many nervous experiences now even with you , will teach him that ,thats how he deals with situations in the future,,

any interaction with you that gets his tail up and him smiling ,will develop a positive mindset,,

what you need to do is plant a Yes We Can seed in his mind,it will influence his approach to the big bad world,,

you are his biggest influence, he needs to trust you before he can more on to bigger things,,

so dont worry bout quarry for the time been,,best of luck

 

Thanks Casso. He seems to be doing OK in the confidence department, for his age. I just wanted to get the gunfire thing out of the way. If you don't think prompting him with a rabbit of pigeon would help. I may just hold off for awhile.

 

Thanks again!

[Mickey Finn 3,087]

At 4 months old I would expect even a pure sighthound pup to be more nose orientated than sight orientated. Take the pup out where it can smell interesting scents, let it follow scent: it won't go far at this age: I even start dummy training on a rabbit skin dummy around this age, hiding the dummy in long grass so the pup can go and find it. With your pup having Collie in his breeding his nose will be very well developed, and he should have a good instinct to use it: not sure what tasks you had in mind for him when he's full grown, but a lurcher which can use its nose as well as its eyes will always be a more complete hunter than one you just run off a slip: there are people who take their lurchers out with a gun: and a dog which can find wounded prey with its nose is invaluable.

 

Skycat, I was planning on using him primarily as a sight hound. With any gun applications being a bonus. Judging by what I've seen so far. He'll get some blood tracking training, along with some retrieving work. I've let him explore areas where we have done some training with the gun dogs. So, he's gotten to check out some drags, as well as some blood tracks. He pick right up on them, and shows as much interest as a Drahthaar at that age. So, I'm pretty exited about his possibilities.

 

Thanks for your insight!

[skycat 6,174]

The thing about sighthounds is that whilst they do have the ability to use their nose, they are also able to pinpoint moving prey at a distance much better than non sighthound breeds. To me, this is what makes a good lurcher a real all round useful animal: even if you just used the dog to slip on moving targets in the distance, how much better is that dog if it can follow its prey into cover and use its nose to locate that prey if it has laid up out of sight.

 

You'll find that as your pup matures he'll use his eyes more: its also a developmental thing: nature wouldn't want a young pup to be able to see too far away and be lured on by prey it has no chance of catching at a young age. Each sense develops in accordance with the capacity of the physical body.