Speaking of hancocks I have a question about training mine.

[Mickey Finn 3,087]

 

Speaking of Hancocks pups. Here's mine at five months in these pics. (24" at the shoulder) He's been coming along pretty well. I've done a little gun dog type training with him. He'll enter the water and swim after a thrown dummy. He brings it back but wants to play keep away. We can cure him of that when he's a little older. He's ok with gunfire, and has had a chance to mouth some shot game. The bottom pic has him with my wirehair checking out a bear.

 

I plan to work on retrieving through the winter. Come spring, he'll be at a year and ready for live game. Only thats when our quiet season starts. No running dogs til july. Would there be any benefit to starting him earlier to catching slower animals? Training ducks are easy to come by here. Also, there are domestic rabbits available. We use both for gun dog training. So, I'll have some handy as time goes by. or should I work on other things and wait til the training season starts?

 

As always, any help is appreciated, and thanks in advance.

 

ATB

[paulus 26]

them teeth look pritty mature for 5 months i run my young lurchrer pups with an older dog as soon as there physically able too, i know alot of people are against this and prefer to hold back. ive never had any problems bringing a pup on in this mannor but as they say horses for courses and each to his own.

[skycat 6,174]

The main problem with starting dogs young is that they aren't mentally mature enough for certain things. Dogs develop mentally in stages. When young all they want to do is play: like you're finding with the retrieving 'game'. If you start a young dog working on live animals before you have got the retrieving sorted, you may well wave good bye to a decent retrieve as an adult. Sure, the dog will have plenty of experience on live game, but it might not behave in the way you want.

 

Much better, in my opinion, to get the training sorted before putting the dog in a situation where you are setting it up to 'fail'. 'Fail' your expectations of being a good retriever, for example.

 

Best thing to do with pups which are not responding to traditional gun dog type training, (and for any other dog for that matter) is to play with the dog, do some tug training, get the dog focused on you as the source of all its pleasure. This is not a new concept amongst sport dog people, but hunting/working dog people are often still in the dominance theory stage of evolution as dog trainers

 

Check out Leeburg's and Michael Ellis' videos on Youtube. I know that these dogs are not being trained for hunting, but a dog is a dog is a dog. They operate by the same instincts and drives. I know I've been spouting on about this recently (along with Casso ) but I've never had a dog that won't retrieve using these methods: playing tug of war with pups. It's getting the dog to feel good about having something in its mouth when its with you, up close to you.

[paulus 26]

all my dogs retrieve to hand, i shoot with my lurchers aswell as run them, all retrieving has been taught with the aid of an older dog usually the pups father, ive never used a ball, dummy or any other man made object always fresh shot game, ive never thrown anything for my lurchers to retrieve. they are as much at home in a hide as they are on the lamp or working daytime. when working togeather double retrieves are the norm.

[toffee 76]

atb in the states,,,,what else do you hunt over there with lurchers,,?

[bunnys 1,236]

the retrieving just basic when retrieve training change the dummy about light pull with the dummyy dont take to excesive tugging some lurcher types will gladly take to this and do the same with live game yes a dog his a dog but breed types differ especially in the lurcher of today atb bunnys

[Mickey Finn 3,087]

them teeth look pritty mature for 5 months i run my young lurchrer pups with an older dog as soon as there physically able too, i know alot of people are against this and prefer to hold back. ive never had any problems bringing a pup on in this mannor but as they say horses for courses and each to his own.

 

He's got all of his adult teeth as near as I can tell. I used the older dog technique to get him going into the water after dummies. Just tied him to a stump and let him watch a few. Worked like a champ. I was planning to hold off on game til he was close to a year. But the timing of our quiet (nesting time) period is in the way. I think I'll just keep a close eye on his development and let that be my guide. It sounds like mine will be seeing some of the same work yours do. I was very pleased with his entering the water for dummies so young. It might add another dimension to his hunting life.

 

Thanks for your reply and insight!

Edited October 29, 2011 by Mickey Finn

[Rake aboot 4,936]

A Hancock !! jeez you`re brave !! hahahha

 

Apart from the colour, it`s a ringer for mine,, same age roughly as well. mine is coming on with retrieving and basics,, still wants to play,,,and steals everything, lol

 

ATB

[Mickey Finn 3,087]

atb in the states,,,,what else do you hunt over there with lurchers,,?

 

Hi toffee, He's my first Lurcher. But, I was planning to use him for rabbits mostly. Then as a gun dog as far as his abilities (as well as my training abilities) will take him.

 

All the best.

[Mickey Finn 3,087]

A Hancock !! jeez you`re brave !! hahahha

 

Apart from the colour, it`s a ringer for mine,, same age roughly as well. mine is coming on with retrieving and basics,, still wants to play,,,and steals everything, lol

 

ATB

 

Fearless! lol

This ones a riot. He'll grab anything and run outside with it. Anything!

 

ATB

Edited October 30, 2011 by Mickey Finn

[Rake aboot 4,936]

Yup

 

Mines knicked an enameled cooking pot twice the weight of him, and broke the fekin handle off it,, I could barely lift it with one hand !! hahahhaha,,like I say,, steals EVERYTHING !! lol