2 year old springer still not retrieving

[Billy08 1]

hi, i have a 2 year old springer spaniel and he has a serious problem with retrieving on water. If a duck lands anywhere more than 25 yards out on the water he'll swim half way and then turn back.even if he retrieves across a canal he's inclined to take a moment to get into the water and then when he picks up the dummy he walks around the far bank with no real urgency to bring it back and on occasion has just left it there. It's actually almost shocking because he's an outstanding hunter for woodcock and for hunting cover and you'd think how could such a confident hunter be so bad with water. I have another older springer who can be a bit of a bully as he's mad for retrieving but he's getting old now. i wondered if he has had much of an effect on the younger one but then the younger one will retrieve fine on land. He just seems to show very little interest, as if i throw a dummy he looks away at the crucial moment. in fairness to the dog he never really got many birds as unfortunately the duck numbers have decreased significantly in the last few years here in the west of Ireland. It's an awful situation to be out at the lake as i was this morning and to have had to leave a shot duck behind because of this issue and not having the older one with me. Would anybody have any solutions or tips on how i can fix this or is he a lost cause? thanks

 

 

he's the one on the left here with his full brother

Edited January 22, 2012 by Billy08

[kevcleg 10]

Go back to basics get retrieving short distances till he's confident in water retrieves worked for mine mate

[ftm 3,357]

as above