Puppy Focus

[cantona 310]

Any tips on how to get my 8 month old sprocker to look at me more when in the field, I am making it sit with hand signals and feeding by hand and staying with hand signals but once in the field she looks everywhere for birds or movement so I can't get her attention , I can sit and recall her by whistle most of the time but her focus is bad, retrieves in garden , I can even sit her throw dummy send her when I'm ready and sit her when she brings it back in garden but not in field, anything else I could practice on to gain focus?Thanks for any replies in advance

[Flairball 141]

Are you sure you are not missing her check in, and that she is actually not giving you any mind? I have a very hard charging springer, and if you are not paying attention you will miss her quick check in on each cast of her pattern.

 

But, I'd say it's best to keep her out of the fields until she will sit, and recall all of the time, not most of the time. Keep her away from all game, so she isn't searching.

 

Try to remember that training a dog isn't a race to some imaginary finish line, but a long journey that never ends. Slow down, and enjoy the trip.

 

If there ar any spaniel, or gundog train/trialing groups in your area, I'd recommend joining. You'll meet good people who can help you along, and it'll be fun.

[cantona 310]

Thanks for reply flairball, I think I will walk her on the lead until more control, waiting for gun dog classes to start in March then I will join them, maybe I am rushing because she is only 8 months and slowly making progress

[Zimpara 99]

When you're out. Just put a hand up randomly or do something else out of the ordinary and see if they notice. Chances are they are checking on you. You just don't seem to require them.

[Casso 1,264]

Keep the pup guessing, don't walk in straight line, give a signal when you intend to give him a mouthful of grub not a sound a hand signal so he has to keep an eye on you and don't fill him up till the walk is nearly ended, feed all that's days grub on the walk so he's hungry

If he venturing too far ahead stop in your tracks, don't recall let him figure out that coming back gets him fed and the walk resumes, do this intermittently during the walk

Make the pup heel while out, giving him the heel command while walking off lead along side , feed while walking , the longer he can heel in the field the more focus he builds towards you,

Less focus on anything prey like more focus on you , best of luck with pup

[Garyk067 22]

Bring the pup out along hedge rows every so often change direction along a different hedge when the pup is not watching it will panic when it cant see you and will come looking. It should soon learn to pay attention to you as it will be waiting to see where you are going

[Garyk067 22]

Bring the pup out along hedge rows every so often change direction along a different hedge when the pup is not watching it will panic when it cant see you and will come looking. It should soon learn to pay attention to you as it will be waiting to see where you are going