OK-Do I just give up?

[goosebruce]

Dogs are washed for desire, work ethic, social issues, or health issues. Dog has a problem, but its merely a training issue (ergo, it can be overcome). Washing this dog would serve no purpose. According to you she's pretty hot... she's been trained in a method usuaylly used on dogs that arent very hot, by someone else not you. Doesnt mean the method or dog is flawed, simply means she needs some more work to be able to comply when she's jacked up. Desire = excitement problems, and lots of really talented test dogs have a hard time showing it because they cant handle their desire and still behave. Nothing new. I'd still want to see the trainer hunt her... if shes ms goody too shoes, you need the training, not the dog (which again, aint new!). travis

[GulfCoast]

Back from hunt with "the trainer." Although the dog was a little steadier for the trainer, she still wigged at one point. We think that she has gotten skittish around gunfire, that was what started it this time. Now that I think about it, she usually wigged on my only after a couple shots were fired, but I did not associate the two. Wierd, since I use a dummy launcher in training, she has been around bumper boys forever, you name it.

Back to the drawing board.

[MemphisStockBroker]

Mark,
I found my lab. He was about two years old when I got him. Had some similar problems, and I took whole bottles of blood pressure medicine at times with my dog. Until I purchased a e-collar.

Best money I have EVER spent.

Who ever had him before trained him, and he knew allot of commands. But I have no idea whether a collar was used on him before I got him. But the collar has saved my sanity...

MSB

[B3]

I dunno if the lack of a collar is your problem. Can't tell from what your describing if its pure disobedience or being overwhelmed by a new environment. If its disobedience then a collar program might help, but if its simply an inadequate "transition" to a true shooting environment adding pressure would not be a good thing.

If the dog is going nuts with gunfire then maybe gradually adding guns more into yourtraining will help. Start with primer loads and then go to live loads. Its a huge difference between the yard training and a duck hole and a dog won't easily generalize the obedience from one place to another unless its gradually introduced. This is where folks who train for hunt tests have a big advantage.

It sounds goofy but maybe you could try this. Go to a new area on land a stage a fake hunt. Dress in camo, blow a call, shoot and have a buddy throw ducks. If you hunt from a boat or layout, use it. Once solid on land set it up on water but preferably shallow water so if dog goes self employed you can go out and get it.

When hunting I'd be more interested in the dog than the ducks until everything is solid. I'd be more interested in steadiness and quiet than picking up birds. When taking a new dog you might want to consider letting someone else take the shots- its no fun but it pays off in the long run. At the end of the season its more important to me how well he behaved than how many birds he picked up.

Just some things to think about,

Bill

[GulfCoast]

B3:

I think it is pure defiance, but limited to a certain situation. The gun skittishness has really thrown me for a loop, though.

Although he is normally vehemently anti-collar, the trainer agrees that I should CC: to "here" and de-bolt. His main advice was "be sure not to end up with 2 dogs, one "collar dog" and the old dog when collar-free." I need to go to e-collar school this week and be sure I have a grip on what I am doing before I start down that road.

[h2o_dog]

I would suggest finding a trainer that believes in the e-collar and knows how to use one humanely. But your problem can be worked out without one.

In the short term I would suggest that until the dog is fully comfortable with gunshots in the hunting setting, that you put her on a VERY short check cord (24" or less) or put her in a crate when hunting. Shoot over her 2 or three entire hunts and let her "watch" without particpating. Occasionally pet her and convince her that all is good. Then gradually allow her to participate until she can be trusted to behave on the stand the way she would in the training yard.

My two cents.

[h2o_dog]

I would suggest finding a trainer that believes in the e-collar and knows how to use one humanely. But your problem can be worked out without one.

In the short term I would suggest that until the dog is fully comfortable with gunshots in the hunting setting, that you put her on a VERY short check cord (24" or less) or put her in a crate when hunting. Shoot over her 2 or three entire hunts and let her "watch" without particpating. Occasionally pet her and convince her that all is good. Correct any whining or noise issues that may arise.

Then gradually allow her to participate until she can be trusted to behave on the stand the way she would in the training yard.

My two cents.

[h2o_dog]

Obviously the "edit" button don't work on this forum...sorry for the confusion.

[taddy1340]

GC,

Curious to know how your pup is doing? Has she progressed since your last update?

I hope she's doing well for you. Good Huntin'

[duckhunterdoc]

I agree with above, train with the fake hunt, slowly adding new things, primers, gun from a distance, larger bore,then moving closer,bumpers ,then add a few decoys,more decoys, then ducks (freeze several before the season is out),I would make control a must even if you stopped the training period for that day to prevent the dog from getting its way, e-collar if needed----good luck

[GulfCoast]

Sorry, I have not updated.

I cc'd the dog to "here/come."

I spent a month shooting clays near her to deal with the gunshyness. I had never noticed it, but the trainer picked up on it really quickly. Blank pistol training, dog could care less. 12 guage close-triggered freak out. I think one of the kids at the camp must have popped a 3" shell right over her head or something and got her skittish. She was seriously freaked out by gunshots.

I also made her sit and watch other gundogs working/fetching to actual gunfire several days without letting her participate. I think that helped a lot. "They get to have fun when the bad noise happens, why can't I have fun?"

Obviously, the dog did not want to come "back to the loud noise" once she was released, which now looks like it was the root of the problems.

Anyway, after doing all this, we are doing well so far. She has picked up, by my count, 48 ducks in a row with no freak-outs or problems. She was a little skittish with the gunfire at first, but once she started seeing ducks hit the water, she now is craning her head looking for a mark when the guns go off. I did have to hit her with "Mr. Zap Zap" one single time when she wanted to bolt to another duck/switch. I have hit the button on the collar less than 10 times total, including CC to come. She DONT like Mr. Zap Zap. I really think the gunfire was the big issue, and everything else was a sympton. At least I hope so.

I have only hunted her with 2 guns so far. I am going to keep training and working on "soundproofing" before I put her back out there with 6 or so guns.

If I could figure out how to resize images, I would put some up.

But, so far, so good. All fingers and toes crossed!

[taddy1340]

Good to hear the positive progress!

[duckhunterdoc]

very good-sounds like you fixed her--may need a refresher from time to time---sounds good

[Dogzeye]

glad to hear she is putting it together now !!