well lesson three this week and its hard to believe that this is the same nut job that we took 4 weeks ago, heel work coming on a treat (not perfect by any means but soon will be) She is now coming back on the whistle and sitting to the whistle off lead , i honestly didn't think that this would be possible when we started all this, and it just shows we only needed someone to show us how to do it.

Anyway today we have worked on long recall, and changing the tone of our voices to stop her getting away, this was about 90% only two instances did she go off to investigate the chickens and really came back within seconds. some basic retrieving with the tennis ball, and staying at a reasonable distance, bearing in mind that this dog would not come anywhere near in a field 4 weeks ago she mastered this in about 5 minutes, first on lead and then off I suppose the best bit today for me was right at the end when we had her back on her lead and were talking, where was Moll sat at my side looking at me bliss to have your dog pay that much attention to you.

So whats next carry on practicing everything we've learnt so far and teach her to hold as at the moment she is not interested in dummy's at all, but i'm reliably informed that Strawberry jam on either side will do the trick

And the good news is that all this isn't in vain, got talking to a gamekeeper in the pub on the Yorkie ally rally yesterday and i am to give him a ring when we are ready to go, so as long as we keep up the work at home there is work available for the girls.

Excellent news, glad everything's going so well. Bet you can't wait for the day you get out there and put it all into practice.

well done liz and well done mollster keep up the hard work it will be worth it!! x

Another great lesson

Have to say I was very very impressed yesterday, was like you had brought another dog

This sounds great, I'm really happy for you. Keep your posts coming please after each lesson as it makes such interesting reading. To read of your progress gives me encouragement to take Fipps along next year too. Furrow recommneded a good gundog trainer near me. I just have held back as she was noisy and not so nice with other dogs, but we're making progress on this, so when she is ready I'm off to do gundog training.

Sounds like you are doing REALLY well Well done to you both!

Helen

Glad you like the updates Christine, will keep them coming as i am a total novice and i suspect there are a few novices on here who might find it interesting.

I to love reading your updates, Poppy and I also go to a gundog trainer for help were getting their very slowly. You sound like your making better progress than us but reading your threads makes me realise you can get their.

Shame I`m such a long way away as the training sessions would be good for us. Most training sessons are not for novices that gundog trainers hold, and it would be very off putting going to them.

I lack confidence in my ability with Poppy and she knows it , but its hard to overcome the nerves when shes dissapearing into the next county.

I wait for the next installment

See, now said you cannot use positive training methods to train a gundog?

But in fairness, Liz and Nev have done all the work not me - I just make the brews and make sure they have done their home work.

I supply the direction, they do all the hard work.

Well done both.

Mike

thanks but struggling with the hold, even Jam didn't work although her stays are brill

well it was back today for lesson 4, after well and truly cocking it up over christmas by letting the little madam run, although i am assured that they all go through this, and that after a good start they all decide to stick 2 fingers up at you somewhere, and not to worry too much.

So right back to the begining we go, a good 35 minutes of basic heel work and by the end we had her back, she was being attentive and doing what she was told on the first command, and for anyone out there who thinks spaniels must run to tire them out , you want to see Moll she is flat out wacked. So homework this fortnight more heelwork, more sits and more stays and we will get there.

Oh and just to add we took Meg along as i have had problems getting her to heel, Mike bet me last time he could do it in 30 seconds, well actually it was more like 10 so we can now get to work on her as well.

Great stuff

And how did Mike perform this miracle ???

Glad you are back on track - and the heelwork thing is just great. (Though to be fair cracked it meself without Mike)

Lesson number 4 already??? How many weeks is it since you started then???

Kelly its 8 weeks, but we were starting from scratch with Molly

Jaine he cracked it with lots of encouragement and correct use of a slip lead, he didn't hurt her. cos believe you me Meg would have laid down and not shifted, as she did with someone who once put a check on her

Hi Lizzy,

I've just read right through that thread, Lizzie. Fantastic. Well done to all of you.

Agree 100% that dogs do not need to run madly to tire them out. With Katie, a half hour lead walk with training and having to pay attention to me, tires her out way more than a 2 hour off lead run.

Running madly winds Katie up. It makes her unable to settle, more reactive and just more difficult in general. For her, off lead runs are better done in short bursts and under control.

She used to run off and hunt all the time. I walk in remote areas and would have walks where I rarely saw her. Now she stays with me, looks at me, hunts for toys under direction.

Much much easier.

I still have work to do with her but getting rid of the idea that she needed 2 hours a day running around really did help me a lot with her.

Tracey xx