ok more hard work put in over the last fortnight and back again today for some more, i'm really enjoying this and for those of you out there in cyberland who think we aren't getting very far, i'd just like to remind you what we started with, we had a dog who couldn't walk on a lead, who criss crossed in front of you, and tried to trip you up, and a dog who was totally out of control when let off her lead, who has killed various friends chickens and ducks.

So today we have a dog who walks to heel beautifully on a lead, sits on the whistle and does what she is asked first time. We decided to risk it and let her off, and true to form she went....................but she came back, fair enough i was on my knees in a muddy field but who cares she came back. so what we did today was to work on her heelwork off the lead (nearly) so to do this we had two leads tied together and set off walking with her on it, and then after a couple of paces dropped it, and blow me she stayed to heel, with various changes of direction, by the end she was heeling with no commands at all just following us and looking for direction. (sorry Mike if i'm giving trade secrets away)

We have also started taking Meg along, and with her we are working on getting her steady to a thrown dummy and to turn on the whistle as well as some quartering.

So all in all a good days training, i am very pleased with both my girls and can now see that eventually they will both be good enough to work, its just being pointed in the right direction and knowing how to achive it.

Thats just brilliant Certainly gives hope to the rest of us who are still struggling

Am really chuffed for you

*when you've done with your two, could you take Cal and teach her*

That's brilliant Liz.....do you want to try now with Bilbo....he would be a challenge....

Ruby is lined up and ready to go too

This sounds absolutely brilliant. I am back to square 1 with Kimba's & Kofi's recall.. and am walking them separately on a long lead. Does anyone know of another "Mike" anywhere down South. I did meet someone recently who said they had had their Springer "sorted out" by a gundog trainer... and then they said he used an electric collar!! I would love to have my two "sorted out" but not like that!

Sally,


I train with Alex his website is;-

http://www.languedoc-labradors.co.uk/index.htm

He has a very kind approach with both Poppy and I, he has really helped with our problems - he`s based in south oxon.

Amanda

Liz..I've just put Charlie in a jiffy bag...off to sellotape him in and he'll be with you soon

Liz that is fantastic!!! Well done to you all

well done Liz and Meg and Moll..

There is some truth in the saying "good things come to those who wait" (and put a bit of effort in)

Glad you all enjoying Molly's saga, and if it gives a little bit of hope to those of you who are struggling, or some inspiration for the ones who think they might like a go, but think its a diiferent world then thats brill.

So todays tale, Nev had a really bad day with the monster yesterday, we had both had a good fortnight and the walking to heel sort of off her lead was going well, until then, to be fair the start of it wasn't Molls fault, nev was training her when another dog decided to gatecrash and off she went before he could grab the leads, and to cut a long story short he actually ended up coming home and waiting for her, he knew where she was but she was having none of it, so we were'nt expecting today to be the best of training sessions.

We were wrong!!!!!!!
We started as we do with a bit of heelwork, sits and i decided to risk it and throw a few stays in, all went to plan and she stayed where she was put even when i wasn't attached, so onwards to recall, started first with a bit on the leads between me and Nev (but Mike has found the secret weapon to get her attention ) she did go to bolt, but we got her attention and soon she was bombing between the two of us, and low and behold all that stop whistle work we had done on the lead was Paying off!!!!

So caution was thrown to the wind and off came the leads, well knock me down with a feather, we managed to keep her in the same field with us, recalling using the whistle and stopping on it as well, so a lot more practice to come in the next fortnight, just wish the nights were lighter so we could get out together, but that will come, have been warned about not seeting her back again by letting her run willy nilly so will take the advice this time, and stick to what i've been told.

Anyway on to Meg, who is also going along now, well what can i say she just seems to be a natural, and doesn't need that much direction to get her to do what we want her to do, but she has also come a long way, she is staying now while dockens are being thrown out, and will retrieve the one she is asked to retrive, we also introduced her to shot, and although startled on the first one, she didn't bolt and she didn't carry off like i expected, and by the time the second one came she wasn't that bothered.

So all in all another worth while trip and two very satisfied owners, seeing my dogs like this gives me a bigger buzz than any Booze or drugs, its such a high when they get it right.

Until next time

That's brillaint Liz! All your hard work is paying off and i'm sure your girls will be out next season.

Hmm,

Missed a few bits out Liz?

Molls never strayed more than 30 yards from them today, much to their amazement, only a little bit of guidance was needed about when to use the stop whistle (The thing they have been practicing just for days like today!!) and then the recall - how to get her attention if it looked like she might bolt and then the correct time to use the recall whistle

Quartering next So look out!!

All this is down to their hard work and effort and it was nice to see them leave (Eventually!! ) with a big smile on their face - although I did have to recount the puppies a couple of times to make sure they had not smuggled one out

Mike

Well done Liz and Nev

You've certainly given me hope with our three .

I remember stumbling on the "letting the lead go" a while back and I was totally amazed at the response, I took each out individually and I couldn't believe my eyes I had them by my side most of the time and only needed to verbally call them back when they strayed in front.

The little problem I have now is getting them to stay at heel off lead in the field where they know they can run off and in new places that we visit. Still I suppose it's being consistent and patient and taking it a step at a time.

From what I've read earlier......You are limiting their free running time does that mean no free running or some?

Steve

Steve, with Molly, no free running, if i let her run, she thinks she can do what she wants and goes back, hence the set back over christmas when i did let her have her fun, i think i'm slowly coming to the conclusion with Moll, that if she is off lead, she will be doing something, i think when we do start quartering with her we will be able to use this to our advantage, in that we can give her direction when she is running therefore making a walk a training session. (corect me if i have it all wrong Mike)

No you are right Liz, spaniels live to hunt! so let them hunt, but under control, chanel their energy and let them enjoy.

With ALL my dogs regardless of breed, if I am stood still they can run riot (Unless they have been told to sit first!!)

But if I am walking I expect them to be heel or hunting (quartering) within gunshot, this is not as hard as it sounds, but I do start from when they are young, I never let a young dog more than 10-15 yards from me before I recall them. All this is done free and without the lead. It does not take them long to realise that's as far as they go.

Distance can be built in later for retrieves etc.

Mike