Hi all just a qiuck one....i was ask the other day by a mate of mine how he should go on about introducing his springer to live game without going to a rabbit pen and paying..skin flint!!

I must say for the 1st time i was lost for words...and could'nt come up with with the answer any ideas..????

A rabbit pen is used for teaching steadiness, not really for introducing the dog to game.

My boys are introduced to wild game on our walks and with contacts I have got from beating.

I agree with you on that..

I personaly think he needs to get the dog steady befor he starts as his dog has got into the habbit of chaseing rabbits!!...talking about running befor you can walk!!

I have told him a rabbit pen is the only way i know to stop this as you can control her a lot better and correct any unwanted behaver.

But you carnt tell some people...I just think its going in one ear and out the other prahaps i should just let him get on with it....but i worry about the dog

how do you get through to some one like that????

I used to take my young dogs to the public park to begin steadyness training..lots of wild dogs..kids and ducks by the pond... I don't need to now as I live in a big park

Regards

Kev

Hi Karl or Nikki

I would suggest he goes and finds some ground which is full of Rabbit so the ground has strong smell, do his training there as sometime the odd rabbit or two pop out for a look see.
Once he is sure the dog is steady to the command then train earlier when the rabbits are about more.
Then build on that, before a pen.

Just to add - make sure the dog is 100% steady with no distractions. Does he stop every single time to the whistle? Does he recall every single time?

Helen