I do enjoy watching the well trained working gundog and although I can see more than a glimmer of instinct in my three I am wondering if I would be able to give them the kind of commitment necessary to train them properly.

I know that consistency is a key to successful training so, is expecting my dogs to give me their full attention during the working season and then allowing them freedom to run free together on the beach during the non working part of the year.......a recipe for confusion and should the free running together stop? I do note that when we're all out together their attention is not on me as much as I would like . A group of three springers seem more happy to interact more together. But individually their attention on me is very much better.

I will say that I am thoroughly enjoying our little springer pack but I do now see some wisdom in taking on one dog at a time and not taking on another until the first is well trained. However I now have the task of keeping all three on track so have any of you managed to achieve success with a group similar to mine and do you work them together and do you let them run free together.

Anticipating hope and advice as ever Steve

Steve, I am admittedly a novice at this and am primarily training the brittany's as opposed to springies.

I let the three small dogs run together for fun but training is done individually. I am hugely lucky to be given the opportunity to train with a couple of other beaters on the shooting grounds we have been working on. When we arrive the dogs are given the opportunity to relieve themselves but we go with a training plan and work is the order of the day. Two of the girls work more than one dog in the beating line but even so all the basic training is done individually, we will progress through the summer with myself and one of the others hopefully doing various competitions but this is aimed primarily at getting the guys ready for the next season.

I have no idea where we will end up as enjoyment and fun is important to me, I work full-time in a stressful job and have no intention of not enjoying training with the boys. If this means we never quite fulfill our potential then sadly that is the price I will have to pay for affording the mortgage etc.

Before I got Mugi I would not have considered working a dog but his natural talent deserved exploiting, Chase was a considered purchase even if timing wasn't ideal. He was an opportunity not to be missed and I don't regret getting him although it has been a struggle at times and no doubt will be in the future.

Having been lucky enough to have a gap between our working springer and our lab, there has never been an issue about training individually as the older dog (springer) is happy to sit quietly and watch while Richard does a bit of training with the lab. As Jess (springer) is Richards picking up dog, Jay has just followed her and Richard has had to do very little training of Jay. Also Jay comes from a very long line of FT labradors so it was just a case of guiding her. Obviously if he were to go into Field Trials then alot more work would have had to be done. They work, rest and play together all the time. But on saying this they are quite happy to be taken out individually if need be.

Well as you may have guessed with my lot YES
Blanche, Linford & Murray all litter siblings ( now 10yrs )
How ever Blanche made it to Field Trial Champs Murray had people waiting for stud or picks of litter best working dog and Linfod well he is fantastic in water.

What I did.
Yes do let them run together, but I still expect them to come to the recall and sit, that is all I do when they are together.
When it comes to the training it is done indevidualy as you what then focused on you.
If you have someone who can help hold them on the lead take them to gether and do one at a time, it is suprising how much they ege each other on. And if you go in for comps or trials you have other dogs on leads walking with you.
But if you have any major problems with one of them do him with out the others.
But PLEASE REMEMBER DO NOT COMPEAR THEM TO EACH OTHER.
Just like kids they all do things at there own speed.

Thanks for your valued replies

After having the three springers I sometimes find myself wishing for a more accommodating life style that will allow me all the time I need to enjoy working them......so I suppose like you Sue a bit of compromise is necessary.

It didn't take me long to discover that they are quite different and your comment about not comparing or even expecting the same responses from each of them is very valid Barbara I know Heather will not venture too far from me ...it's in her nature somehow......but the other two phew.....now that's a different matter

I'm going to persevere with the one to one and try and take them individually as often as I can to work with me (customer allowing of course).

I suppose in your "off seasons" it sounds as though you still actually "work them" by trying to find ways to keep enforcing the training. So I think then that it is a question of balance when it comes to "controlled" play and "free time/play"

Steve

Yep, mine run together, even through the season. I make sure they aren't running out of control tough.

Training more than one dog at a time is tough, but it's worth it. I only do 10-15 mins a day normally and then have extended training sessions when necessary or I have the time or inclination.

Helen

I find my control over the group together is good in most circumstances but when there are plenty of distractions (seagulls, hares, rabbits, etc.) one will dash off (Jazz or Brandy) closely followed by the others Things aren't completely hopeless though if I'm on the ball and catch their attention whilst they are within a few yards a stern "wait" will normally pin them so I guess that needs working on (perhaps more individually).

So after reading some of your previous posts I know that you are mastering control of your group Helen......are you able to "stop" a full group run out when they are all together?

Do you take more than one dog out at a time for your 10-15 min sessions?

I find that it depends what and which dog I'm trying to train which determines how many I take at the moment. For example Heather and Brandy are fairly good on lead and "heel" work is easy with the pair together but retrieving is best taught individually at the moment as Heather although very good on her own would too easily give up and allow Brandy to do the retrieve. Jazz is just a year old now and full of life and "spring" so individual is really what she needs.

One last question.......10 - 15 mins a day training sounds about right, is this plus exercise running etc.? As we're novices here.....have you found this enough to "keep the iron hot" for a young dog?

Steve

You need to win the LOTTERY
My girls are Happy dogs enjoying their walks and having fun
Stop wishing for more when you have it all

What us Sterenniks do is all go for a run together then load up in the pickup then have 10-15min individual training (if I am on my own ) with those who need it and if I have time another quick run together. That takes care of the day

I walk mine in 3 lots. The first lot are the oldies who don't really need any training or control. I let them run but they stay close. I call them in when need be and will do the odd recall to keep them on their toes. The second group are the ones I have to keep a closer eye on. When I blow the stop whistle, I expect Pippa and Teal to stop and sit. If they don't, I make sure they do. More often than not though, they stop. I walk Dotty with them but she's not taught the stop whistle as we don't need it as she is a grouse counting dog only. The last lot, is Milly and Tia. I stop Tia but Milly doesn't know the stop as she is a grouse counting dog.

99% of the time, I will be taking them individually. At the moment, I only have 3 who I am training. The only time I will take out more than one is if I want one of the others to teach the youngster. For instance, Teal was really slow at sitting to the whistle. I took her and Pippa out on lead and blew the stop whistle. Pippa sat very quickly and Teal would look at her and sit. I have also used Pippa in helping me with retrieving. If I have a less than enthusiastic retriever, I take her out with them and do a bit with her. That usually fires them up but if it doesn't, I let them both run together and I have found that they will compete. I only do this very rarely though and when I know it is going to work.

I sometimes will take out a couple of pointers if I am wanting to either speed them up, make them range further who get them steady to point but that's pointing dogs so different.

Yes, plus their normal exercise routing. I have found this absolutely fine. This is the basics though and when I am doing other exercises, I may be out longer but the norm is 10-15 mins. You don't want to spend too much more than that with a young dog anyway as they will jsut get bored - particularly doing the basics.

When I am exercising them, I am still training them. Doing recalls, stopping heeling etc. This helps if I don't have much time and can't fit in the actual training sessions.

Helen

When we are all out together I tend to use the recall more then the stop as I have Polo who is deaf, if the others sit she takes no notice but when the all come running back she follows.
Have girls in season so boys and girls are not out together at the moment.

Thanks so much I have found your replies very helpful and reassuring. I have made contact with a local farmer and they are part of a small informal syndicate and he has a young springer and there may be the possibility of getting some professional help. I'm waiting for the lambing season to settle and see how things go.

Steve

Good luck Steve. When I first started, I couldn't find anyone to help me so had to do it all out of a book. No such thing as the internet then lol.

Helen

I have managed to get on a couple of training days that have been invaluable as I can't get to regular gundog classes. Even going as a spectator is great as you can learn so much.

Having someone to watch you and give tips is also great and I have found the more you do the more people are willing to help, it kind of snowballs from nothing.

Hope it goes well Steve, it sounds a great opportunity.

Facsinating thread