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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 04/06/2009 10:00 AM |
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So now that the NA is behind us how do we proceed from here? Tessa is 9 months old, still a little on the wild puppy side, which tends to get in the way sometimes. Formal obedience is in progress but we need to get more serious about the hunting training, I just don't know how serious at this stage?
I was thinking of starting her on the whoa table, as well as retrieving. Any suggestions are appreciated! |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 04/06/2009 10:35 AM |
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| Before I give advice, is it safe to assume you are shooting for UT? |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 04/06/2009 11:40 AM |
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First and foremost, although it's a long ways off. Depending on how things go though, we may attempt the UPT in December.
I also want to pursue JH, SH, MH. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 04/06/2009 12:59 PM |
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The best advice I can give is train for the end goal. Train for UT not UPTor MH and not JH/SH.
Exposure is what you both need.
I find working on cooperation creates a "team work" frame of mind and creates a naturally staunch dog to flush.I train steady to shot separately and then add it in to the equation.
Nines months is young but not that young, before you know it she will be a year old and you will wonder why training has not progressed,if you keep this frame of mind. Assess her maturity.
Do drags,get her nose working,get her drive up and get a duck in the water.
Train with the NAVHDA club and you both will have loads of fun. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 04/06/2009 1:34 PM |
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Okay sounds good.
Re maturity: She has definitely gotten quite intense over the past two months with the hunting stuff, but outside of that, she is falling in and out of the puppy stupids.
During the field phase, when I called her back, on two occasions she jumped on all three judges in her excitement (not on me) and then went straight back to hunt. They asked me later: She did good but what's up with her greeting ritual? She was the ONLY dog in the event that still displayed extreme puppy exuberance (even though there were several dogs her age). So it's a constant battle of the dog in her vs. the puppy she still very much is.
Obedience is a challenge, and OB trainer says it's not because she's a bad dog or I'm a bad trainer she simply can't control it. We are getting there, but it will be slow.
So the problem area I assume will be where field work meets obedience? |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4450
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| 04/06/2009 3:11 PM |
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I am very big on obedience. I am strict on sit,come,down,heel and fetch.
my young dog,now 11 months, is a lot like tessa, he has trouble with greetings. But, this is more dominance then lose of control. This dominance leads to confidence,boldness and independence. you seem as tho you have the cooperartion mixed in so this is a wonderful combo. I would like to see her doing a water search. Along with working on a trained retrieved,work on handling skills, like directional commands. REading your dog comes easier when you work a lot with them. they read you and youread them, the team work will show. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Trey
SW Iowa
MH
Posts:516
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| 04/07/2009 5:36 AM |
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| If you are going to test her in jH, I would get that out of the way before you start any serious field work (as in steadiness, backing). Go ahead and get your yard obedience out of the way. Come, heel, stay, ect. |
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MillerClemsonHD
JH
Posts:36
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| 04/07/2009 7:38 PM |
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How old is your pup again?
What are your goals and what do you really want to accomplish? Will you run trials or only run in test? Depending on your goals will determine what you want to do next. I thought one of the post I saw your pup is 10mos or so and has not had a lot of exposure to birds. I would say the biggest thing to concentrate on is more exposure to hunting, land, running, searching etc and more exposure to birds. If you want to run trials hold off on the obedience a little bit other than working on whoa, heel, and here and your everyday household obedience. If you don't plan to run trials and only test then pick the highest level you plan to test MH, UT etc and train for those. Don't try to train for SH and then train for MH.
From post I have seen you did not buy your pup as a hunting dog only and has not had exposure from the begining more exposure is the biggest key. You definitely want to try to get together with members of the NAVHDA groups in GA and SC if you can for more training, and probably some time with a pro. A pro can tell you where you are and what you need to work on to accomplish your goals. I send my pup to a trainer for a month, she gets lots of training, and then he gives me what I need to work on between the time I pick her up and the next time I will take her back. This makes sure I am making progress toward the final goal.
I would try to determine what you really want to accomplish, then spend a little time with a pro to figure out what areas you need to work on first. Any of the good pros can help you in working on what you need to do for testing, trials, or NAVHDA. Then you will know what you need to work on and what you will need help on. |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 04/08/2009 6:51 AM |
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Thanks, Miller. You have it right.
She is 9 months old. I got her as a companion dog, and I don't plan on doing any actual hunting. I also plan on doing all training myself (meaning won't send her off). My main objective is for both of us to get there together and have fun doing so.
I am new to testing and competition, NAVHDA or AKC, so I am just feeling my way in. My ultimate goals right now are UT and MH, and possibly some agility, dock jumping, time, resources and finances permitting, but emphasis definitely on UT and MH. I am open to field trials but am not sure I will enjoy the cut-throat environment - would have to try.
You are right, she did not have early exposure to birds - NAVHDA GA training days were done when I got her, and I did not know how to go about things alone. I did condition her over the winter though by exposing her to different fields, woods, terrains, water (weather permitting), started tracking, scent work, whistle training, whoa, recall, etc. The only thing missing was the birds but I can't say she's coming into this straight from the couch.
I did join NAVHDA GA and they train once a month March - October. In addition, I will look for private training sessions with a close-by kennel and also more exposure as often as I can arrange for it. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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MillerClemsonHD
JH
Posts:36
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| 04/08/2009 7:31 AM |
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Where in GA are you? There are quite a few pros in GA/SC. One option would be to try to spend 1 Saturday a month or every other month with a pro helping you work with your dog and you giving you "homework" to work on until the next time you are back. Might want to get in touch with the guy in this thread if this is a place that would be convienent to you and there will be some people that can help you.
www.gundogforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php
Im have a good friend that I train with as it is much easier to do with some help. I'm no pro thats why my dog spends time with a pro, but we able to accomplish a good bit.
Not sure if you have seen this before, but when you need birds this is a good place to check. I have used this in both SC and GA to buy birds in the past yr.
agr.georgia.gov/00/channel_modifieddate/0,2096,38902732_39654299,00.html |
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TessaGA
Georgia
MH
Posts:2387
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| 04/08/2009 8:36 AM |
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That's a cool idea to lease/buy land together to use for the dogs. I am in Athens, GA so not too far.
There is a farm near Milledgeville that rents their land to bird dog people for training, hunting, or just to have the dogs run, at a reasonable fee per day. That'll work better for me. They also have horses, and I need to do some horse conditioning with her.
The bulletin was recommended to me, now I have the link, thank you! Because, yes, I need a source for birds.
I will definitely get some extra guidance from a trainer. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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