HEDGEHUNTER
new user
Reged: 25/10/2005
Posts: 4
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Two year old springer crushes snipe.Retrieves everything else with no problems.Any suggestions on a cure.
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Flairball
member
Reged: 11/09/2007
Posts: 10
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Being specific to a particular species of bird, this dog probably had a bad experience retrieving a snipe once.
Two things come to mind; either the dog will relax over time, realizing the snipe are harmless. The bad incident slowly being forgotten. This will take time and patience. Or, force break your dog to retrieve. It might seem a bit strange to force break a naturally retrieving dog, but the training turns the retrieve into some thing he must do, not something he can do. Also, as the same command is used to send him on all retrieves he knows what is expected of him.
How does he do on woodcock?
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HEDGEHUNTER
new user
Reged: 25/10/2005
Posts: 4
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Have had dog from 8 weeks old and has crushed every snipe since the start.Fine on woodcock and everything else.
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Flairball
member
Reged: 11/09/2007
Posts: 10
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Not being a pro, I'd try force breaking him to retrieve. Shouldn't be too difficult with a dog that is already retrieving. Are you familliar with forced retrieves?
A couple things to remember if you choose to go this route; first, once you start you must finish the program. Second, take your time. Slow, with minimal pressure. 5 minutes a day.
If I were in your shoes I'd wait until the shooting season is over before starting the program, and I'd avoid snipe as best I could. The more mangled snipe you recieve, the more frustrated you'll become, and as hard as you might try the dog will sense this. Keep him on game that end with positive retrieves.
Hope this is a help.
Good luck.
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HEDGEHUNTER
new user
Reged: 25/10/2005
Posts: 4
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I am not familliar with force breaking and would be grateful for any advice you could give on this subject.I know I should stay away from snipe,but 90% of my ground is snipe bogs and its not unusual to flush 40/50 a day.
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Flairball
member
Reged: 11/09/2007
Posts: 10
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HH, As for the forced retrieve training I followed the plan in a book written by James Spencer entitled Hup!. This is a book decicated to training spaniels. The first section outlines all the spaniels breeds, and their traits. The second section is all training. The book is available at Amazon.com. I checked recently, as I gave my copy away a long time ago, and now I'm again searching for a springer to start. I'd feel much better with this book in hand while training.
Because you are shooting so much snipe, I'd say suffer through this season as best you can, and start the program after the seasons end. Which comes all too soon as we all know.
Good luck.
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transpond
member
Reged: 01/09/2007
Posts: 3
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Try dry practice with a snipe in a sock? Then a holey sock?
Or isit just warm birds he crushes? Does he run in to shot? Can you stop him and make him mark the bird.
Finding shot snipe too retrieve is an accomplishment for any dog; don't lrt him run in and do some cold snipe retrieving would be my advice.
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HEDGEHUNTER
new user
Reged: 25/10/2005
Posts: 4
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He crushes both warm and cold snipe from the very start.Marks shot snipe anywhere,stops to flush and finds with no difficulty at all.Its when he lifts to retrieve that he starts chewing.
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