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My Gun Dog Report Card
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August 19, 2009
My Gun Dog Report Card
By David DiBenedetto
On Tuesday Pritchard and I spent the morning with Pam Kadlec of Just Ducky Kennels in Edgefield, S.C. I went there to not only learn from a pro, but to get a gun dog progress report as Pritch nears 8-months old.
Kadlec knows dogs, especially Boykin Spaniels. She trained the only Spaniel in the UKC/HRC 2,000 Point Club. If those numbers mean nothing to you, I can personally attest Kadlec is a maestro when it comes to training hunting dogs. So I’ll admit I was a little apprehensive bringing my pup to her kennel, as Pritch is nothing more than a reflection of what I’ve been able to teach her so far.
So, how have I been doing? Pretty poorly, it seems. I sent Pritch after her first duck on a land retrieve and she looked to be blown away by the idea that she actually had to pick it up in her mouth. Instead she thought rolling on the duck might be the way to go. (Granted, this was Pritch’s first duck but not her first bird.) She did much better with the duck on a couple of water retrieves, but left it at the water’s edge on her return.
I also showed Kadlec how Pritch performed with dummies and on the whistle. Long story short, we have a ways to go there, too. When I asked Kadlec for an overall grade she gave us a C. She also let me know that Pritch was a bit headstrong (not to mention spoiled), which would make my training tougher.
I walked away with a list of tricks and tips that I’ll share in later blog posts, but for now I have a load of work to do. We’ll be working on sitting on the whistle at a distance (as opposed to running up to me and sitting when I give the short blast) and enforcing the HERE command.
Ever feel like the journey down gun dog road is a mighty long one?
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Comments (12)
That's OK. I think embarrassment is an integral part of the dog training experience.
If I had a dime for every time my dogs have humiliated me (translation: every time my dogs' performance has merely reflected my poor training skills...) I'd be able to send them to a trainer.
My advice is to cultivate a list of plausible excuses. Since I have both a male and a female, my two favorites are "she usually doesn't act this way, she must be coming into heat" or "he usually doesn't act this way, my female must be coming into heat."
Looks like chadlove has this one nailed down. Thanks for the excuses. Jill and I need everyone.
Dave, looks like we're in the same boat. My lab was doin great till a week ago. I wanted to show her off to everyone. Now I'm afraid of taking her out of the back yard. She'll run up to the dummie get me all excited and come back empty mouth. Had her bring it back a couple times today then she just stopped. She must be coming into heat.
Pritch looks great!Working with Pam Kadlic has got to be a great experience.I like her treat idea.Looking forward to hearing her tips and your interpritation of them.Look at all the stages of hup this might help also. Hup to motion for example.Remember no dog is even close to 100 percent in the field until its a finished dog.Even top level field trials dogs trained by pros still break and chase.My last step is to steady the dog first with a training dummy then moving to a cold dead training bird then live bird.In each step if the dog breaks he is brought back with the check cord and I do the retrieve myself.This over time steadies the dog and will help also hup the dog at a distance.
That's some funny stuff there, gang. I gave Pritch the excuse of being worked up in the presence of at least 40 other dogs in nearby kennel runs...I don't think Pam bought it. Glad to hear I'm not alone.
Kelmitch-- Good stuff there as always. -D
Sounds like we're on the same gun dog road. It's a long, but rewarding journey.
It was good to meet David and Pritch. While she didn't perform up to David's expectations there were major distractions (to say the least) with a new area and all the other dogs barking at the stranger in their yard.
We all know that our dogs work beautifully in our own yards. That is why it is important to move to new areas once your pup has the commands down pat at home. Dogs don't transfer data easily so just because she sits in the yard doesn't mean she knows what Sit means in your neighbor's yard. Only after training in new areas will your pup understand that Sit means Sit no matter where you are.
I know Pritch will do better next time she visits, both because David will be working with her and because my place won't be new anymore.
Best afield,
Pam
Keep up the good work! Charlie (9 month old Boykin ) and I are in a dog obedence class together he is doing great on the leash and sit stay comand witch I have been working on since the very begining. I use HUP it is more demanding. As well as hand signles with it.Eleven more days until early goose season as well as grouse, I took the week off it should be interesting to see how we upland as well as water hunt. I can't wait it will be fun no mater what!!
justducky it's great to see such a proficient trainer on the blog and that dave can come to work with you and give the knowledge that you've given him to someone like me with a pup of about the same age as pritch is a great thing. Dave it's a long way to the top before you can rock n roll. that's my motto for the gun dog world
Dave,
Isnt Pam great! She has forgotten more about dogs than I can hope to learn. Wouldnt it be great if she had a training day where we could go and learn from her. Hint Hint. Id gladly pay for a day like that!
Quack
Dave,
Isnt Pam great! She has forgotten more about dogs than I can hope to learn. Wouldnt it be great if she had a training day where we could go and learn from her. Hint Hint. Id gladly pay for a day like that!
Quack
Just keep at it and make sure you stay as headstrong, if not more headstrong than your dog. Your the Boss! Remember that.
Post a Comment
That's OK. I think embarrassment is an integral part of the dog training experience.
If I had a dime for every time my dogs have humiliated me (translation: every time my dogs' performance has merely reflected my poor training skills...) I'd be able to send them to a trainer.
My advice is to cultivate a list of plausible excuses. Since I have both a male and a female, my two favorites are "she usually doesn't act this way, she must be coming into heat" or "he usually doesn't act this way, my female must be coming into heat."
Pritch looks great!Working with Pam Kadlic has got to be a great experience.I like her treat idea.Looking forward to hearing her tips and your interpritation of them.Look at all the stages of hup this might help also. Hup to motion for example.Remember no dog is even close to 100 percent in the field until its a finished dog.Even top level field trials dogs trained by pros still break and chase.My last step is to steady the dog first with a training dummy then moving to a cold dead training bird then live bird.In each step if the dog breaks he is brought back with the check cord and I do the retrieve myself.This over time steadies the dog and will help also hup the dog at a distance.
Looks like chadlove has this one nailed down. Thanks for the excuses. Jill and I need everyone.
Dave, looks like we're in the same boat. My lab was doin great till a week ago. I wanted to show her off to everyone. Now I'm afraid of taking her out of the back yard. She'll run up to the dummie get me all excited and come back empty mouth. Had her bring it back a couple times today then she just stopped. She must be coming into heat.
That's some funny stuff there, gang. I gave Pritch the excuse of being worked up in the presence of at least 40 other dogs in nearby kennel runs...I don't think Pam bought it. Glad to hear I'm not alone.
Kelmitch-- Good stuff there as always. -D
Sounds like we're on the same gun dog road. It's a long, but rewarding journey.
It was good to meet David and Pritch. While she didn't perform up to David's expectations there were major distractions (to say the least) with a new area and all the other dogs barking at the stranger in their yard.
We all know that our dogs work beautifully in our own yards. That is why it is important to move to new areas once your pup has the commands down pat at home. Dogs don't transfer data easily so just because she sits in the yard doesn't mean she knows what Sit means in your neighbor's yard. Only after training in new areas will your pup understand that Sit means Sit no matter where you are.
I know Pritch will do better next time she visits, both because David will be working with her and because my place won't be new anymore.
Best afield,
Pam
Keep up the good work! Charlie (9 month old Boykin ) and I are in a dog obedence class together he is doing great on the leash and sit stay comand witch I have been working on since the very begining. I use HUP it is more demanding. As well as hand signles with it.Eleven more days until early goose season as well as grouse, I took the week off it should be interesting to see how we upland as well as water hunt. I can't wait it will be fun no mater what!!
justducky it's great to see such a proficient trainer on the blog and that dave can come to work with you and give the knowledge that you've given him to someone like me with a pup of about the same age as pritch is a great thing. Dave it's a long way to the top before you can rock n roll. that's my motto for the gun dog world
Dave,
Isnt Pam great! She has forgotten more about dogs than I can hope to learn. Wouldnt it be great if she had a training day where we could go and learn from her. Hint Hint. Id gladly pay for a day like that!
Quack
Dave,
Isnt Pam great! She has forgotten more about dogs than I can hope to learn. Wouldnt it be great if she had a training day where we could go and learn from her. Hint Hint. Id gladly pay for a day like that!
Quack
Just keep at it and make sure you stay as headstrong, if not more headstrong than your dog. Your the Boss! Remember that.
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