Over the past few days I have continued to work on Molly's sitting. She is very good now at sitting when walking on the lead. Still not 100% and needs the odd reminder. Most of the time all that is required is a sharp tug on the lead and she sits immediately. I had intended trying her when dragging the lead but I have decided against this now for a few days until she is 100% when on the lead. Hopefully by the weekend we will be well on the way.
We are also working all the time on her recall and this has been going so well so far that I started to introduce the whistle last night as I was calling her in. I will continue doing this over the next few days and watch her reaction. She seems to be taking to it well so far. I won't introduce the whistle to the sit until she is progressing better at it.
We continue to do a few short retreives in the lawn and she is a very determined retreiver. I hold her when I am throwing the dummy and she is really straining at the bit to get after it. She is much better now at coming straight back to me with the dummy and gives it up easily with no tug of war. I am still using the kennel wall at my back to prevent her running past me. It seems to be working well.
28 February 2007
26 February 2007
Monday 26th February 2007
I spent the whole weekend working on the sit command with Molly. She has been relatively slow in getting the hang of this but after a lot of gentle persuasion over the 2 days of the weekend we are making great progress. On Saturday I gave her two ten minute sessions in the morning with an hours rest in between. Walking her on the lead around the garden and every few paces commanding her to sit and gently putting her in position. She was still reluctant to sit after this. In the afternoon I took her to a stubble field that has a some grass growing through it now for a run about. Mainly to get her used to different environments. I brought the reteiving dummy with me and gave her 4 retreives in the longish grass/stubble. This was a great exercise cause eventhough I only threw the dummy about 10 yards she had to search for it. She is much better now at coming straight back to me. On the 3rd retreive she went past me and lay down but I walked backwards away from her calling her to me and came in straight away. The last retreived she did perfectly.
On the walk back to the car I had her on the lead and decided to use the opportunity to do more sit exercises. I told her to sit and put her in position and then walked on after lots of praise. The next time I commanded her to sit she DID! I gave her loads and loads of praise and walked on again and gave the command again. Same result. I left it at that and went home.
On Sunday I put her on the lead and walked round the garden again to continue on the sit. She is now sitting well while on the lead. Any hesitation and a slight jerk on the lead has her on her bum. I am going to give her lots of practice at this over the coming week to perfect it. Tonight I am going to try her with the lead trailing on the ground. Gradually working up this week to have her sitting 100% while off the lead. Thats the plan anyway. I am in no hurry though so if she is not ready then so be it.
On the walk back to the car I had her on the lead and decided to use the opportunity to do more sit exercises. I told her to sit and put her in position and then walked on after lots of praise. The next time I commanded her to sit she DID! I gave her loads and loads of praise and walked on again and gave the command again. Same result. I left it at that and went home.
On Sunday I put her on the lead and walked round the garden again to continue on the sit. She is now sitting well while on the lead. Any hesitation and a slight jerk on the lead has her on her bum. I am going to give her lots of practice at this over the coming week to perfect it. Tonight I am going to try her with the lead trailing on the ground. Gradually working up this week to have her sitting 100% while off the lead. Thats the plan anyway. I am in no hurry though so if she is not ready then so be it.
23 February 2007
Friday 23rd February 2007
I have spent the last 2 days working on Molly's recall and sit. As I said in previous posts Molly has been 100% on the recall. Over the past 2 evenings she has remainded 100%. I have been slowly increasing the level of distraction that Molly is engaged in when I give the recall and she so far she has come running to me at full speed. I am very happy with this.
Her sitting however is another matter. She is not taking to the sitting as well as the recall. Other dogs I have owned have been sitting readily after a day or 2 and my last springer took about half an hour. Molly though is a different story. I have had to put her into position every time so far. I have only been doing it for about 5 - 10 minutes at a time. Once last night did she sit on command and I gave her loads of praise. The very next time she was back to 'normal'. I know it is only a matter of time and patience and I have buckets of both so we will get there in the end. I will crack it over the weekend. Watch this spot on Monday ha!
As I said before, Molly is a natural retreiver and I have been doing a small bit every evening by holding her and throwing the dummy (rolled up sock) then releasing her when the dummy lands. She started with a tendency to run past me on the right hand side but by using the kennel wall at my back I have just about cured this. She still passes me the very odd time. If she does I go back to the wall. Last night I gave her a retrieve in a dark area of our lawn. She was not able to see the dummy landing but she ran in the direction I had thrown it and searched the area really well using her nose until she found the dummy and came straight back to me proud as punch. She was very determined to find the dummy and spent about a minute searching until she found it with no sign of giving up. I am very please so far apart from her sitting. Taking things nice and slow at this stage.
Her sitting however is another matter. She is not taking to the sitting as well as the recall. Other dogs I have owned have been sitting readily after a day or 2 and my last springer took about half an hour. Molly though is a different story. I have had to put her into position every time so far. I have only been doing it for about 5 - 10 minutes at a time. Once last night did she sit on command and I gave her loads of praise. The very next time she was back to 'normal'. I know it is only a matter of time and patience and I have buckets of both so we will get there in the end. I will crack it over the weekend. Watch this spot on Monday ha!
As I said before, Molly is a natural retreiver and I have been doing a small bit every evening by holding her and throwing the dummy (rolled up sock) then releasing her when the dummy lands. She started with a tendency to run past me on the right hand side but by using the kennel wall at my back I have just about cured this. She still passes me the very odd time. If she does I go back to the wall. Last night I gave her a retrieve in a dark area of our lawn. She was not able to see the dummy landing but she ran in the direction I had thrown it and searched the area really well using her nose until she found the dummy and came straight back to me proud as punch. She was very determined to find the dummy and spent about a minute searching until she found it with no sign of giving up. I am very please so far apart from her sitting. Taking things nice and slow at this stage.
21 February 2007
Wednesday 21st February 2007
Over the past 2 evenings I have been continuing to work with Molly on her recall. She is doing really well on it. So far she is 100% reliable on the recall although I have been careful to make sure she is not too distracted when I give the command and call her in. Last night I called her as she was running away from me and she stopped instantly and turned and came in straight away. She literally comes flying back and launches herself at me. She gets loads of praise and I have not had to resort to any edible treats which is great.
I am also working on her sit. She is a real live wire and it is taking a bit longer to get her to sit still than it did with previous dogs I have owned. I just have to be patient with her and we will get there very soon. We had great progress last night in that I was able to put her in the sit position and after stroking her to calm her I was able to stand up and she sat without me holding or touching her at all. I will continue over the next week or two concentrating on the recall and sit.
We have been doing a few marked retreives every evening too on the lawn and she is a very enthusiastic retreiver. I hold her as I am throwing the rolled up sock and release her after a few seconds. It is like pulling the trigger on a gun when she is released. She still has a tendency to run past me on the right but I have been using the kennel wall at my back and we are getting over that tendency now. She is starting to get the idea. I think this is due the fact that the breeders daughter was throwning a tennis ball for her and not insisting on her coming back to hand. This is only a minor issue that is well on the way to being sorted already. I am still only giving her a few retreives every every evening. Five at most but only 2 or 3 if they are done right. I always stop on a good one.
I am also working on her sit. She is a real live wire and it is taking a bit longer to get her to sit still than it did with previous dogs I have owned. I just have to be patient with her and we will get there very soon. We had great progress last night in that I was able to put her in the sit position and after stroking her to calm her I was able to stand up and she sat without me holding or touching her at all. I will continue over the next week or two concentrating on the recall and sit.
We have been doing a few marked retreives every evening too on the lawn and she is a very enthusiastic retreiver. I hold her as I am throwing the rolled up sock and release her after a few seconds. It is like pulling the trigger on a gun when she is released. She still has a tendency to run past me on the right but I have been using the kennel wall at my back and we are getting over that tendency now. She is starting to get the idea. I think this is due the fact that the breeders daughter was throwning a tennis ball for her and not insisting on her coming back to hand. This is only a minor issue that is well on the way to being sorted already. I am still only giving her a few retreives every every evening. Five at most but only 2 or 3 if they are done right. I always stop on a good one.
19 February 2007
Sunday 18th February
Let Molly out in the morning for a run round the garden and continued to call her to me. So far she is 100% on this in the garden lawn. Granted I am waiting until she is not distracted by anything before I call her to me but 'from little acorns....'! Very happy with the progress so far.
After a few minutes of this I got out the rolled up sock and holding her I threw the sock and she was straining at the bit to get after it. I held her until the sock hit the ground and then she was off like a bullet for it. Picked and back to me. She ran to the right of me and past me so I stayed on my knees and encouraged her to come to me which she did fairly quickly and I took the sock from her and loads of praise. I moved then so that the kennel wall was at my back and repeated the exercise. This time she could not run past me with the wall at my back and came straight into me. Again loads of praise. I did this 3 times and she came to me every time. I then moved to the original spot where she ran past me and tried again. This time she came straight into me. I gave her loads of praise and left it at that (total of 5 retrieves). Quit while you are ahead is the main thing in training. In the evening then I took her out and let her run around again and called her to me. Still 100% (this is going too well...something must be wrong ha ha ha). On the 3rd recall I commanded to sit and put her into position. She went to wriggle but a little pressure under her chin put her right. Gave loads of praise and repeated 5 times. Finished with a good play in the garden. So far so good.
After a few minutes of this I got out the rolled up sock and holding her I threw the sock and she was straining at the bit to get after it. I held her until the sock hit the ground and then she was off like a bullet for it. Picked and back to me. She ran to the right of me and past me so I stayed on my knees and encouraged her to come to me which she did fairly quickly and I took the sock from her and loads of praise. I moved then so that the kennel wall was at my back and repeated the exercise. This time she could not run past me with the wall at my back and came straight into me. Again loads of praise. I did this 3 times and she came to me every time. I then moved to the original spot where she ran past me and tried again. This time she came straight into me. I gave her loads of praise and left it at that (total of 5 retrieves). Quit while you are ahead is the main thing in training. In the evening then I took her out and let her run around again and called her to me. Still 100% (this is going too well...something must be wrong ha ha ha). On the 3rd recall I commanded to sit and put her into position. She went to wriggle but a little pressure under her chin put her right. Gave loads of praise and repeated 5 times. Finished with a good play in the garden. So far so good.
Saturday 17th February
Decided to give lots of time playing with and getting to know Molly and continue with some very basic and gentle training.
First thing in the morning I let her out of her kennel to have a good romp in the garden. The grass was covered in frost and she loved the new sensation, rolling over and jumping around on this 'new' surface.
When she was not too distracted I called her name followed by 'here, here' and she came to me straight away and gots lots and lots of praise. I continued this for a few minutes and only called her in when she was not distracted with other things to ensure she would comply. She was 100% in this very controlled situation.
I put her back in her kennel and took the other two dogs for a run in the fields. When I got back I let her out again and called her to me a few more times. Again 100% in very controlled situations (very happy with this).
I commanded her to sit and gently put in position. She didn't mind at all. Lots of praise and a big game before doing it again. After about 5 goes of this she would sit quietly while I stroked her with no attempt to wriggle away. I put her away after 5 minutes of this and gave her some food.
In the afternoon my wife and I took all three dogs to a lake with a wooded path all round and Molly was no problem on the lead and loved exploring all the new sights and sounds. This is a busy walking track and is a good place to socialise a pup and get her used to the hussle and bussle. Got home and put her up for the night. A good day for Molly.
First thing in the morning I let her out of her kennel to have a good romp in the garden. The grass was covered in frost and she loved the new sensation, rolling over and jumping around on this 'new' surface.
When she was not too distracted I called her name followed by 'here, here' and she came to me straight away and gots lots and lots of praise. I continued this for a few minutes and only called her in when she was not distracted with other things to ensure she would comply. She was 100% in this very controlled situation.
I put her back in her kennel and took the other two dogs for a run in the fields. When I got back I let her out again and called her to me a few more times. Again 100% in very controlled situations (very happy with this).
I commanded her to sit and gently put in position. She didn't mind at all. Lots of praise and a big game before doing it again. After about 5 goes of this she would sit quietly while I stroked her with no attempt to wriggle away. I put her away after 5 minutes of this and gave her some food.
In the afternoon my wife and I took all three dogs to a lake with a wooded path all round and Molly was no problem on the lead and loved exploring all the new sights and sounds. This is a busy walking track and is a good place to socialise a pup and get her used to the hussle and bussle. Got home and put her up for the night. A good day for Molly.
16 February 2007
15th February 2007 Come - Fetch - Walk on Lead
Still playing and getting to know each other for the next while. I am trying to spend as much time as possible with Molly. I let her out of her kennel yesterday evening when I got home from work and she had a nice run around the lawn. I got down on my knees and made a big fuss of calling her and she nearly knocked me over with excitement running to me. I let her run around a bit more and called her again and she came galloping to me. I made a big fuss of her and gave her a piece of biscuit.
Brought her into the kitchen and threw the rolled up sock for her. She ran straight for it, picked it up and came back to hand with it a few times. She seems to be a natural retreiver which is great.
After about half an hour just following me around the house and playing I slipped a light slip lead over her head and let her drag it around. She only became aware of it when she stood on it. Her reaction was good though in that she didn't seem too worried about this new sensation. After a few minutes I picked up the lead and then I followed Her around the kitchen putting as little pressure on the lead as possible. Only once did she have a reaction to the lead in that she tried to pull away from me. I got down on my knees and called her to me and she came straight away. She got loads of praise and had a good romp on the floor before I fed her and put her to bed.
I am very aware that she is still very young and getting used to her new surroundings so I am keeping things very simple and very short (1 - 2 minutes at most on any one thing). All the time I am watching her and if I get even a hint that she is feeling pressure I stop and have a good old play with her. So far so good. We are having fun together which is the main thing. Roll on the weekend!
Brought her into the kitchen and threw the rolled up sock for her. She ran straight for it, picked it up and came back to hand with it a few times. She seems to be a natural retreiver which is great.
After about half an hour just following me around the house and playing I slipped a light slip lead over her head and let her drag it around. She only became aware of it when she stood on it. Her reaction was good though in that she didn't seem too worried about this new sensation. After a few minutes I picked up the lead and then I followed Her around the kitchen putting as little pressure on the lead as possible. Only once did she have a reaction to the lead in that she tried to pull away from me. I got down on my knees and called her to me and she came straight away. She got loads of praise and had a good romp on the floor before I fed her and put her to bed.
I am very aware that she is still very young and getting used to her new surroundings so I am keeping things very simple and very short (1 - 2 minutes at most on any one thing). All the time I am watching her and if I get even a hint that she is feeling pressure I stop and have a good old play with her. So far so good. We are having fun together which is the main thing. Roll on the weekend!
15 February 2007
14th Feb 2007
Today is Molly's first full day with me and when I came home from work this evening I took her into the kitchen to spend some time with her so that we could get to know one another. She was a little nervous at first at all the strange sights and smells but she was soon running around the kitchen wagging her tail and taking pieces of biscuit from me and my wife.
I stuffed an old sock with some newspaper and threw it for her across the kitchen floor to see what her reaction would be. She galloped after it, picked it up and came straight back to me with it and I took it from her gently with loads of praise. Did this about 5 times and every time the same result. Very happy.
As she was nosing around the kitchen I started to call her name and get down on my knees encouraging her to come to me. She came running every time and I made a big fuss of her.
I then spent about half an hour sitting on the kitchen floor talking to her and letting her crawl all over me and generally had a great time playing with each other and building confidence and that all important bond.
After about an hour in the kitchen I took her back to her kennel and gave her some food which she hoovered up. As I write now she is curled up in her bed sleeping soundly. All in all, a very enjoyable evening for both of us.
I stuffed an old sock with some newspaper and threw it for her across the kitchen floor to see what her reaction would be. She galloped after it, picked it up and came straight back to me with it and I took it from her gently with loads of praise. Did this about 5 times and every time the same result. Very happy.
As she was nosing around the kitchen I started to call her name and get down on my knees encouraging her to come to me. She came running every time and I made a big fuss of her.
I then spent about half an hour sitting on the kitchen floor talking to her and letting her crawl all over me and generally had a great time playing with each other and building confidence and that all important bond.
After about an hour in the kitchen I took her back to her kennel and gave her some food which she hoovered up. As I write now she is curled up in her bed sleeping soundly. All in all, a very enjoyable evening for both of us.
Welcome
Welcome to my Blog. I will be writing here about my experiences, thoughts and actions as I train my new Springer Spaniel pup Molly. Molly is 4 months old and is bread from Field Trialing lines with names like FtCh Steadroc Sker, FtCh Clarburgh Art, FtCh Kennine Rob of Rytex, FtCh Rytex Rue, FtCh Millshadow Aster, FtCh Trawsgoed Lad of Caldyview, FtCh Badgercourt Warlord, FtCh Phillips Girl in her 3 generation pedigree amoung others.
I took Molly home from the breeders 2 days ago on the 13th February 2007 and she has settled in well to her new surroundings and is feeding, drinking and sleeping happily. See will be kept outside in a kennel. I have 2 kennels side-by-side with Molly in one on her own and my other 2 dogs (English Setter and another shooting springer) in the other right beside her. She will have company all day with the other dogs when I am at work.
I hope you enjoy reading this blog and keeping in touch with our progress down the rocky road ahead.
I took Molly home from the breeders 2 days ago on the 13th February 2007 and she has settled in well to her new surroundings and is feeding, drinking and sleeping happily. See will be kept outside in a kennel. I have 2 kennels side-by-side with Molly in one on her own and my other 2 dogs (English Setter and another shooting springer) in the other right beside her. She will have company all day with the other dogs when I am at work.
I hope you enjoy reading this blog and keeping in touch with our progress down the rocky road ahead.
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