Why won't my springer hunt open ground?

Shooting UK is your complete shooting resource. From gun reviews to shotgun licence and firearms certificate information, to clay pigeon shooting, game shooting, shooting lessons and gundog training.

| Next

Why won't my springer hunt open ground?

Cover's a big draw, but you're the boss when it comes to where the dog has to go!

By Gundogs

Monday, 19 December 2011

My springer spaniel’s training is coming along pretty well but I can’t get her to leave hedgerows and cover to hunt open ground for retrieves. Any advice?

GUNDOG TRAINING
Peter Blatch
You don’t say how old your dog is because when all's said and done this lesson comes under the category of advanced training and it might be you are expecting too much if she’s still a young pup.

However, I will assume here that it’s a more mature animal.

Main problem is that cover is usually full of lovely scent and open ground isn’t.

This, then, is always going to make it harder to persuade a dog to leave the cover alone, and venture outside.

First step is to go back to open ground and make sure the dog responds to your whistle, voice commands and hand signals, especially the ‘get out’ order.

Next, work the dog along an open hedge so that it can see you throw the dummy a few yards out into an open field, as well as see your signal and command to leave cover.

Stick to one dummy thrown a short distance until the dog has got full confidence in finding something on command, then introduce a few others a little further out to encourage the dog to hunt.

Take your time, be patient and you will succeed.