Help training my new stubborn chesapeake

[Gunnerboy]

so im sure some of you have seen my previous thread on losing appeal of duck hunting well my grandpa went and got me a chessie to try and get me back into it so now im training that stubborn critter and she likes to pick up the bird come back half way then run off with it and its then a game of can you catch me so any help on how to break her of that habit ?

 

[buck460XVR]

The retrieve and give need to be taught before one gets to the field. Playing her "catch me of you can game" will just make it worse. Same with playing ''Tug of war''. Long check cord work in the backyard and plenty of patience is what you need. If she is already used to the gun and finding downed birds, half the battle is won. I suggest you go to a bird dog forum and ask, or do a search.

 

[Gunnerboy]

the check cord is what i was kinda thinking but unsure of so thank you , and i dont try and catch her i ignore her and she comes back

 

[Flintknapper]

Lots of unknowns here.

Age of the dog (pup or mature)?

Do you have "Basic Training" on the dog (Come, Sit, Stay, Kennel, Leash Manners)? If not....stop NOW!

Does the dog come from a line of proven performers...or is this a pet quality dog from unknown lineage?

You know that Chessies (as a whole)....can be stubborn and on average a bit harder to train than say a Lab?

Do you have any dog training background?

What are your goals for the dog:

1. Primarily a hunting dog
2. Pet that also retrieves (60% pet...40% retriever on a good day).


You'd be surprised the number of folks (not saying you are in this group), that think you just buy/get a retriever and it should do it's job!

A good retriever will have the INSTINCT to retrieve, but it still has to be trained.

The level of training required is dictated by what your purpose for the dog is....and its personality (they are all different, believe me).

 

[Gunnerboy]

^ I know about them chessies i got another who is 13 and still healthy just dosent like hunting any more , and she is 14 months old and for basic training she is getting it from me again which she does great on its just that silly running off with the bird thing and she is from a all hunting lineage from a guy who just passed away here on the columbia river so its a good hunting line as for dog training in retriving and hunting im green never done it before so any advice is appreciated but she will be exclusively for hunting birds.

 

[sixgunner455]

don't hunt with her until she comes on command, first on check cord, then off, then on check cord with a bird, then off.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Training a Chessie...

Gunnerboy--Flint Knapper's points are all good. You have a complex problem--interaction of an individual dog with an individual human, neither of which we on THR can interact with.

Therefore I doubt very much if we can put our collective finger on the exact thing(s) that you need to do to correct this. I agree that it's a maddening problem, and IMHO you are on the right track not chasing the dog when she pulls this stunt.

But I think that to get this solved, you need to (1) work on "Come!" until the pup does that like a rocket, 100% of the time, (2) get a book or a video by an expert on training Chessies, and study it, and (3) consider getting professional help locally.

Hands-on, expert, local, help will be the best. I know it'll co$t. But having a dog co$ts, so that'll just be one more expense, like vet bills. You do what you have to.

Good luck--and please keep us posted, with pix!

 

[MtnCreek]

Does she do the same thing w/ a bumper? I would stop hunting her and go back to training w/ a bumper. Check cord may help. Really tasty snack that she likes better than the bird/bumper. Last resort, zap her w/ a collar, just try to not let her know it was you that zapped her and follow up with tasty treat when she comes back (bird or no bird).

 

[Gunnerboy]

Got her to come today with a bird on a check cord took about 30min with treats but at the end she was coming back on command so ill keep it up for a few weeks and Smokey joe any suggestions on videos or training books ? the local expert around here charges 1200 a month + 20 a day for 3 months of training and i can say his dogs arnt that great either, compared to some home trained ones ive hunted before.

 

[Stantdm]

I would urge you check on any UKC hunt clubs in your area. If there is a chapter you can find people to train with and help you through the rough spots. If there isn't then your going to have to educate yourself. TriTronics publishes a book "Retriever Training" by the Dobbs. You don't need an e-collar to use the book. Its got a lot of useful information in it.

For a dog to work in the field it has to have the foundation down solid. Sit, come, stay, heel are the cornerstones of success. If you dog doesn't do those with authority then advanced things are a waste of time. When your dog is trained to do the above you can move to more difficult things and build a solid partnership.

 

[WayBeau]

Water Dog by Richard Wolters. Trained two labs with this book. It's work, but if you keep at it you won't be disappointed. Like everyone's said so far, the basics have to be mastered before any advanced training will stick.