Last weekend finally got to go on our first spaniel trial (only to watch) only 2 per year and a training session on the second day. We had a ball the dogs were completely exhausted for Monday but what a way to go even Indi was tired my everyready bunny was seen to lay down for a short spell
. Both are fit dogs but mentally 2 days of sniffing fresh bunny got to them I likened it to studding for exams they were mentally tired. Kody slept most of Monday but by Wednesday was back to his usual self, Indi Monday pm back to being a loon.
Kody put up 4 rabbits, poor Indi only 1 right in the last minutes when everyone was walking back to the cars. Neither was fussed by gunshots, Kody especially learned that a shot was interesting as he sat immediately then looking about excitedly as if he new what happened next (he doesn't). His first rabbit was shot, we took him over to it told him to fetch, he picked it up (I heard the ribs crack yuk yuk) then he seemed to get frustrated about how to pick it up then he lost interest. I did throw it around a few times to get him interested but as I say he wasn't fussed. Not sure where to go, its a shame Indi didn't find one as I know she would have no problem picking one up. But back to kody, he picks up a rabbit covered dummy I think it was the way it drooped about, do they learn this with time, was considering using a packet of rice sewn in an old hand towel which will have weight , will obviously start with picking up towel first then adding rice he will retrieve most things, he is steadier than her responds to the whistle and stops at a distance, she is a pain in the bum responds to the whistle as long as I'm giving directions if it is to come back and she sees the lead then no way but is a good hunter and will retrieve. What do you think of my idea about the rice will use a clicker also to encourage. Help and suggestions required.
PS. We are the only cocker's, all springers I couldn't explain how good the weekend was as it was so nice not being the old one out and people saying what are you going to do with those, the people were all lovely and helpful even though they are show not working some even talking about trying to import working cocker's here and the biggest surprise was them saying how quiet my two are" Indi quiet" at our Obed and even agility everyone who knows her, calls her mad and a loon (lovingly) she never sits still 2 speeds all out and asleep.
So at the end of the day my 2 show cocker's got there put their noses to ground and did a good one for the cocker's they were also talking about how some of the show springers have gone there and then just stood there not doing anything not interested at all. So I didn't feel silly at having cocker's and they did pretty good at their first day in the field. Must add I had them on a long 20ft lead wasn't confident that they would come back or respond to the whistle first time out on a thousand acre property its not that they would run away just that they would not come back when called, both had runs around off lead but then had trouble calling them back. Back again on the 9 August for our second time. Its a weekend away about 2.5 hrs drive from Sydney, staying in a hotel, dogs in the car in the crate, met at 8.30am then drive about 30Min's to the property as I said 1000 acres its a full day Sat we got back to the hotel about 4.30pm then all went out for diner. Then met same place same time Sunday then finished about 2.00 then home by about 5.00 so a full on weekend but we had a ball. Note to self must keep dogs heads out of rabbit holes Kody had sore eyes from dirt
Should have taken photo had Kody's head in hole and Indi's the other end all you could see was tails and bums
