I am suffering from shell shock after Rufus's first outside training session with a gundog specialist. I bought the harness, and thought he looked smart after the groomers this lunchtime. I picked up my frined who brought her sprocker bitch and JRT. We drove up into the deep beautiful country north of Midhurst. We picked up the trainer and one of her many dogs, a beautiful working cocker bitch, golden, called Mouse. It was quite traumatic to realise just how bad rufus is, in terms of his complete lack of focus on me. We did the homework exercises, and then went of for the walk. By this time Rufus, who had been a bit diffident, was in true hunting mode. I was not allowed to call him as she wanted to assess his checking in response.She said it is quite good, which means there is hope! Of course it was nose down and bog of in the opposite direction. I was not even allowed to call, look or turn round and we walked in the opposite direction. He went up a drive of a posh lodge, into the banks but I had to walk on. The trainer went back to ensure the line wasn't caught. She was pleased that he had been looking for me, but got a bit tangled, so he was allowed to run to me with one call. He was so enjoying himself by this time he went straight past, and off on a hunt. Again, walk the other way. Each time he did come, although once she went in to the undergrowth and told him off. However, on about the 5th change of direction (luckily we were in the middle of nowhere), he went into a large patch of brambles and bracken. When he did come out he was full of the joys of spring and without the harness and longline, so the rest of the walk was off lead. Much of the same, but she did notice the forays were getting shorter between check in. No calling and only praise when he actually stopped with me. She observed him closely and explained the hunt as his form of mental stimulation, and the more exercise he got, the more he would need mental stimilation, hence viscious circle. He is not an easy spaniel.
I won't bore you with all the back to basics stuff for home, but it's a bit of bootcamp so he sees me as boss not friend. She says he has too much of my attention at home and doesn't need it when he is out, cos he knows I'll be there.
It was very tough, as I have got so used to worrying about him. She says I must not call and mollicoddle him. The exercises are about rewarding him for looking at me, and earned rewards. By the end of the session he was covered in burs mud and soaking. She said he was a true worker, but keeping him and treating him as a pet, even agility wasn't enough for him. She says he is not an easy case, but if we work hard, he could be doing field trials in 6 months. Dog knows what closing the dog flap is going to be like. Wish me luck! By the way she says no second dog until he is fully rehabilitated into proper cocker mode.
