Keep control

The early stages of training my springer went well and he is now just a year old. I have had use of a rabbit pen and he is really steady and will hunt close in there, but when we are out in the open he tends to range a bit too far for comfort. I try to keep him close with two “pips” for a turn whistle but he does not always respond instantly. How can I teach him to hunt in range?

It is great to watch a young spaniel hunting with drive and it is all too easy for the handler to follow freely behind with their dog as it gains experience on game scent in the open fields. There usually comes a point, however, when the dog is hunting quicker than the human walking pace because of the draw that fresh scent is having on the dog’s nose. This distraction can be so great to a young spaniel that its ears switch off and control quickly diminishes. He should have one eye on you and also be able to do his job effectively without constant whistle reminders. If he gets too accustomed to only turning on the whistle, he does not need to watch you.

Try taking him out on some open, scenty ground and cast him off to hunt and, instead of immediately walking after him, just stand still. Say and do nothing and I am positive that, after several casts, he will suddenly realise you are not behind him and will come back in close to you. Reward him well, then cast him off again. Take a few steps then stop again — the same as before should happen. Build on this slowly and soon he will be hunting for you rather than just following his nose and waiting for you to intervene. It is like having an invisible piece of elastic keeping you both in contact. PR