If he’s wet behind the ears…
Fran Ardley takes the plunge and outlines the best ways to go about training your dog for water work
the dog to be able to retrieve from water. But I would urge caution. Always consider the conditions before sending your dog into water, especially in the winter months.
When and where
For example, a cocker with a thin coat will not cope very well with entering freezing water and then being asked to sit through a drive while soaking wet. Never send your dog for a retrieve if a river is running fast, no matter how strong a swimmer the dog is, and never ask your dog to go into a lake or pond with ice on it, you are asking for trouble.
Although it can look impressive when a dog leaps into water, beware the unseen obstacles that can cause nasty injuries. Always check to make sure there are no
“Swimming helps to get dogs fit for the rigours of the shooting field”
branches or old shopping trollies lying just underneath the water before sending your dog in. I would also advise that you do not get into any ‘competitions’ with your dog. We have all experienced it when a Gun points out that there is a retrieve in the water and all and sundry send their dogs in for it.
The best course of action in a case like this is to call your dog to heel and pop it on a lead if needs be. Getting involved in a free for all will do your dog no good at all.
As to when you should start doing some water training, I think the answer is simply when the weather warms up and the pup is a confident retriever. You could, of course, encourage the dog have a paddle about from a young age and most dogs take to water. However, if your dog is cautious, under no circumstances force it into the water as you may well put it off for life. Patience, persistence and persuasion are the key to success.
Confidence
The first thing is to find a suitable location with water. This should ideally be a still or very slow-moving area of water and it should be a warm day. It is not a good idea to try and get your pup keen on water if it going to get freezing cold. Also, avoid steep banks with muddy or silty bottoms. These exercises are all about building up the dog’s confidence and avoiding situations that scare them.
Encourage
Some young dogs lack the confidence to go into water, perhaps because they cant see the bottom, and this is why it is important you find a shallow location with a firm bottom. Many handlers will try to send the dog from the bank but I prefer to don a pair of wellies and walk a few steps into the water and encourage the pup towards me. I will often have a bit of biscuit in my hand to add that little bit of encouragement. In this regard, keep your hands low and clap them.
Delivery in the water
By far the most common fault with water work is the dog dropping the retrieve when making the delivery. The way to ingrain a good habit is to initially stand in the water and call the dog back in to you. Most dogs are unlikely to shake while in the water and once your dog is doing this reliably you can move on to the next stage.
Delivery on land
You will need to find an area where the dog can get an easy exit to the bank. Throw out your retrieve and send the dog. You need to be positioned close to the bank edge but far enough back so the dog can get on to firm ground. Once the dog is confidently coming back to you, gradually move back further away from the bank and each time ensure you give the dog lots of encouragement.
If your dog starts to drop short, move a few steps forward and work on that distance until you get a reliable delivery.