W2D-016 Italian Spinone club-3.txt
INSIGHT INTO TRAINING THE ITALIAN SPINONE
Dear Members, Well I have been scratching my head since being asked to write about the training of the Spinone, trying to find areas which would interest non-working owners.

Firstly I will outline very briefly my involvement with gundogs. I started over 14 years ago training Springers having reasonable success in tests, then due to a change in my shooting I moved to Labs, once again having success in tests. I still run both breeds both for myself and handling dogs on occasions for other people I have trained dogs for friends and to date, not had any comebacks as to their performances. I moved to Spinones because I felt other breeds were being overbred and spoiled for monetary gains.

I have long last found a breed which is being cared for in the correct manner. It would be a shame to see this breed go the same way through lack of careful and select matings. We must all insist that hip scoring and eye checks are carried out to ensure we all maintain a happy and healthy breed. I am so impressed by the Spins nature and work, I don't require to look elsewhere for a good companion and worker.

Now that I have bored the pants off all of you, please allow me to give some hard earned advice to future trainers and handlers.

TRAINING TIPS

1. Do not start serious training until your pup is at least 6 months plus. (Take your time don't rush, remember it's better to take your time and have a well trained dog which is going to last 10 years, than a monster, which is a pain in the bum for the rest of it's natural life.

2. Do not allow your pup to retrieve sticks and stones, this very often causes hard mouth. Also don't play tug of war, you will only regret it, especially when your clever Spin brings in it's first retrieve - you can't get much meat off a pair of pheasant wings whichever way you cook them.

3. Do not enforce walking to heel as this will only make if difficult when you expect your dog to leave your side to start hunting.

4. Don not try and force your pup to quarter for too long, this is a sure way of turning him into a plodder.

5. Do not take your pup to ground which has large amounts of rabbit scent, or you'll turn it into a hoover. Remember these air scenting dogs.

6. Just because Spins are gundogs it doesn't mean they enjoy having a gun fired over their heads. This is something which takes time and patience.

7. POINTING is something which very often happens over-night. Very careful monitoring of your pup as he starts to give any indication of pointing, needs to be encouraged once it starts. This generally begins with slight pointing, once your pups stops and stands still, quietly walk up alongside him. Do not approach along the line of the pups behind, this will often spook him, always approach from the flank, this way you won't upset the pup. When you 're alongside softly repeat the command 'HOLD', at the same time gently stroke the pups stomach, this has a soothing affect When the pup is contented carefully raise his tail if not already done, bear in mind, the tail should only be in line with its back. After a short length of time flush the object being pointed by any means available to you. A word of warning do not try for the world record in pointing, as you will only encourage faults such as shaking, tail twitching or even worse moving in before being told to do so.

WATERWORK should be done at the pups pace. Never get frustrated enough to throw a young dog into the deep end expecting it to swim like a fish, all you will do is scare the dog for life.

I hope this hasn't been too boring for you all, as you can imagine there is a lot more to gundog training than meets the eye. It's not as horrendous a picture as I may have painted it. There's always a bright side to it, and nothing is more embarrassing than when at the end of a hard days trailing the judge asks your dog to make a reasonable difficult water retrieve, your faithful hound looks up at you and blatantly yawns before sawntering down to the water leisurely swims out and back makes his delivery looks at the judge and yawns again. Who could ask for more?

So come on folks have a 'go'! STEVE KIMBERLEY
