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Poppy And The Muzzle

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Hi Everyone,

I’m after some info regarding our Poppy and attempting to improve her keenness for the lure at the racing track, instead of her fellow racers :b .

Over the fields she is as keen as mustard and is lure crazy, really enjoying the chase (w00t) . However, once I put the muzzle on she’s a completely different dog and realises she’s unable to mouth the lure and instead goes for it less enthusiastically with her legs :unsure: . She has become more enthusiastic over the months but is not crazy for it. I’ve also resorted to putting a small piece of sausage in an onion sack, which has improved things slightly.

I think this is having an impact on her performance at the track as she is showing no great interest in the lure once the muzzle is donned and is not focussed at all.

It’s back to square one again, but I need a new approach as I’m concerned I’ll end up with same issues if I just carry on as I have been doing.

All and any ideas as always very welcome,

It’s tough this whippet training, but I’m determined to persevere and crack this :luck: .

Cheers, Neil.
 
TBH ive not had a problem with any of ours with a muzzle, it goes on and thats it! :lol: not much help am i (w00t)

some of mine will be happy to wander about before and after a race with it on, where as others we put the muzzle on last thing and take it off as soon as they have been picked up :)

all i say is she has to wear one to rave so just put it on moments before going n the traps, and get it off as soon as shes finished :thumbsup:
 
We have tried both, putting the muzzle on just before racing and taking it off straight away, and also wandering around with it on for a while :(
 
I would't be too concerned about the muzzle Jenny. Focus on getting her really keen on the lure again and she won't even notice the muzzle. She is only very young and it may come with age. Maybe you should give her some solos without a muzzle for a while and build up from there.
 
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Thanks for the reply Judy,

I think that is exactly what we will do :thumbsup:
 
Judy said:
I would't be too concerned about the muzzle Jenny. Focus on getting her really keen on the lure again and she won't even notice the muzzle. She is only very young and it may come with age. Maybe you should give her some solos without a muzzle for a while and build up from there.
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I have to agree with Judy, you could also use a rabbit skin on the lure to improve keeness. Eventually the penny drops and then you'll never get her off.

Xcite was awful to start with, only chasing one of Indias old toys tied to the lure. As anyone at Glos with vouch, if he gets the lure now (he's 9) there is no getting it back!
 
We took the lure machine out today and got back to basics, a couple of solos with no muzzle, as suggested.

Poppy was crazy on the lure :thumbsup: and we just need to introduce the muzzle again at some point.

Will take her again in a few days and repeat the same and hopefully get her confidence up.

I like the idea of the rabbit skin, do you know anyone who may have one to buy or I could always get Poppy to catch one, that may help with the keeness !!

Thanks again for your help.
 
Neil i would be careful not to over do it with her, it really does'nt matter what shes doing at home, the best experience will be gained at the track, you cant recreate the race track at home ;) other dogs ect...excitement of the day.

this could be a reason for her having a go at the other dogs in trials, as she is trialing so much alone at home??? just a thought.
 
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Thanks Julie,

I wouldn't say we are over doing the trialling at home and I realise nothing beats going to the track, which we have been doing :thumbsup: .

This is probably only the second time i've had the lure machine out at home in the past year, most of the time I spend road walking her to be honest.

It's because of the issues at the racing that i'm trying spend time away from the track to focus her attentions on the lure.

Am I wasting my time then and best just to leave it to the Sundays ??
 
i would'nt say its a waste of time, but i think at the track she seems very focused to me, maybe solo trial her on sunday with a muzzle and see how she goes, but i really dont think the muzzle has anything to do with her over interest in the other dogs on the track :wacko:

i think its just time, but you need to find bigger dogs to trial her with, that might put her off having a go at them, this will also be safer, if she trials with dogs her size or smaller you run a bigger chance of her injuring the other dog.

untill shes running with 1 dog clean and 100% on the lure, there really is no point introducing a 2nd dog or multi trial.

i know how frustating it must be, Smudge has not been easy to get going either.. :blink:
 
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Hopefully there will be some dogs on the larger side at Andover on Sunday :luck:
 
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