[rfreeman]

Well I finaly got me a hunting dog yesterday. Best part she did not cost me a penny. She is a black lab mix. mix unknown but I suspect she is some sort of retriever mix. She weighs in at a lean 35 lbs. She is one year of age and completely potty trained, crate trained, knows basic comands and is set on a specific schedule ie eating sleeping and time in crate by the way she shows no interest in human food at all. I can't get over how smart and willing she is to learn. So here is my question. I have never trained a field dog for waterfowling and would like to here any advice. I went out and bought a training canvas bird for her and started working on her already. I can throw it and she will go get it firmly holding it and will drop it on comand. I threw it several times and as she was running to it I called her off it. She imediatly stopped and ran back to me. I told her before she got to me to get the Duck, she flips around and goes and get it bringing right to me. Then I told her to get in her Kennel with a hand jester and one word "kennel" she got right in. I then hid the duck and told her to go get it. She began working with a little instruction but found it quickly.After that I didi this a few more times with no instruciton and hid it in different spots. She found it very quickly. It seems like this dog has the instinct and the desire. She knows hand signs with or without vocal comands. Only issue she has is on leash she wants to pull. Ill get through this in about a week or so. Then I will start taking her to the local trap and skeet club and sit with her in my jeep to get her used to the noise. After she gets used to that I will work with her actually around me shooting my shot gun. Is this the right approach? How do I get her trained to find waterfowl in the water? Any other pointers I might not be asking about would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[Sasakwa]

Sounds like you have a good dog in the making my friend...Since I know nothing about training a hunting dog I only have a couple of pointers...first..according to Ceaser on TV, when a dog pulls on his leash, just pick up on the leash...seems to work on my lab..the other pointer was shown to me by my late father-in-law and seems to work every time..if and when your dog decides to not give you her retrieve toy...just pick up on one of her front feet...she will drop it instantly...I have owned dogs from Poodles to Labs and everyone of them would drop what is in their mouth when you pick up on a front foot...the only problem is they will soon learn to try to play keep away with their front foot....but it still works...good luck with you new friend and enjoy her....keep us posted....

 

[Gauge]

Good to hear ya got ya pup.
Hope to see some photos of her in action next season.

 

[dennishoddy]

I've only had britts, and have never had a leash on them, as the breed is naturally close working. When working them at the skeet/range, be sure and have lots of their favorite treats, and really put on the praise A LONG WAY BACK FROM THE FIRING LINE. If they are comfortable, and having fun move up on another night. If you have kids, bring them along and let them play with their friend.
My latest britt I started about 100 yds on a charity trap shoot for a local volunteer fire dept. I alternated doing some shooting while he was in the dog box in the truck and letting him out around the truck. Before I knew it there were several kids that saw the "puppy" and were playing with him. Next thing I knew he was following them down to the firing line when shooting was going on. He didn't even act like it bothered him a bit.

You gotta love it...puppies, and kids ;D ;D

 

[rfreeman]

After taking for my pup for walks and her earning my trust I decided to put her on a 200 foot rope today to see how she would do. She actually did much better than being on a short walking leash. So I decided to play fetch with her and test her out. She did great. Then I got out the dummy duck trainer. Its like I have been working with her her whole life. She was very responsive to my comands even when significant distractions were present ie. children adults cars and other dogs. Things are looking really good come duck season. I do know I have to get her used to shot gun noise though as she is a little sensitive to sudden loud noises. But I got plenty of time to get her used to it. I took her last week to the shotgun range for a while and sat with her in the jeep. When she seemed interested in going out of the jeep I let her out. But as soon as someone shot their gun she was very nervouse. I got her back in the jeep and she calmed down. Any suggestions on getting her used to gun shot noise would be appreciated. By the way maybe we should get a new dedicated section on this forum so we can discuss ideas and tell storries about our hunting dogs.
Rich

 

[chazk9]

the gun shy will get better when she has something to do after the noise. She has to realize that the gun noise means reward(fetching duck from water). That's how I got both my dogs used to it all and they are amazing now except that my 3 yr old choc lab got hip dysplasia mid duck season last year.

 

[Gauge]

Look what the dog brought in...Chazy9.
Thought ya left us for good ??? : ??? : ;D ;D ;D

 

[rfreeman]

I took my dog out duck hunting Saturday. As we were walking out to the pond some shots were fired. She got a little nervouse and started to walk away. I called her back to me she turned right around and heeled up. Once we got to the pond she layed right down behind me. I tied her up just in case. I took a couple shots but the ducks got away I turned around to see how she was doing and lo and behold she was still just laying down looking at me almost as if to say ha ha you missed. I think she is finaly getting it. She seemed almost annoyed with me that she did not get to go in the water that day to get me a duck. Seems all the work I put into her this summmer has payed off. Thanks for all the advice from everyone. On another note why the hell do people sky scrape for ducks? It just scares the birds off. Just another typical blue bird day on Saturday. As it was opening day the duck ponds were crawling with people. Usually were I hunt I don't see a soul out but Saturday I was lucky to get 100 yards from any one. Go figure. I think Ill wait till it gets really cold out and storming from now on.

 

[dennishoddy]

Know what you mean about sky busters. I went on a Goose hunt at Salt Plains several years ago and both times it was a clear blue sky. People were shooting a geese at 100 yds in the sky.