12 replies to this topic

[yote man]

i know this site has been dead scence duck season ended but i just got a new duck dog akc reg yellow lab and had some questions about what she needs to know to be a good duck dog i dont have enough money to take her to a trainer so i want to do it myself she is 5 months old and knows sit and we are working on stay i have a short hair as my upland dog and trained her myself so i know how much work it is but just gettin into duck hunting so what does my dog need to know and how should i do it

[tinhunter]

I am no professional trainer, but I am currently training my new lab to duck hunt as well. Besides sit and stay, which is important to remain in the blind or on a dog stand in the tules for extended periods of time, the other basic requirements the dog needs to be able to do is retrieve marked birds and unmarked birds, not move until given the instruction to do so, and don't drop the bird until you give the command. Whistle commands are also nice to keep you from constantly yelling at the dog at distances and interrupting other hunters days. It also helps if they take direction as to where to go and retrieve the downed bird. What I mean by this is the dog should be able to understand commands to go around a tule berm on a particular side to retrieve the bird rather than just roaming out there until they find it, this will save you time in retrieving birds that may fall at a longer distance from the blind; the longer the dog is out there the longer you are standing up checking on them and possibly spooking birds that may be coming in. Not shaking the water off until you tell them is also helpful to keep you from getting soaked when you take the bird from them. The sit and stay commands are easier done if you use a small platform like a pallet with wood on top for the dog to be forced to sit and stay on. This gets them used to sitting on a dog stand or in one spot in the blind until you release them. Marked retrieves are easy you just throw a bumper that the dog sees and they go and get it. Unmarked retrieves are more difficult, you can do like a lot of guys I see out in the field do and just throw a rock or something in the area of the unmarked bird and the dog will go over there and search until they find it. This method does work, but if you want a more professional handling dog then your dog needs to be able to respond to hand signals. You can start to teach hand signals in conjunction with your platform or when you send them to their crate or load up in the truck. You can mix up the directions by having those items either to your right or left side and have the dog face you and give a motion with your hand toward the object when you give them the command they will start to associate the hand signal with a direction they need to go left or right. For straight motions you can start with your platform in front with the dog at your side and gesture in front of them toward the object when you give the command. You will have to expand these signals later on with retrieves, but they are good and easy way to get your dog used to seeing them early on and associating them with a specific direction. Whistle commands are done the same way as the hands; you blow the whistle and give the command and the dog then begins to learn to associate the whistle with the action rather than you telling them what to do. There is more to getting them to finish and be ready, but this is a start.gun dog supply has some pretty good books and videos that you may want to look into as well.

[clampdaddy]

My uncle will set decoys out on the lawn and throw a frozen duck into the spread so the dog learns to use his nose and doesn't waste time checking out the decoys. My friends dog is bad for checking out the decoys while making a retrieve and it is really annoying.

[tinhunter]

That's a good tip; I will have to use that while training my dog. I agree that a poorly trained dog is very annoying in the field.

[bzzrd feedr]

I've had Labradors for a long time. The most important part of training a retriever after the basic commands and healing on/off the collar is the force fetch. Basically the mouth control of the dog. I have never forced a dog but I know the process. It is done after they know the basic commands and after they have all their adult teeth and their mouth is not hurting from the teething. I'd suggest you go to a duck hunting/retriever type forum and read-read-read. There's also several good dvd's and books out there. I know with pups that you do not play pull on the toy or use a e-collar unless you know how to introduce them to it properly. There's are some great info out there for the do it your-selfer. It takes a tremendous amount of time and patience that I don't have. If you can spend at least a hour + with the pup at least 5 days a week you have a chance. Remember you get out of a hunting dog what you put into it, either your time or $ spent on a professional trainer. If you have a wife and kids, you all have to be on the same page if the pup is a family dog. One word commands- sit, here, down, heal, fetch, drop, kennel, and a few I can't remember right now. Hand signals is a big process and expensive time wise to train especially by a novice. Go look at duck hunt chat. com they have a hunting dog forum that some professional guides and trainers participate that is very informative. Good Luck

[tinhunter]

Yote man, there is a seminar coming for training your retriever at the NorCal Golden Retriever Club. The seminar is being put on by Evan Graham who is the author of the Smart Work series of retriever training. I haven't used these books/DVD's yet, but I have read on other sites that they are some of the best to use. I am thinking about attending and figured you might be interested as well; here is the link: http://www.norcalgrc.org/?page_id=79

[Jeff]

At the least, make sure that it will stay/lay down and not whine. There is nothing worse than a dog that walks around and/or whines. I (and any of the guys I hunt with) would rather see a dog go to sleep and stay put and never make a retrieve, than whine or walk around the blind area and be a good retriever.

[yote man]

well my dog is a good dog for a 5 month old she sits stays and retrives but i was told by a buddy of mine yesterday who took his pup to a trainer the trainer said he didnt want to see the dog till he was 8 months old anyone heard of training a dog too early

[andy1621]

Yote-Here's some good advice from Ask the Trainer-HightestGood luck with your new huntin' buddy!Shoot straight,Andy

[tinhunter]

I think that might have just been the preference of that particular trainer; Feather Ranch Kennels will start the dogs as early as 6 months. There are multiple training methods used by multiple trainers; none are the only right one and none are the only wrong one. A dog that is a little older has a longer attention span and is easier to work with as far as a trainer is concerned. At 5 months your dog is at the perfect age to begin learning, but you have to keep in mind that he/she is still a puppy and you can't rush them to quickly into a lot of the retriever training. You can't rush a dog that young into tasks such as force fetching, but that is a perfect age to get the obedience training down and observe his/her desire to retrieve and get them used to being outside playing and exploring. Since you have had dogs before you already know that you are always training even when you aren't doing formal training work.

[lilwes278]

Gotta get your dog one of these:http://www.bark4beer.com/That way if the hunting sucks you'll still have a good day!

[bzzrd feedr]

I think that might have just been the preference of that particular trainer; Feather Ranch Kennels will start the dogs as early as 6 months. There are multiple training methods used by multiple trainers; none are the only right one and none are the only wrong one. A dog that is a little older has a longer attention span and is easier to work with as far as a trainer is concerned. At 5 months your dog is at the perfect age to begin learning, but you have to keep in mind that he/she is still a puppy and you can't rush them to quickly into a lot of the retriever training. You can't rush a dog that young into tasks such as force fetching, but that is a perfect age to get the obedience training down and observe his/her desire to retrieve and get them used to being outside playing and exploring. Since you have had dogs before you already know that you are always training even when you aren't doing formal training work.

+1 I took my new pup up to Hi-Test for the puppy program @ 4 months for a month with good results on the basics. She went back for the gun dog program when she had her adult teeth for force fetch and then field work. When I get her back in June I'll start the hand signal work and then next fall hunt her and work her on the marsh/field.

[tinhunter]

I don't know if you are still watching this thread, but I came across a good website with a ton of information about dog training. Here is the link: link