He is 2 1/2 years old (is neuteured, some think that makes a difference I don't know) has a ok command of basic commands, sit stay lie down etc. He loves the water and has done some work throwing dummies etc... and he always does exceptionally well. He is not gun shy, when we go skeet shooting he goes and sits down under a tree and falls asleep. I just need some ideas to advance his training.
2006-06-24 14:07:08 · 9 answers · asked by mdjohnsonusc 2 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
labs have the natural instincts. i have a 7 year old female. do you have buddies that you hunt with that have dogs that are trained? most labs just need the exposure to what they are supposed to be doing and will pick it up just being around the other dogs. a training tool that worked for me was tying a duck or pheasant wing to the dummy. they then associate the scent of the wing to what they are looking for. i did not hunt my lab until she was 3 and she picked up so quick it made my head spin.
best of luck to you.
2006-06-25 01:05:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Chances are if you take him out hunting and shoot a duck he will go right out and get it. The problem comes with control and following commands. There are some good books on training gun dogs and there may even be a club in your area to help out. A good retriever is so much fun to hunt with.
2006-06-26 17:51:06 · answer #2 · answered by Kenneth H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he's got the instincts, although u should have started earlier.... after you've been hunting, put a duck in the freezer....a greaser (Merganser) tends to work well because of the smell...and use it as a dummy, he will learn where to bite, how soft to hold, gets accustom to the smell, and most importantly, dont EVER play tug-a-war with a duck dog, unless he understands the difference between work and play, and dont EVER let him chew on it...haha, also, hide it in the bushes, rubbing against things along the way, and hide it where he cant see it, point him in the right direct and tell him "dead bird" or whatever command you wanna use, and be patient
any questions, email or IM me
good luck
2006-06-28 15:13:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try gutting a duck in the field, and feeding him the guts. This works well for other kinds of hunting dogs (i had beagles we used for rabbits). When he starts to retreive the ducks, do this as a treat. It will keep him retrieving. Good luck, have fun
2006-06-30 05:28:15 · answer #4 · answered by rlms_girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do the duck wing thing. i started training my blm when he was 3 months old. he was making retrieves when he was 4 months.
what i did, was keep him in my house. then i'd go outside and hide a wing in the bushes. i'd bring the dog out and tell him to sit. then i'd tell him to find the bird, and i'd use an arm motion to send him to the left or the right. when he found it and brought it to me, i'd give him a treat.
2006-06-25 04:12:33 · answer #5 · answered by paul67337 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless you are a REALLY good dog trainer, you will probably need the help of a professional since you are getting such a late start
2006-06-24 14:15:14 · answer #6 · answered by Report Abuse 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take him to a hunting trainer! they can work wonders! but look for one that has a good reputation and can handle dogs without hurting them.
2006-06-28 03:15:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
speak to other people that have duck retrieving machines.
2006-06-24 14:12:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude, a dog named Paul just told you how to do it.
Cool...
2006-06-25 17:23:30 · answer #9 · answered by CHHine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋