[Jeffrey Sr]

Alright I'm lost here. I have a short haired yellow lab. Raised one just like it before, and he was the best duck dog. God rest his soul, he would do triple retrives. Even took him to MSU. Kidnney failure.
So from the pound, my ex-wife brough this dog home, same type, yellow short hair. He is neutered, but for the life of me I can not get him to want to retrive ducks. He will get any small game I shoot. Excellant with my chidren, have to keep him.
Well at this point I am so financaly out of whack, I really can't spend what I did on the other dog.
Any tips you guys have out there are so appreciated. Ex has all my decoys, training supplies, etc. What is my best option(s)?
But I have the dog and my 12 gauge.
Thanks,
Jeffrey Sr

 

[Bow Hunter Brandon]

Im not exspert on dogs. Far from it to tell the truth but Im slowly training my dog.
I know the guys here will be able to help you but they are going to need more information. Start at the begining. How old is the dog? How is the dogs basics? Will he sit and stay till sent on a retrieve. Will be retrieve a dummy on land in water? Both sight retrieves? Blind retrieves?
You said he will retrieve small game you shot how so? Give us more detail and I am sure you will get lots of help. These guys are always great and have helped me alot with my dog and other projects.

 

[Branta]

BHB is right... more info and I'm sure we'll all weigh in!!

(we'll have that dog so messed up...)

 

[Jeffrey Sr]

Dog is 2 years. Will stick next to me in the woods. If I shoot something, he will stay until I tell him to get it. Dog does not like water, go figure. Basics are pretty good. He will retrieve a dummy on land. Cant get him to go in the water.

 

[daddyduck]

Take him out this summer swimming in the shallows and playing with his retriving toy and gradually move into the water , make it fun. If he wants the toy bad enough he will swimm and go from there.

 

[Branta]

If he's good around other dogs, take daddyducks suggestion and throw in a "buddy". alot of times, they get so caught up in the play that they forget they're actually in the water! (Plus if the retrieving desire is there, healthy competition brings out the best in dogs (it's THEIR toy).

soon, they'll think this is coolest thing ever and you'll regret the day he "turned" -every bit of water, they'll be in it!


some dogs don't like alot of feathers in their mouth. take a favorite canvas bumper and strap/band a wing to it. I'd also suggest adding some "duck oil" to the bumper as well.

and Make it TONS OF FUN for the dog. if he's not perfect, that's o.k. - just get him in the right direction. Taking baby steps in your progression will pay bigger dividends in the long run than trying to change a behavior quickly. Getting Hard on a dog like this will only have you going backwards and make all future training that much more difficult.

there's excellent books out there for retreiver training and behavior quirks. funds are tight, i'd try your local library they should have the GAME DOG, WATER DOG series of books (by Wolters)

Hope this helps. let us know how you make out.

 

[Jeffrey Sr]

Branta- Thanks for the advice. As far as feathers in the mouth, that he will recieve. Have duck on a board in freezer. From the humane society, lady my ex knew, while looking for her lost lab. Guess he was going to be put down. People got rid of him because of the "puppy stage", and i guess they got tired of beating him. She found her dog, hence ex brought this one home. Thank God possesion is 9/10th's. LOL. My other lab had to be put down 2 months earlier, due to kiddney failure. Even took him to MSU. Hell of a dog. Triple retrieves. When I installed wireless fencing, he freaked due to the coller/reciever. Took me about 8 weeks, instead of 2 weeks to let him know it was OK, and not run from the coller when he saw it, and hide in a corner. I think perhaps this is why he may not want to get in the water. Was shocked too much? Im positive he hard a horrific experiance with a coller. Can not be hard on him though. Took 8 months to even get him in the field without shaking. I guess I am curious if he will be able to hunt ducks.

 

[Mike L]

Boy I would say you have your hands full. I really do hope you are gifted with patience, you're going to need it. Like Branta said it will be very important to take baby steps. Find a secluded beach for that throw toy. If he will definatley follow you ? This is one way you might try to overcome the water fear. I had a young lab that was the same way, she just didn't like the water for some reason. So I put my waders on and went for a walk with her running around and just doing whatever she pleased.( Make sure the vehicle is way out of site. ) So anyway my path had to cross a shallow ditch, no problem, she only stopped for a second, the second ditch on the other hand was a swim, or not cross for her. She stopped dead and wouldn't cross, I talked to her a little encouraging her to come along. So then I just turned and walked away from her, she started barking and whining, I never turned around and just kept walking away, yelling come girl ? I was about a 100yds away when she couldn't take it any longer and I heard a splash. And as they say the rest is history. So if the attachment is there I think this would work for you. You might have to do it twice ? Making the last water bigger etc. It's a judgement call. Easy as you go, encouragemnet a plus. Training time short. Read the dog, watch his tail, up? And wagging ? Continue. Dropped and still ? Stop for the day. With encouragement and patience I think you might succeed. Good Luck............Keep us informed

 

[Bow Hunter Brandon]

out of curiousity I went to the library here in town and looked for the book Branta mentioned. I found Game Dog but its actually the book turned into a training vidio. I Really liked it and its been helpful already. Reading how to is one thing but seeing it done is great it really helps you put it together. There were a few items that directly contadicted the training book I had been going off of but I guess its just a mater of taking what you feel is right for the dog you are training and going with it.
Anyway great sujestion.

 

[lwingwatcher]

I am no dog trainer by any stretch of the imagination but--I will share what little experience I have on dogs and water.

Screw the toys and the waders--find a sandy beach that is not crowded and go in and play with the dog either standing if you can or right down with the dog.

Years ago, when I had a lab--that is how I got started and eventually he would swim under water for unbelievable distances following me and it eventually turned into being able to retrieve stuff off the bottom.

The last dog I had was a beagle of all friggin dawgs that did not seem to understand that beagles are not water dogs. Same deal with me in the water although he would not go under.

If they wanna play with you....the water is no obstacle...

Good luck!!!