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Joined: 10/7/2007
Posts: 5
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my 14 month lab loves to retrieve dummies or about anything you throw for her, but will not pick up birds. She charges out after them with the "fetch" command and seems to love to hunt with plenty of instinct to retrieve, but just will not pick up the birds. so far I have not pressed to much not wanting discourage her enthusiasm, but I am starting to worry about forming a habit that she just wont retrieve birds. She has picked up a few birds thrown in training, but never in the field. any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Joined: 3/13/2008
Posts: 781
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For the first year or 2, my black lab didn't like to pick up birds--especially pheasants because of all the feathers. Now, he's probably one of the best hunting dogs I'll ever have. I would say get your dog hunting with other dogs so he can sort of catch on through watching them. Also, maybe you could force fetch him with a bird? I know that this is done with bumpers but I don't think it would hurt to try with a bird. Good luck.
Heirloom Game Calls: They sound as good as they look!
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Joined: 9/17/2007
Posts: 629
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Agree with taking him hunting with other dogs. It may bring out a little competitiveness in the dog which it may need to make it more eager to pick up the bird before the other dogs can.
The force fetching with a bird could work, or a bumper covered in feathers or a bird wing.
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Joined: 10/7/2007
Posts: 5
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Thanks for the input guys, my understanding of the force fetch is that you really need to know what your doing to attempt it. I have been hesitant to hunt around other dogs because she has so much puppy in her that she just wants to play with the other dogs, but that would be a good way to encourage and reinforce what her job is supposed to be out there. I will try that on the next trip, and just be patient she has so much desire to retrieve she's bound to get it sooner or later.
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Joined: 9/17/2007
Posts: 629
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Good luck. Its been my experience that most other hunters that have dog understand that bringing out a raw young dog can be a challenging experience. Just make sure they guys you hunt with understand and won't get all bent out of shape when your dog acts like a clown. Some hunters are more tolerant of this than others. Just make sure on the same page so there are no hard feelings. My dog's first pheasant hunt as a pup was spent digging for moles and nipping at the heels of the older dogs. He is still a clown, but turned out ok all things considered.
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Joined: 10/15/2007
Posts: 4716
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"Force Fetch" training done right should handle the problem. Many books and videos on subject. As far as hunting with "young" dogs not quite there yet, I don't mind as long as they are well mannered in the blind. Playing on the way in is fine (my old dog may not like it and growl or worse if other dog is a male) but in the blind, the youngster should not break and should not wander around. No way constant yelling at the dog or whistle blowing will be enjoyed! My hunting group has finish trained two youngsters using Ol Abe as an example. He will take turns and sit and watch....but he doesn't really like it as he thinks any and all waterfowl on the water belong to him.
"The person who can take delight in a sweet tune without wanting to learn it, in a beautiful woman without wanting to possess her, or in a magnificent head of game without wanting to shoot it, has not got a human heart"--Karen Blixen, "Shadows In The Grass", 1985
Charter Member-Vast Right Wing Conspiracy Proud Pro Staffer www.heirloomturkeycalls.com hand made and hand tuned Soddy Daisy Tennessee USA
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Joined: 9/18/2007
Posts: 16
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Agree with the concept of wings on dummies. I've used that for generations of training labs. Several young dogs are afraid that they might get punished for a 'dead' bird -especially if they've been trained with live pigeons. Sometimes the birds just a bit too shot up.
Take a wing, or two a bit later in the training, and rubber band it to the dummy. Several rubber bands work best. You may also want to use a long check cord. Throw the dummy with feathers after teasing the pup with it a little bit to get some excitement going. Throw the dummy and real the dog in on the check cord after the dummy's picked up. Offer a treat to get the dog to hand deliver, i.e. drop it in one hand to get your treat in the other. Repeat for a couple more times that day. Remember to leave the pup always wanting more. Repeat the process the next day.
As proficiency improves, start dropping the check cord, adding more wings, offering a treat less frequently, etc.
Good luck
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Joined: 10/15/2007
Posts: 4716
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The reward , "treat", I have always given the retrievers I have trained, had, is to say "GOOD DOG" ! If they bug the hell out of my buddies for part of their snack after my buddies have rewarded them with a treat for a good retrieve, it is not my problem! They only expect a pat and "good dog" from me. I can lay a hamburger on the console with Ol Abe in back floorboard and he would not even think of trying to get it, but I got two buddies who he bugs the hell out of wanting a bite of their dinner due to their giving him "treats". I don't correct him for it! They caused the problem, they can deal with it. I could say "NO!" and he would lay back down in the back floorboard but I am trying to train my buddies!
"The person who can take delight in a sweet tune without wanting to learn it, in a beautiful woman without wanting to possess her, or in a magnificent head of game without wanting to shoot it, has not got a human heart"--Karen Blixen, "Shadows In The Grass", 1985
Charter Member-Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
Proud Pro Staffer www.heirloomturkeycalls.com hand made and hand tuned
Soddy Daisy Tennessee USA
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Joined: 1/14/2009
Posts: 146
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i used to have a golden retriever for 12 years. He was ckc registered and we bred him with my uncles ckc registered golden retriever in return for a pup well my goldens we 12 and 6 my oldest golden passed 3 months ago and my youngest golden passed from missing his dad so much he died on his grave but luckily for me he bred with our neighbors full blooded black lab so i got a pup from him they are solid black long haired golden/black lab mix shes currently 7 weeks and is doing great with fetching and commands. Everywhere ive ever looked they say dont start teaching them tricks til 8weeks well at 7 weeks Daisy my new pup knows sit,stay,paw,bark,fetch, and shes completely house broken. ive trained her around guns since she was 5 weeks old when i gun goes off she looks up for something to fall shes amazing. But thought id put that in the earlier you start them the better they run and retrieve.
Brandon Bowling-
NAHC member
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Joined: 9/22/2007
Posts: 2
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Suggest you add the scent of the bird you want to hunt to the bumper or the Dokken dummy during your yard work before the hunt. Another suggestion would be to use a harvested chuker or pheasant that you freeze and then after a few times with the scented bumper - switch to the real bird (dead of course). You may find the dog may not like the frozen bird and you may have to thaw a bit - this reduces the longevity of use, but if it traines the dog to enjoy retrieving real birds - it's worth it. Good Luck
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Joined: 10/15/2007
Posts: 4716
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WJACK, good suggestion. Dogs Afield, 800-863-3647 has everything anyone with a dog or its trainer would ever need. Call them and ask for a catalog.
"The person who can take delight in a sweet tune without wanting to learn it, in a beautiful woman without wanting to possess her, or in a magnificent head of game without wanting to shoot it, has not got a human heart"--Karen Blixen, "Shadows In The Grass", 1985
Charter Member-Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
Proud Pro Staffer www.heirloomturkeycalls.com hand made and hand tuned
Soddy Daisy Tennessee USA
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Joined: 9/17/2007
Posts: 1511
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My lab Zeke wasn't too sure about the idea of putting a dead bird in his mouth when he was young either. The first time I sent him out after a duck he swam out then turned around after sniffing the duck. When he got half way back I sent him back to the duck. He sniffed it again and turned around. Again I sent him back before he got to shore. This time I guess he figured I would never let him out of the lake without that duck and he took ahold of the tip of a wing and brought it back. I praise the hell out of him and got him all excited then threw the duck back out into the lake. Again he was reluctant but he brought it back. I made it a big game and just kept on throwing the duck back in the lake. You can tell by the picture I took that he never did like fetching that bird too much but because I made it such a fun game he would do it. As time went by he developed a liking for putting birds in his mouth and he just loves it now.
Big Lance... If you feel the need to lie in order to support your cause then perhaps it is time to reconsider your cause.
File Attachment(s):
 First retrieve(1).jpg (59315 bytes)
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Joined: 10/7/2007
Posts: 5
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Thanks again for the input, have had some success with putting scent on the dummy and working with the force fetch. She will now bring back a thrown bird with encouragement most of the time. She charges out after downed birds but has yet to bring one back under those circumstances, part of the trouble being they have been geese as of late and I think the size is intimidating. the geese are all gone now, so ducks only and I think we are on the right track and will be bringing back birds by seasons end. Thanks again.
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Joined: 1/14/2009
Posts: 146
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how big is the lab
Brandon Bowling-NAHC Member,KY Whitetail Hunter,2009 KY Elk Hunter, and proud father of 2 daughters and a son,and proud owner of two amazing hunting dogs
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Joined: 10/7/2007
Posts: 5
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Shes about 60 Lbs, so average size, I think lesser canadas wont be a problem when she gets the hang of it.
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Joined: 1/14/2009
Posts: 146
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ya it would work out then after she does some forced fetches shell get the hang of it!!! Best of luck with hunting and your lab!!
Brandon Bowling-NAHC Member,KY Whitetail Hunter,2009 KY Elk Hunter, and proud father of 2 daughters and a son,and proud owner of two amazing hunting dogs
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