Training a gun dog - Where to start?

[FilJos]

Hi Folks,

This may sound ridiculous, but here it goes.

I am an avid "gun guy" and I like to shoot, but due to my old man's bad experience with almost getting shot while I was still a pup, I never went hunting.

Last fall my wife and I got a lab-mix puppy from the humane society and he is just the best dog ever. Really. Great temperment, loves to work with people and has an uncanny ability for playing fetch. Like I have never seen before, this dog is incredible and would play fetch for hours if I let him. The only bad thing he really does is when it is time to come inside after playing fetch, he insists on staying in the back yard, where he chases birds all day!

So, I am thinking that I would like to train him for hunting. My In-laws usually bird hunt, but go with someone else and their dog. I would like to take up the sport and train my buddy too.

Where should I start? How do you go about training a bird-dog? I've seen all the training dummies and things like that at the local outdoor sporting goods store, but I wouldn't have the foggiest idea of how to begin using them. Oh, and I've already taught him how to jump in the water and swim, but I haven't gotten to teach him fetching from the water yet.

Edited to add: He is about 9 months old. Is that too old to get started?

 

[birddog]

9 months may not be optimal for training, but it's doable.

I read a great book called "Speed Training Your Birddog" which takes a very user-friendly, common sense approach. You might want to check that out.

 

[Len]

+1 to Birddog's book suggestion. One of the first things you might do is check around your area for trainers. Vets are a good first resource, local hunt clubs are a good bet, too.

I also agree 9 months is a little older than usual for training to start, but I've seen it done a number of times, successfully.

An experienced bird hunter/dog trainer in your area, who could get together with you, would be an invaluable resource. Some of these old salts can do a pretty accurate assessment of a dog's capabilities, in a relatively short time. Heck, a lot of litter-size puppies are "ruled out" at just a few weeks! They would also know the trainers available in your area.

When checking out a trainer, see how their dogs work, watch how the trainer handles them. A good bird dog is a testimony to a good trainer. Does the dog look confident? Does it look like it enjoys the field work? (Or does it look like it's "afraid to make a mistake?" [Look elsewhere, then!]) It's a team effort, and a good team can teach you and your dog an encylopedia of skills.

Have fun...it's one of the most rewarding teamwork environments you'll ever participate in...

Len

 

[308win]

Labs are great water dogs (doh). He already likes to retrieve so you have to train him respond to the whistle and hand signals, stay until go command, bring the bird back and don't dilly dally, etc. Labs also can be trained to flush upland game such as pheasant and retrieve. Ask your Department of Natural Resources or whomever regulates hunting where there are waterdog trials scheduled and you will find a lot of people with a lot of good information.

 

[huntershooter]

The first thing I do with a new pup is introduce them to gunfire. Start with a .22 rifle, work up to a pistol (again .22), then shotgun. Nothing sadder than a gunshy dog.

 

[TaxPhd]

I would pass on "Speed Train Your Own Bird Dog." I have a copy, and there are several things Mueller recommends that are just plain wrong. For example, the cabled "obstical course" among others. Also, this is a book on pointing dogs, not Labs.

Myu best advice is to contact a Lab breed club that is involved in field training Labs, and hook up with someone who really knows what they are doing. There are some very good books out there, but some of the techniques can be very hard to understand and to put in practice if you aren't actually shown how to do it.

Also, be very careful on introducing your dog to gunfire. There is a lot more to it than just starting them off with a .22 rifle.




Scott

 

[Baba Louie]

http://www.gundogsonline.com/great-gift-ideas/pointer-gifts/gun-dog-book.html

Book worked for me. I couldn't get my dog to read it tho'. It did get chewed on when he tried however.

Also, this one is a good read...
http://www.swanvalleypress.com/

I used to subscribe to this magazine...
http://www.gundogmag.com/training/

I also recommend you read Robert Ruark's book "The Old Man and the Boy".

Once my pup(s) know "sit", "stay", "come", "heel", "woah" (or hup) I use a fishing pole with a bird wing tied to the line to get the point/hold down. "Bird" (insert his name here). So he knows what he's hunting. (unless you want to hunt fur... bunnies)

Labs (most dogs actually) will fetch/retrieve all day long. Land or water.
"Mark", "Fetch", "Come", "Heel", "Drop It".

Working a shotgun over a dog takes a bit more control as you want him to range close by (for upland birds).

Read some, play with him with a goal in mind. Have a best friend for life.

It hardly gets better than that.

Guns will come eventually. Slowly. Softly. From far away (have a friend help you while you're playing "fetch" by shooting a .22 rifle, not a pistol as they're louder, from about 75-100 yds away, gradually getting closer).

 

[kbheiner7]

I like Water Dog for labs, but it is designed to start different stages of training at very specific ages.

 

[Skoghund]

Go to amazon.com and order a copy of. Gundogs: Training and Field Trials by P.R.A Moxon. It first came out in 1952 but still being published. To my mind the best gun dog training book ever.
9 months is not to old to start training a Lab. It's still just a pup at that age.
Good luck with the training