Heading to Arkansas!!!! Pup problem!

[Born to Hunt]

Wish me luck boys! I'm heading to Jonesboro for the rice fields tomorrow. Looks like the weather will be a little warm, but there is nothing like that opening weekend! I have a new pup and I am convinced he can sense something is amiss. He has really stepped it up in training the last few days! Everyone have a great year and shoot a big buck for me this week. I can't think about deer hunting right now!:D

My pup prooblem: My pup is seven months old. He sits, heels, stays, transfers to kennel, retrieves wet and dry nearly without fail, but he is not doing so well with multiple retrieves. I can throw the dummy (I only have one) and a tennis ball with duck scent. He retrieves the dummy. I have him sit and then send him after the tennis ball, but he won't retrieve it. Should I get another dummy or should he be able to figure out this concept?

[BadDuck]

My pup prooblem: My pup is seven months old. He sits, heels, stays, transfers to kennel, retrieves wet and dry nearly without fail, but he is not doing so well with multiple retrieves. I can throw the dummy (I only have one) and a tennis ball with duck scent. He retrieves the dummy. I have him sit and then send him after the tennis ball, but he won't retrieve it. Should I get another dummy or should he be able to figure out this concept?

Have you worked on doubles in the past? 7 months is still young. I wouldnt get overly disturbed just yet. But I would spend the money for a extra marker.

When I first introduce a dog to doubles I throw a marker, let him retrieve it. Then throw another marker to a different spot (both markers being short) send him on the retrieve. After he does that then I throw the 1st bumper, and make sure he marks it. Then I throw the 2nd bumper. Throw both bumpers to the same locations as you threw them individually. At tihs point he has established where both bumpers are and retrieved them both. He should be able to do the double after this. From here you can stretch out the distance.

[bcdh1]

Try the tennis ball first...maybe he just doesn't like it.

[killinmammals]

My dog never liked those scents. Heck, for 7 months your dog seems to be doing well. Keep at it and do like Badduck said. Just be patient, he will pick it up with a little practice. Good luck this weekend!

[ghost123]

tennis balls cause hard mouths!!

[turk2di]

Best of luck. Don't 4get ur camera;)

[Rob DeHaven]

he is 7 months you should probably not really be expecting him to pick up the concept in a short time. he is still a puppy and his attention span and concentration is really short. enjoy the fact that he is picking up one. just a heads up be careful with the gun shots with a young pup that has never been hunting. if there are numerous shots at once he could get a little freaked and if he has never picked up a real duck dont be suprised if does not pick it up when you are hunting.

these are just things to look out for may never be a problem

and yes get a couple more bumpers to throw for him

good luck and have fun

[slickhead slayer]

Another tip,take something to tie him to the blind or box.
I have seen several young dogs that were very steady during training, but broke during their first hunt. And being that alot of Ark hunting is out of pits, when the dog breaks, he is even with the gunners standing in the blind.
Saw a dog in Ark once and another in La that both missed being shot by inches, because they ran in front of the pit while the shot was being called.

[Bear Hunter]

Have you worked on doubles in the past? 7 months is still young. I wouldnt get overly disturbed just yet. But I would spend the money for a extra marker.

When I first introduce a dog to doubles I throw a marker, let him retrieve it. Then throw another marker to a different spot (both markers being short) send him on the retrieve. After he does that then I throw the 1st bumper, and make sure he marks it. Then I throw the 2nd bumper. Throw both bumpers to the same locations as you threw them individually. At tihs point he has established where both bumpers are and retrieved them both. He should be able to do the double after this. From here you can stretch out the distance. Good advise... You might even use a shackled bird on the second mark (EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE) just to jazz him up

[WATERDOG]

I agree w/ Rob, MAKE SURE, you intorduce him to gunfire before you go! start out with shots far away & work your way closer to him. several guns to a young dog can possibly make him gun shy. Take the training slow & don't rush him. My first grade math teacher didnt expect me to do Trig, so its not fair to expect a seven month old pup to be able to do finished work.

Good luck & hope you kill lots of birds, let us know how it turns out.

[Bear Hunter]

tennis balls cause hard mouths!!
Tennis balls cause hard mouth like spoons made Rosie O'donell FAT!:D

[Downeaster]

BTH:

Obviously it's to late to say this now, but I wish (for your and your dog's sake) you weren't taking him. In my opinion, 7 months is too young to be taking the dog. As someone mentioned....steadiness is going to be a major concern. If it is not....you've been WAY enthusiastic in your steadying program. A 7 month old should not be reliably steady. So you're running the risk of creating steadiness problems that you will carry forward forever. You also risk creating some serious mouth issues in a very young dog....that I'm guessing hasn't been through a proper Force fetch program. As someone mentioned....it's one thing to train...it's another thing to have 3 guys blasting away at ducks a few feet away when he doesn't totally understand what's going on. Finally...putting a very young dog in cold water for long periods potentially risks souring him to water work. For all these reasons and a few more, I wouldn't take your dog. I know you really want to get them out but consider the 10+ seasons to follow....is it worth risking them for this year....it wouldn't be to me.

I believe the answer to your problem with doubles is potentially more complex than initial inspection would suggest. First, go buy yourself another bumper or two (6 2" Lucky Dogs are usually ~ $35). The tennis ball is a horrible training tool. I really don't think the scent at all makes up for this. Bad duck does very well in how he teaches doubles. Remember, in the beginning you want to do this on short grass with white bumpers. You want the dog to see the "memory" bird after returning with the first. On top of these recommendations, I really suggest you have someone throwing the memory bird other than you. If the puppy is unsure, they can encourage the pup and even throw another one if the pup starts to give up.

Now here's where I'm concerned you may have more problems. You said the dog stays. One problem I've seen in MANY young dogs is that folks will "oversteady" the dog at a young age. If you've REALLY worked on steadiness at this age it's highly likely that he suffers from confusion. All that work to steady the dog is now working against him "going" on a memory bird. I'd really see if there is anyone close in one of the retriever clubs that would let you train with them a day or so. Show them what the dog is doing and seek their guidance.

John

[Born to Hunt]

Sorry for the confusion. It does sound as if I were taking him this weekend. I didn't. The pup has not been worked around decoys at all and I highly doubt he could resist playing in the spread! He is not ready for an all out hunt yet.

I am a beginning duck hunter and this is my first retriever. I am having a lot of fun, but I'm afraid I lack in the knowledge department. I am going back to Arkansas Tuesday. I'm taking my 12 year old for his first duck hunt. I have considered taking the pup just for some experience. My expectations for the pup would simply be to spend some time in the pit blind and get some travel experience. I highly doubt he would retrieve a real duck. Heck you never know...

Anyway, my son will be the only shooter in most all cases and I don't expect to see many ducks hit the water. Again...you never know...The pup is not gun shy at all. He has heard hundreds of clay target shots in the back yard and pays no attention to the shots at all. He has sat next to my bench while setting the scope on my 300 WSM. He isn;t bothered by the rifle either.

What is force fetch? What is the purpose? The pup is happy to chase and retrieve the dummy on land or water.

[BadDuck]

What is force fetch? What is the purpose? The pup is happy to chase and retrieve the dummy on land or water.

I think you would do yourself and your dog a great service if you checked out books by Mike Lardy and Evan Graham.