Tips on getting your pup to calm

I have been steadily working Indiana Bones on his retrieving, whoa training and as often as I can finding birds. However something I have had a hard time with, as he is a versatile dog, is trying to get him to remain sitting or laying down for long periods. I would like to try to get out duck hunting with him this year. Does anyone have tips on how to get him to settle when it comes to being in the blind?

Now if I were to hunt from the cottage balcony he knows how to stay steady

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Have to be realistic about your expectations. First year or two think of it like hunting with a 2 year old kid. As they mature they will settle down. All you can do for now is practice sitting next to you when he calms down toss a dummy for a retrieve keep doing this varying the length of time between retrieve. Hope for the best.

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Have to be realistic about your expectations. First year or two think of it like hunting with a 2 year old kid. As they mature they will settle down. All you can do for now is practice sitting next to you when he calms down toss a dummy for a retrieve keep doing this varying the length of time between retrieve. Hope for the best.

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Thanks thats honestly what I was going to try at the cottage this weekend. Thinking the dummy might help his focus

my almost 5 year old lab, is out with me every morning. I used to tell her to sit beside me, but now she sits, then lays down, I throw the dummy. As stated wait different times once she has the idea. then give command to fetch. I also will throw the dummy behind me to change thinks up. I found that in the field she sits perfect until I shoot then breaks, going to have to work on that. I also realized that I had to train her to stop and drop on the way in if there are other birds coming in. that worked good until she dropped the live goose and it took off. So then trained her to stop, drop and hold dummy, which she is doing really well now in training. Big thing is to keep changing things up so not routine.

What you’re talking about is place training. Look up Dogbone Hunter on YouTube.

Thanks guys for the info. Sounds like a key is to not have routine

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Originally Posted by ninepointer

What you’re talking about is place training. Look up Dogbone Hunter on YouTube.

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