Not retrieving to hand or even close to me

So I have my 8 month old lab he's has been doing a awesome job throughout his training retrieving bumpers and finding and fetching pheasant wings to hand or at least within a step of me which for now I'll accept. With the recent waterfowl season opening I have had him out with me hunting. He is doing an awesome job with marking downed birds himself waiting to be released to retriever or taking commands while in the water. As well he has run down a couple of cripples. I feel he is doing an amazing job for a 8 mth old dog and the first dog I have ever trained with help from friends. But he has started not bringing the birds back to me if he knows he can stand in the reeds he will go in the reeds to where he can stand and set the bird down and lick it and keep licking it. How do I break this or is it a puppy thing that he's doing because the birds are a new thing to him. Just looking for some Insite people on here have been very helpful in sharing their knowledge. Thanks

Here's a pic of him ready and waiting

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...81dbebf726.jpg
Oh wait this one I meanhttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...ee088a1320.jpg

Great looking pup! I am not a retriever person, so I will not chime in.

Your young man is telling you he needs to be put through a force fetch program. Where are you located I could probably put you on to some experinced trainers in your area.

Chris

I'm not really a retriever guy either, but one thing I can't stand seeing is a dog leaning up against a loaded gun. I've heard horror stories where a dog accidentally turned off the safety, and the gun went off.

Good luck, sounds like you have a great pup!

S.

[QUOTE=Sinker;831432]I'm not really a retriever guy either, but one thing I can't stand seeing is a dog leaning up against a loaded gun. I've heard horror stories where a dog accidentally turned off the safety, and the gun went off.

Good luck, sounds like you have a great pup!
That's the dogs gun..........

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Originally Posted by 3 black dogs

Your young man is telling you he needs to be put through a force fetch program. Where are you located I could probably put you on to some experinced trainers in your area.

Chris

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Take Chris up on this offer.

Fundamentally you are out of sequence with training or lack of to be specific.
Yes your dog needs to be FF and is plenty old enough for that. He also has not been collar conditioned which is also part of the 'basics' which he is missing.
You are like many others(been there) who are keen to get their dog hunting but have not addressed certain skill acquisition through lack of time, teaching or knowledge. Now you have a problem.

Had he been CC'd to here, you would have had a tool to deal with his not returning to you. You would have simply said......Here...then Here and nick with collar. FF would also elicit a clean delivery to you.

Take Chris up on the offer, if you are in central/south Ont. I will help you before you get further into a bigger problem which will take even more effort to correct. At this point it is not a huge problem ....but very predictable.

Good luck.

3 black dogs and krakadawn have given you great advice. Take them up on it.

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Originally Posted by Cass

3 black dogs and krakadawn have given you great advice. Take them up on it.

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X's 2!!

I want to say that it's a nervous thing. I have a yellow lab as well and she licked. I had to stay on top of her gently scolding but also praising her when she caught herself trying to lick. They will act like pups for at least 2 years. Mine is now 14 years old

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Originally Posted by mr_pimms

I want to say that it's a nervous thing.

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I don't know if I would consider a nervous thing, my yellow will lick them down to the breast if someone isn't mindful on the boat ride home as to where the birds were placed, think they just love the smell and taste.