i like the idea of having her watch another dog retrieve. Just have to find one somewhere.
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i like the idea of having her watch another dog retrieve. Just have to find one somewhere.
Today out for a walk along a creek that was high after the rain. Came across a few ducks sunning themselves on the bank. My pup saw them and started for them. I have always in the past with her and my other lab said no chasing birds. But thought I'd give her a chance to see if she'd go for a swim. Told her to fetch and off she went. Stopped short of the water and watched the ducks swim. Not time yet I guess.
Sabmgb
Where are you located? You mentioned swimming in Ottawa. I may have missed your actual location
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I live in Chatham, was visiting my son in Ottawa.
Reach out to the people at Essex Hunting Retriever Club. If you're on Facebook, shoot them a message. Great people!Quote:
Originally Posted by sabmgb
had her trap shooting today. Started off with her back 20yd for a couple sets. Then I signed up and shot a couple sets so 50 shots with her next to me. she was a bit nervous, but ended up laying down against my leg, so she should be ready for field hunting for early goose.
IMO this is not the way to introduce a shy dog to gun fire. Imagine being asked to sit beside someone shooting trap with no hearing protection and having no idea what is happening...Quote:
Originally Posted by sabmgb
Contact a retriever club ASAP and follow their advice.
Proper gun introduction should be done starting with the gun at a distance and the dog retrieving (preferably a live bird like a clipped wing pigeon) and not at the trap club where you have little control over the amount of gunfire. The dog should be so focused on the bird that they do not notice the gunshot. The distance between the gunner and you with the dog should be slowly decreased so the the gunner is eventually beside you. At any time if the dog stops to look at the gun on the way to retrieve, stop the session. The idea is for your dog to link birds to gunfire and therefore gunfire to birds .... not nervously sitting besides you trying to understand why you are firing a 12 gauge off over her head.Quote:
Originally Posted by sabmgb
At this point on the calendar, I would pass on early goose opening and focus on proper gun introduction. And when you do go out, leave your gun behind so you can focus on your dog in their introductory hunts and have one hunter shooting that will listen to you if you ask them to stop shooting should the dog not react well to the gunfire. What you do NOT want to do is go out on her initial hunt(s) with a bunch of hunters who will all unload at the same time so it sounds like WWW 3 ... pretty much guaranteeing a gunshy dog.
Agree with Burlygirl and Dilly .... being in Chatham, contact the Essex Hunting Retriever Club ..... great bunch of retriever people / hunters with a vast amount of retriever training experience.
Here we go a disaster in the making. How many times do we hear people taking their dog to the trap range. Some tolerate it and get through it, some develop a shyness for the gun. I suppose there is few of you if any who have had that challenge to overcome correctly and develop a solid gun dog.
Dakota has given you good advice.
I suppose you have all the basics in place as plan to take your dog out for the early goose season?
Things like sit, stay, here, come and down. Perhaps you've even done FF, some marking other training?
Best to hook up with some other trainers in your area or even a club. You will not regret it and you will develop a far better trained dog in the end.
PS... are you leaving your gun home on opening day?
To echo these thoughts, the above poster isn't trying to be rude. He is trying to get your attention FAST before you dig yourself a hole that you don't have the tools to get out of. The people active in this group are passionate about dogs and giving our four legged partners the support they need to be a great partner in the field. Guess what -- it takes two to tango. The two legged member of the partnership needs to do their part as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by krakadawn
Kindly reach out to the Essex Hunting Retriever Club guys. Your dog is not a new toy to rush out and play with only to ask it to do things that are beyond its reach. That'll set you back MONTHS and when a dog is young, you don't want to lose those sponge-like windows of learning opportunity. Trust me, dog training takes a village. You need the knowledge and experience of those boys down there. Reach out.