first hunting dog. need advice and supplies

[Badhabit]

A couple of more things to add to your list. Get a good Canine first aid kit. There are super glues out there that are for medical emergency application that work well to temporarily close a wound from glass or barb wire cuts that don't come with the kits. When shopping for a truck/car kennel think about how big your pup is going to get and buy size appropriate. If the kennel is going into the bed of a truck secure the kennel so it doesn't slide around and terrify your pup. A neoprene vest that fits properly for cold weather. If your hunting an area with lots of underwater obstructions you might want to pass on the vest as I've seen dogs get caught on sticks between their coat and the vest and not be able to swim back to shore. There's tons more, if you love your pup keep it behind you or at your side when shooting. The muzzle blast will make them go deaf just quickly as it would you if someone were shooting over your head. I cringe when I see guys put their dogs in layout blinds with them field hunting,a train wreck waiting to happen.

[GurrCentral]

I would get the Total Retriever from Mike Lardy, I would not however introduce him to gunfire by taking him to a range. You want him to associate the gunfire with a positive thing (a retrieve).  Once you have him retrieving like crazy, have someone stand about 80 yds away, throw a mark, and shoot a 22blank or cap. then gradually have them move in closer. I would not have them come all the way the first day. Do this a couple days, move on to a 20 guage with field blanks and repeat the process. This is something you do not want to rush.  Mike Lardy also has an e-collar conditioning dvd. It is a good watch. The e-collar is a very effective training tool. Do not teach with it, reinforce with it. Another thing that is good is getting wings from various birds and getting his prey drive going. Start with wings, then progress to live birds...when he is ready..Good luck!

[wildweeds]

I'll start with the fact that I've got a passion for birddogs,in as such I cringe when I read posts suggesting range time/gunclub activities to break a dog to the gunfire,I also cringe when I read posts suggesting .22 anything for breaking to the gun,fact is a .22 " KRACKS" sharply and a shotgun goes "Boom".Dogs are not born gunshy,Man makes them gunshy with uninformed training tactics.I watched the video that Aspenbud posted,I guess that will work just fine,it's obvious that the student in the video is all buisness and crazy to do the job.Total focus on either a bumper as shown or a wing clipped live bird is the deal.The thing to be cognizant of is the age of the student in that video,I'd estimate it's age of 6-10 months and has been drilled to love the retrieving game.It's a 10 year commitment,there's no sense in getting in a rush and potentially having a non hunting gunshy pet,There are alot of those type that get dumped off without a collar because it's gunshy. I feel I can comment on this because I've had dogs 35 years and YUP I made one gunshy.I'm at dog 28,I only made the mistake once.And yup it involved a gunclub and shooting over a food bowl.For a lab get a pigeon or two off of craigslist,yard the primary wing feathers out of one wing and you've got a training tool that can be used over and over provided the dog doesn't chomp and kill it.

[GurrCentral]

I would agree that 22 blanks crack and shotguns boom....so keeping this inmind may lead you to using a four-ten or field blanks with a 12guage with the intro. I have a couple different bumper launchers that utilize 22blanks as the power source..haven't had a problem...if you are concerned with it you could go with a winger...or find someone to throw for you..

[Blackjaw]

Follow Wildweeds approach to gun introduction and you will be fine. Training has already been covered well by other posters, but just to re-affirm: If you have a dog that will consistently come when called and stay when told (100% of the time, no matter what the distraction) you will be miles ahead of 99% of people who take their dogs hunting. Therefore, drill the basics in the yard (keep it fun when they are young) and gradually get them into the field and start with distractions.

As far as treats go, the cheapest hotdogs you can find, cut into really small pieces work well and last a long time (provided you remember to take the baggie out of your vest at the end of a training session and put it in the fridge  )

Good Luck,

Rick

[scottcrb]

first of all thank you for all the advice .  refraining from any gunshots for the first 6 months of life or so sounds to be a good idea and i wont take him to the range to get him used to shotgun blast or firing over his dog bowl. glad i asked all these questions. maybe i should ask if anyone has a good retriever club in the Puget Sound area they like? looks like this sat will be the day i pick him up. getting pretty excited . i do have some pheasant wings in the freezer already from opening day success and sure i will have some ducks wings from this year to stockpile for the summer of training ahead. what is a good age to introduce to wings/birds gunshots etc. ? really want to get obedience down first.

[WRL]

The Art of Raising A Puppy (The Monks of the New Skete)
Sound Beginning (Jackie Mertens)
The Ten Minute Retriever (John and Amy Dahl)

If you can swing it, the Total Retriever Training/Total Retriever Marking by Mike Lardy.

Rainier Hunting Retriever Club
Puget Sound Labrador Assoc

WRL

[WRL]

The Art of Raising A Puppy (The Monks of the New Skete)
Sound Beginning (Jackie Mertens)
The Ten Minute Retriever (John and Amy Dahl)

If you can swing it, the Total Retriever Training/Total Retriever Marking by Mike Lardy.

Rainier Hunting Retriever Club
Puget Sound Labrador Assoc

WRL

[scottcrb]

thanks lee see ya soon 

[scottcrb]

anybody know anything about whistling wings hrc ? or andy fontenot of water dog U ?

[vandeman17]

anybody know anything about whistling wings hrc ? or andy fontenot of water dog U ?

If you want to get your dog professionally trained I would recommend Conway Kennels. It is my uncle's outfit and they do a great job. My cousin would be the main trainer and he treats all his dogs like his own.

[JBG]

+1 On "Ten Minute Retriever"
Smartworks series by Evan Graham is very good to.  He is also active on another national forum so you can actually ask him questions and he answers. 

Sit. Stay. Come. and do 5 reps of "fun" fetch is about all you need to do for the start.  I would not wait until Christmas until you start a program.  Books are better I feel because you can take them where ever you go.

[WRL]

anybody know anything about whistling wings hrc ? or andy fontenot of water dog U ?

Yes. What would you like to know?

Whistling Wings holds their events up at Pepper's and Carlson's and Pat Murphy's.

WRL

[scottcrb]

anybody know anything about whistling wings hrc ? or andy fontenot of water dog U ?

Yes. What would you like to know?

Whistling Wings holds their events up at Pepper's and Carlson's and Pat Murphy's.

WRL

just pros cons opinions etc? pms ok too if you'd rather.

[Happy Gilmore]

anybody know anything about whistling wings hrc ? or andy fontenot of water dog U ?

Yes. What would you like to know?

Whistling Wings holds their events up at Pepper's and Carlson's and Pat Murphy's.

WRL

Whistling Wings has a monthly training day, I think the third sunday of every month at Peppers or Carlsons. (Carlson's is closed to public until hunting season is over) Probably just Peppers now.

Cascade HRC has training days at Pat Murphy's place in Monroe.

I would call around and talk to trainers and visit more than one trainer before you make a decision on who to use. A quick internet search will find them for you. Take advice you get from club training days with a grain of salt. It isn't often the greatest advice. When you're new it's hard to find much else.

Andy Fontenot - AKC and HRC hunt tests / Gundogs
Pat Murphy - AKC and HRC hunt tests(labs and pointers) / Gundogs
Conway Kennels -AKC HT / Gundogs(labs and pointers) / Field Trials
Butch Higgins - AKC and HRC hunt tests / Gundogs

They are the main West Side guys. East Side of the State also has a couple options.