Problem retrieving geese

[kgarr1986]

I have a 1.5 year old yellow lab. At this point he is doing good retrieving ducks, however when it comes to geese he's apprehensive at picking them up. Granted it's a larger bird, but he is a very large lab so physically he can do it. I have a goose sized dummy that I taped a goose wing to and have had him retrieving that no problem, but when it comes to the real thing he rushes up to it, then licks at it and very carefully tries to pick it up. After playing with him in the field with fresh kills I have been able to get him to bring it back a few times but for the most part he is struggling. Any ideas to get him more comfortable with geese?

[pianoman9701]

He ever get nailed in the nose by a big honker? Sounds like it. Is there another more experienced lab you can work him with?

[pianoman9701]

“You have to have patience with young dogs, whether they are force-fetched or not,” Vandemore says. “I recommend force-fetching, but that’s up to the dog’s owner. Regardless, if your dog is having trouble with geese, don’t freak out. Go out into the field, pick up the bird, and tell your dog to ‘fetch’ right where the wing joint is. Give him an idea, or show him, the easiest place to pick up a goose. In my opinion, it’s the base of the neck for a smaller goose, and for big geese, between the shoulder and the wing bone."

http://www.ducks.org/hunting/retriever-training/retrievers-goose-dogs/page2

[kgarr1986]

Funny you mention that because the first goose he went after did turn at him and chase him off so I had to give him some help haha.

I have thought about working him with my older lab, however the older dogs hips are pretty bad so that's out of the question. At this point I will just keep working him on the dummy and helping him in the field in hopes that it will click for him.

Thanks

[Duckhunter14]

I wouldn't let him retrieve anymore cripples for the time being, until he's more comfortable. A goose can scare the crap out of a young dog if they still have enough spunk to hiss, bite, and beat them with their wings. Id only let him retrieve dead birds and get really excited when he picks the bird up. Sounds like you are doing the right thing with a goose wing and larger dummy. He'll come around, he's just having flashbacks of that first killer goose that almost got him! 

Clint

[pianoman9701]

I wouldn't let him retrieve anymore cripples for the time being, until he's more comfortable. A goose can scare the crap out of a young dog if they still have enough spunk to hiss, bite, and beat them with their wings. Id only let him retrieve dead birds and get really excited when he picks the bird up. Sounds like you are doing the right thing with a goose wing and larger dummy. He'll come around, he's just having flashbacks of that first killer goose that almost got him! 

Clint

 

[rtspring]

Young dogs wont do well after a cripple has whacked them a few times..  Had the same deal with a young dog.  I just spent more time with him on geese and eventually he just got it!  Takes time and lots of retrieves

[bowtechian]

I used to keep a goose in the freezer just for training. It takes a couple seasons for dogs to get geese figured out especially in the Field verses water retrieves 

[JJD]

Ducks and geese must not smell the same to a dog.  My experience indicates that dogs do not see geese as just a big duck.
I knocked a goose down and it swam to a shore bank and expired.  My pup stepped on it twice before before I could get him to stop on top of it and gave him the "fetch" command.
He had been Force Fetched.  Pup had retrieved at least 3 dozen ducks prior.  Something similar happened with another dog some years earlier.
Now I take a goose to the water, throw it out for a dog new to geese and have them retrieve it.  In most cases, after a couple of retrieves, they get it and we are good to go.
Like to do it on water first time or two if possible.  Being in the water makes the job easier for the dog, all it has to do is push the bird in, they don't have to carry it.  On land they may have a bit more trouble figuring out how to get a hold of the goose and may want to push at it with their nose or paw at it or generally mess around with it before they bring it in.  Being in the water does not afford them comfortable  support to do this.