Retrieving issues

[Emptyhanded]

Hey guys! I have a 6 month old yellow lab that I am training to be my upland dog. He has been on pen raised birds since I got him and was starting to do pretty good flushing and finding down birds. The problem is when he finds the dead bird he doesn't want to pick it up, he just wants to pull the feathers off and eat them. He is very aggressive on cripples and is not afraid to grab a live wounded bird, but I cannot get him to pick it up and bring it back. He would retrieve dummies when he was younger but now he won't even pick those up, he just tries to play with them. I have tried tying wing feathers on them but once again he just tries to pull the feathers off. This is my first time training a bird dog and have been using wolters gun dog as my reference but have come to a dead end with this retrieving problem. So I was wondering if you guys had any training ideas or techniques I could try to help solve this problem. I have a feeling the response is going to be force fetch him, but as I said this is my first time training and am not familiar with all the techniques. Any input is appreciated! Thank you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Waldo84]

I would try to meet up with a pro trainer in your area. The best answer for what you're going through is to have him Force Fetched. He may not be ready for it yet which is why I would meet with a pro so that they can evaluate him for you. Some dogs are mature enough at 6 or 7 months once they have their adult teeth in, and some need a little bit longer.

Casey

[Colin]

Is he/she done teething? A lot depends on how far in the pups training you've been though. A conditioned retrieve is a building process so I'd think that a lot depends on what you are looking for in the end product and what ground work you've done.

You could try teaching a conditioned hold or forced hold.

[Emptyhanded]

His adult teeth have just come in with in the past month or so. I just shot a quail over him earlier this afternoon and he didn't have a problem picking it up. He is still young, I just want to make sure there isn't something I'm missing. I guess it could be that pheasants are a bit big for his mouth right now. But keep the ideas coming I need all the help I can get haha. I have thought about meeting with a trainer but have been waiting to see how he progresses.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Waldo84]

Best of luck. I would seriously consider Force Fetch, and if you aren't comfortable with doing it, I would spend the money to have a pro do it correctly. It is definitely worth the investment in my opinion. 

[Emptyhanded]

Thank you for the advice. I would definitely have a pro due the force fetch, I wouldn't want to risk screwing up my dog by doing it on my own.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Revwrangler]

I'm no pro, but have trained my yellow, I use her for both upland and waterfowl. I would tend to think age is the issue. Give it time and don't give up. I found my lab frustrated me more the first season than she helped, but now this year she is doing great. Stay consistent and he'll pull through.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NW-GSP]

If you want a 100% reliable retriever force fetch train him. 

[Happy Gilmore]

Force fetch is the correct answer in almost all situations however, it should be just a little piece of the big training puzzle. A retrieve is just a tiny piece of training. A retrieve is not a force fetch. If you want a ff, you want a totally trained dog. Carrying a bird to you has little to do with ff. (Force fetch). Most pointer guys call a trained hold FF. Properly done, ff is just a small but important piece of a greater goal and training to understand pressure and more advanced skills related to training. Ff is just a single piece of a bigger picture. Most folks only hunt with dogs half way finished and it works out fine. Most are just partially finished which is great for a hunting partner

[Brad Harshman]

Force fetch is the correct answer in almost all situations however, it should be just a little piece of the big training puzzle. A retrieve is just a tiny piece of training. A retrieve is not a force fetch. If you want a ff, you want a totally trained dog. Carrying a bird to you has little to do with ff. (Force fetch). Most pointer guys call a trained hold FF. Properly done, ff is just a small but important piece of a greater goal and training to understand pressure and more advanced skills related to training. Ff is just a single piece of a bigger picture. Most folks only hunt with dogs half way finished and it works out fine. Most are just partially finished which is great for a hunting partner

I couldn't agree more. 
OP you said your dog is 6 months old.  That's still a puppy!  Bring down your expectations for a puppy.  Remember, he's still learning about the world and his role in it.  Retrieving/fetching should still be a game for him.  Look, I'm not a professional trainer, but I've had the pleasure of training three dogs now.  Each one has turned out better than the one before.  I am the reason, I've learned from my mistakes along the way.  All of my dogs have wanted to fetch, my first quit because i scolded her too many times when she didnt do it perfect. My currect lab has responded very well to playful training, nothing forced, everything is fun with lots of rewards/appreciation.  She's not a perfect force fetching dog.  But she loves to retrieve and for the most part, will hold the bird until I give the release command. She didn't understand it until she was two.  She LOVES retrieving/fetching and that's the most important part. 
It will happen for you too.  Just be realistic and patient.  He's your companion, your his master, be the master that you'd want to have. 

[Emptyhanded]

Happy and Brad, that makes a lot of sense. I am, by no means, looking for the perfect bird dog. If he can reliably put them up, find them and bring them back I will be thrilled. I realize he's still a pup and is still figuring out how everything works, so I may be getting a little ahead of myself there. Thanks again for the responses, anything helps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[REHJWA]

NOT a Trainer. Unless you mean my dogs are training me. Sounds like he is going through his "teen age phase". At this stage put him back on a 30' check cord and pull him in with the training dummy. Give him lots of praise for doing it right.  If he doesn't hold it when you pull him it get him excited about holdIng the dummy in his mouth before you throw it.. Do not get excited if he does it wrong, pull him back and turn away from him and ignore him. Ignoring him all together will get his attention more than yelling.

[7mmBuckley]

Good read. I am preparing to get a new lab puppy this spring and have been reading the same book. It's a good read.  I was wondering where you got your lab? The job of finding a new puppy has changed dramatically since 15 years ago when I got my 1st lab. Was your puppy able to pick up the training from the book pretty easy? Good luck with your pup

[Happy Gilmore]

I would question why you wouldn't want to train your dog to a higher level and have it do all that cool stuff. Especially, when you're going to have the dog for a long time. 

[lokidog]

I had a friend with a lab that would fetch everything except pheasants. We got one and threw it in a pond and the dog fetched them after that.  We figured it was having problems with the feathers getting in its mouth. 

I'd listen to the bird guys above though.