in need of advice

[woody_65]

Ok my boy is just about 2 years old. He is a lab mix not sure with what but I have been working with him a little bit on birds and sheds he is very birdie retrieves my grouse for me and has actually found a few sheds but he doesn't stay around me when I let him out sometimes gone for a hour or more before he returns I have contemplated buying a shock collar but I don't feel right about shocking him to make him learn I also have a Chesapeake bay retriever that is almost a year old and he won't go more than 75ft away from me while in the woods and I didn't have to work with him at all just wondering what I did wrong and tips on how to fix the problem thanks

[Copperwood]

With 100% confidence I would say an e-collar is one solution to your problem. When used properly it is a very effective tool. It is also one of the most misused tools in dog training. A light nick can be just enough to break his concentration from whatever he is doing and respond to what you are telling him to do. If you decide to buy a collar it is very important that you Collar condition him before utilizing this in the field.

Also if you're leaving him outside unattended then I would change my airing practices and stay outside with him. When he gets too far and not responding to your whistle or voice, that's when a collar correction is warranted. There are many levels from low to high. You can adjust depending on your pups tolerance and stubbornness. Being consistent will turn him around in no time.

Good luck.

[Happy Gilmore]

Plenty of dogs are taught what "here" means without anything fancy. A 50' piece of rope goes further than any e collar program for the average hunting partners

[Ruger]

Start with the 50' check cord before any e-collar is applied...please

Then collar condition and learn how to use an e-collar....the after that learn how to use the e-collar again
 

[Blackjaw]

Happy is on the right track. It also doesn't hurt to have a pocket full of dog food with you to give him a treat when he does come back to you (while shed hunting, but not while bird hunting). 

[Russ McDonald]

I haven't hunted with my dog she is a lab 1 1/2 year old.  I have an e collar for her and it has the vibrate mode which really worked for her and still does.  She loves putting it on because she know she is going to have some fun.  We go out in some fields and play fetch.  I tell her to come and she does without vibrate or shock on the collar.  Now a have a chocolate lab puppy.  I will have an e collar for him but not until after 6 months.  It is all about training and knowing how to use the collar.

[AspenBud]

You need to take a step back and work on yard work.

I would train that dog to sit on its butt whenever, wherever, no matter the distraction (you'll need some birds). That way you can at least stop the dog in its tracks, allowing you to catch up.

I would also tattoo a good recall on its brain. The thing about an e-collar...sometimes dogs get out there so far, like beyond whistle range, that you need to be able to reach out and touch them to communicate and the e-collar can do that. But you have to teach the dog what the juice means and how to turn it off.

Don't take the dog back out until it is coming when called and sitting on command in a variety of places, not just your yard, and under a variety of conditions with different stimuli. Doing that might well save your dog's life.

The video below is annoying for several reasons, but the advice given isn't bad. Pay attention to what he says about using a leash and not letting the dog decide it's okay to run away rather than come back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mXdPpKywzo

[woody_65]

Thank you guys very much we will be trying some of the techniques this weekend and see how things go