To Early?

[jmoyer2]

My Chocolate lab oliver is doing great on his training. He has sit, stay, here, down, and heel pretty much mastered. he also retrieves birds no problem. Not gun shy and likes the water. He is four months old today, and my buddy was saying its to early to take him out on his first trip. I was wondering what you guys think. I was kinda thinking that it my be just a touch early with him being so fidgety. any advice comments would be appreciated. thanks, Jake

[Rowdy]

Personally, I wouldn't rush it.  You're going to have many great years of hunting this dog, I would spend the first just letting him be a pup.  If he's gun broke and seems to be maturing well then maybe a late season quick hunt for a bird or two but I would do it alone or just make sure there's only one person shooting. 

Jake

[Shannon]

I would avoid sitting in a blind and blazing away at that age. A semi short jump shoot would be ideal though. I did that with my dog at 4 months and I now have a hunting fool. The flapping wings of a busted up duck really gets the prey drive going. The dog has to be gun broke though or you will be going backwards in a major way. When in doubt proceed slowly.

[GoldTip]

My chocolate lab was 4 months old to the day when he retrieved his first four huns and two roosters in a day.  He was 5 days shy of 5 months old when I took him on his first duck hunt,  He flawlessly retrieved 70% of a two man limit that day, brought back an occasional decoy and had to be directed to a couple birds.  The next day he was probably was 85% perfect on a three man limit.  Only retrieved one decoy that day.  I will admit he didn't drop every bird at my feet, nor did he hold every time the ducks came in and we started shooting until being told to retrieve.  I think as long as it's not too cold, then taking him out now would be fine.  But if he gets bored, then realize you gotta stop.

[longrange7mm]

Your on the right path. my parents raise labs back home. if you have any friends with a mature dog 5+ that know what they are doing run your pup with them and dont be harsh on the pup if he acts like a puppy in the field. labs dont reach mental maturity tell they are approaching 3 years old. My Wiemeriener is 1  (he still acts like he is 3mo)and we just now started his introduction to scents and pointing. we will be taking him to wy,sd, and nd for pheasants and he will just be ran with my parents labs. No disciplining this year.

[SnowDog]

I have a 5 mo lab that I have had out a few times for duck and many many times for upland birds. When I take him on duck trips, I bring him out for the first hour or two, then put him back in the crate in  my SUV for a couple hours. Around lunch time I bring him back out for a couple more hours and then back to the crate for the rest of the day. This has worked well. Granted, he loves his crate and does not mind spending a few hours there.

The problem is that every dog is slightly different and what worked well for one person may not work for another. Just take it easy on the pup and don't expect too much. Time in the field together is priceless

Cheers!
SnowDog

[carpsniperg2]

i breed labs and sell akc labs and i would say a short set of trips will be good for him i would not over due it on him you guys get out a knock down a limit of ducks its going to be hard on him make the trips easy and rewarding sounds like you got the start of a great huntin buddy

[Wacenturion]

Definitely a short trip or two.  Pick an area where he can negotiate easily by land or water, nothing big (small pond, puddle).  Kill a few....go home on a good note.  He'll love it.  Just don't over do it.   

[whitey]

Short trips I agree.
Keep it fun.Dont burn Him out.Go to Cooke Canyon with a good mature hunting dog and let him watch whats supposed to happen..Drop a few birds over Him, then watch Him go.
Good Luck with the pup.

[Gjorgy1]

Short outings and let the dog have fun out there.  Mine is 5 months and I take her out for pheasants any chance I get but only for hour or hour and a half tops.  Gets pretty tired but she has a ball out there. 

[Joe_Hunter]

Like you haven't heard it before .......Short trips.
I don't hunt my labs all day long until about a year or so. I should mention that I waterfowl hunt. For the first year or so I gauge my trip by the attitude of the dog when he's done I'm done. I treat them the same way when they get older. to much on either end on the age scale can yield bad results.