Daddy is HAPPY

[Fishnclifff]

Today was the first duck hunt for my lab Moose.
Background:::::
I adopted him Feb 2011.
He is 8 yrs old
NO FORMAL TRAINING
He was raised in a crate his whole life.
Raised with chiahuahuas and Maltese.
Recreated in a 10 x 50 dog run. Sand and gravel-- no grass.
The guy tried to hunt pheasant with him but gave up.
NO FORMAL TRAINING

He started giving me indicators:::

He retrieves beautifully
puts non scented bumper in my hand--scented bumper, he drops at my feet.
When he sniffs my decoy bag, he sits down and stares at me
I brought home a pintail hen and let him sniff it and tossed it in the yard. Perfect pickup and delivered right to my hand.

Today was his first hunt day.  I had a draw at Ridgefield.

He was nervous , cause it was dark and he didn't understand. Smells were overhelming.
He didn't like going in the water in the dark, so I tied him to a tree. He didn't like me in the water in the dark. He barked and
 whined when he couldn't see me. We'll work on that.

The first bird down, we had to quit the retrieve. The muddy bottom was hell. He swam from island to island, sniffing out the bird. He got stuck in the mud and got spooked. We lost that
bird. It was too dangerous to continue.

2nd bird down in the dekes. Out we went. I said" find It". He made his way through the cattail clumps and straight to the bird, perfect grab, and straight back to me.
He came out of the water and sat down. I let him carry it all the way to the blind. In the blind , he sat and put it in my hand.

Damn what a great sight to see. I wish I had a video of it.  It was pure.

He stayed with his bird the rest of the day and even sat for a pic with it.

I got him a floatation vest today. He is a strong swimmer, but when he got stuck, that was scary.

I'm gonna try to hunt him again, but I'm not gonna push him. He was an inside dog and it showed when he got cold.

He didn't react to the gunfire. He ran out of the blind once when I shot at a double, but it was in the direction we took for the first retrieve.
 So I 'm not sure what he was reacting to. The double noise or he anticipated another retrieve. 

Once he see's me shoot a few times, he'll know not to assume I hit something.

I see a fun future together.
Tomorrow he gets spoonie and pintail for breakfast.

Any tips or ideas will be greatly appreciated. HE HAS NO FORMAL TRAINING,
 so I don't want to ruin this.

 I want to let him progress at his own speed.

[big game hunter]

Nice... Is that a shovler duck???

[deerslyr]

Huntins in that dogs blood considering how he was brought up and how well he did.

[WCTaxidermy]

Nice looking dog and a great hunt.  Congrat's on the shoveler hen.

[Fishnclifff]

That is a hen shovelor. We lost the drake.
Kinda kickin myself for not getting the vest before hand, but we will only get better.
He is still got that look in his eye, after 10hrs. He is ready to go again.
Maybe thursday.

[JJB11B]

Congrats man! I wish i could have a dog again! good luck!

[Wtrfowlr62]

awesome dog awesome story love the name! its in his blood no matter what it was raised with hes a RETRIEVER thats what pumps in his vains! best of luck to you guys 

[Skagit_Hunter]

Great story
One thing is the dogs age and how it was raised.... seems a little heavy... Just don't push it. Although it wan't to go go go you need to take these things into consideration.

[Fishnclifff]

He just started putting on weight.
He's probably only gained 10lbs since I got him. He runs constantly.

The only real problem I have with him--- He goes out and wants right back in. If he doesn't get in,
 he gets aggressive and jumps on the house and barks.
The barking has lessened, but he just lays out in the yard watching the windows for someone to let him in.
Even in the pouring rain, he does this. He's soaking wet all the time.

I keep telling people he is just now learning to be a dog.