Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: sweetlou on August 17, 2012, 12:35:44 PM

Title: any help?
Post by: sweetlou on August 17, 2012, 12:35:44 PM: I just bought a 3 month old Golden on Sunday. He's a great dog, slowly learning his name and sit and stay. But has no interest in playing fetch or retrieving his toy when i throw it down the hall. I bought him with the intention of training him to retrieve my ducks. This is my first puppy, specifically for ducks. I know this type of stuff takes time, but I'd love to hear some techniques you've used. If anyone could help me also, that would be awesome.
Thanks guys
Title: Re: any help?
Post by: ctwiggs1 on August 17, 2012, 12:47:29 PM: Remember, he is only 3 months old.... I'd buy a book on dog training. Don't worry yet :)
Title: Re: any help?
Post by: bone collector 12 on August 17, 2012, 12:53:12 PM: Get the water dog video it will tell you everything you need
Title: Re: any help?
Post by: Johnb317 on August 17, 2012, 01:16:25 PM: Richard wolters book game dog, it's a classic.
Also, be patient only a little bit a day so things stay exciting for the pup.
(if married with children they need to be trained as well)

Need to learn your dogs personality and adjust accordingly.
No expert here but glad to help... I'm in Bellevue.
Title: Re: any help?
Post by: Stilly bay on August 17, 2012, 07:25:21 PM: are we dealing with show or hunting lines here?
Title: Re: any help?
Post by: sweetlou on August 17, 2012, 09:33:46 PM: THanks for the input. I guess i should probably slow it down for him, I just assumed he'd catch on faster as he is pretty young. I guess i'm just nervous that I'll miss his "prime" learning stage.
And hunting lines.
THanks for all the input, much appreciated!
Title: Re: any help?
Post by: Stilly bay on August 17, 2012, 09:45:45 PM: try using a paint roller with some scent ( bird, hotdog, or even bacon grease) paint rollers are nice and light making it very easy for a young pup to pick up. paint rollers are also fuzzy so the pup feels like he is chewing on a critter. you could even tuck a pheasant wing down the center.
some times canvas dummies or hard plastic bumpers are just too much for a little pup OR they are too boring.

only play fetch in a hallway or somewhere that the pup can't get away from you. once your pup starts to retrieve don't take the bumper from him right away. in the early stages I like to let the pup come back to me, and then I will pick him up and hold him until he drops the bumper on his own. that way the pup doesn't think I am taking his precious away every time he goes to the trouble of bringing it back.

and don't over do it.
Title: Re: any help?
Post by: KFhunter on August 17, 2012, 09:48:56 PM: quit trying to train the poor pup and have fun with it - show it as many new and cool things as you can.

lot's of people and other dogs for one thing

get you a kennel, and keep it in the kennel for a few hours then take it from the kennel to outside where it can take a dump or whatever then let it explore the house ahwile then after an hour or 2 back in the kennel and repeat, take it to the same spot in the yard so it can smell where it went last time
Title: Re: any help?
Post by: runamuk on August 17, 2012, 10:13:10 PM: Quote from: Stilly bay on August 17, 2012, 09:45:45 PM
try using a paint roller with some scent ( bird, hotdog, or even bacon grease) paint rollers are nice and light making it very easy for a young pup to pick up. paint rollers are also fuzzy so the pup feels like he is chewing on a critter. you could even tuck a pheasant wing down the center.
some times canvas dummies or hard plastic bumpers are just too much for a little pup OR they are too boring.

only play fetch in a hallway or somewhere that the pup can't get away from you. once your pup starts to retrieve don't take the bumper from him right away. in the early stages I like to let the pup come back to me, and then I will pick him up and hold him until he drops the bumper on his own. that way the pup doesn't think I am taking his precious away every time he goes to the trouble of bringing it back.

and don't over do it.

stilly I really love that last bit....great suggestion, have had natural fetching dogs and ones that dont fetch and that bit is a great idea....
Title: Re: any help?
Post by: Stilly bay on August 17, 2012, 11:03:29 PM: Quote from: runamuk on August 17, 2012, 10:13:10 PM

stilly I really love that last bit....great suggestion, have had natural fetching dogs and ones that dont fetch and that bit is a great idea....

thanks, I can't remember if I came up with it myself or borrowed it. either way I have started a bunch of pups that way and have never felt like I needed to go with force fetch - not that FF is a bad thing. started my Gordon setter that way and he will out retrieve my Labs most days.