Post by: irishevox on June 16, 2014, 07:30:57 AM
Post by: whitey on June 16, 2014, 07:42:23 AM
He might not do as well as if you would have started when it was a pup.
I think I would spread my Decoys out in the pond and just pitch the dummy out in them and let him go get it.
They see where the bird falls and that should be it.
I would take him to Cooke Canyon and do some shooting over him. Its good to knock the dust off the dog before hunting season.
Post by: REHJWA on June 16, 2014, 08:22:07 AM
Post by: irishevox on June 16, 2014, 09:16:11 AM
5 years Old?? :dunno: Why did you wait so long?
He might not do as well as if you would have started when it was a pup.
I think I would spread my Decoys out in the pond and just pitch the dummy out in them and let him go get it.
They see where the bird falls and that should be it.
I would take him to Cooke Canyon and do some shooting over him. Its good to knock the dust off the dog before hunting season.
Right after i got him i moved it Italy for 3 years... so it kinda put training on the back burner. Now that we are moved in and back in the swing of things/... and after a deployment i have all summer to work with him
Post by: Elliott on June 28, 2014, 05:02:01 AM
Post by: T-Bone on June 28, 2014, 07:06:40 AM
Good luck…Your dog sounds a bit timid; I'd be slow and careful.
Post by: irishevox on July 01, 2014, 07:25:33 AM
Post by: PointNLab on July 07, 2014, 10:24:01 PM
Post by: irishevox on July 08, 2014, 06:25:59 AM
Post by: REHJWA on July 08, 2014, 10:40:24 AM
I wouldn't recommend the fireworks. We throw a pissload of marks ( bumpers or birds) several very night until the dog is crazy about retrieving. Then we have a second person start throwing the marks anywhere from 50-100 yards away. Again several every night that you can and gradually introduce a shot with a blank pistol in the field with the remote gunner . Throw the bird then shoot and the dog will be focused on the bird. As far as the gun as mentioned above just have it around and work the action while doing other things he likes.:yeah:
Maybe have the remote gunner us a dummer launcher with light loads. The noise will be far enough away not to make the dog jump and the dog will see the dummy falling about the time the shot report reaches you...
Post by: irishevox on July 09, 2014, 07:14:41 AM
Post by: Johnb317 on July 09, 2014, 07:36:22 AM
Maybe rack the gun then give a treat?
Post by: irishevox on July 09, 2014, 07:56:09 AM
Post by: T-Bone on July 09, 2014, 12:01:02 PM
Post by: irishevox on July 09, 2014, 12:55:59 PM
Post by: Bushcraft on July 14, 2014, 09:40:25 AM
If you are just starting out in the training and can't make a positive association with a loud noise, DON'T make a loud noise.
Fortunately, most labs are extremely food driven and this greatly aids in initial aspects of training. Preferably, you'll start the noise training very early by making increasingly louder noises while they are chowing down their food (banging their dish around a bit beforehand), making a reasonably loud noise as they are hell bent for leather going after their favorite toys, and give them TONS of encouragement, etc. Try to always have a snack back handy as a reward. You can find a trainer bag at most any pet store that cinches at the top and clips onto your belt.
Dummy launchers are awesome. Cap guns are awesome. My lab can't get enough of retrieving and will literally run himself into the ground if we let him. Don't EVER do that! Stop well before the dog wants to, always. That way, he'll always have a passionate drive to retrieve, thinking it "fun" vs. "work". WRT noise, we simply started the introduction to "gun" noises after basic obedience training by having my wife walk off a distance 50 yards or so and pop the dummy out in front of us. I carried an old beater 870 and would follow the flight path of the "bird", sending the dog after the dummy landed. She would get progressively closer to the point that we could substitute blanks in a 22 single shot over him as she or I threw "birds" from any distance/direction to any distance/direction. 4th of July celebrations are fantastic if you can get the dog in a controlled spot among the comfort of people he knows and just shovel his favorite healthy snacks in his face with every loud boom and give him lots of "atta boy" encouragement. I just use his regular dog food for snacks. Now, any loud noise is cause for sheer euphoria and anticipation of getting to do something fun.
Post by: irishevox on July 14, 2014, 10:11:25 AM