My yellow lab is having a hard time with retrieving downed birds. He will retrieve the hell out of a bumper, but he just doesn' t seem to get the idea of retrieving a bird that has been shot. I have tried the technique of having a partner throw the bumper, also shooting as the bumper is at its peak, but he is having a tough time. He is a little over a year old, and was started late on training.

Questions:

1. What dog training program (book/tape) are you following as your training guide?

2. Have you Force Fetched your dog?

Schemy, Your dog might not like the birds feathers in his mouth. That might be why he is not retriving the birds and will the dummies. Have your dog force fetch to retrive and that will take care of it. You can do it your self but I would let a pro. do it. good luck

Doc E.

I haven' t been using a certain method, only taking bits and peices from different readings. And secondly there have never been a need to force fetch my dog. He has always taken to retrieving.

Sfarrell, I know the feathers don' t bother him. He will eagerly retrieve a bird that we through out for him. I just don' t think that he is associating a gunshot with an opportunity to retrieve. I am not sure why that is.

All dogs need to be introduced to the shot. It is a slow process sometimes. Also, try using some clipwing birds during training. My Lab pup hates to carry them, it seems, but when she sees that it pleases me she does it. I have found the hard way that unless you are professional trainner and have all day to work with your dogs, it takes a lot longer to train them than the likes of Richard Walter and other advisors say. Be patient and be persistent.

Bob

Be patient and be persistent, also sometimes if that does not work
try to freeze the bird first, if that does not work, than you must force
break.

I have a suggestion and a comment.

1. You really need to be following a proven training program
2. If your dog doesn' t need to be force fetched, then why would he do what you described?

3. Force Fetch is about MUCH MORE than just a reliable retrieve.

Doc E.

I have ordered Water Dog and Gun Dog and will go over that method and see what happens.

I guess I am not understanding the whole concept of a force fetch then, please explain it to me a little further. I was under the impression that if he was eagerly fetching a dummy then it wouldn' t be necessary to force fetch. I thought that my only need was to get him to associate a gun shot with the oportunity to fetch.

Sorry bud I just spent a whole lot of time typing my response twice and it didn' t take it , you lose

I see that it took my reply when I got pi$$ed. Ok , as Doc said its more than just a retrieve its about cooperation, obedience, desire to please. I don' t know how many times I heard that line " natural retriever, dont need to force break" . I will tell you here and now your dog will tell you one day " nope , not today I dont feel like it" . Thats a very short version of my reply, maybe later when I chill I will try again, got to go clean some geese.