Young lab on short retrieves

[allanm]

Hi folks ,

I've a young lab of 19 month who is all I could ask for apart from an annoying problem of messing about with shirt seen retrieves , if it's a fairly short retrieve and especially if it's out in open and he doesn't have to hunt for it he mouths the bird a bit (doesn't mark it ) and will usually look at me and will come a bit with some encouragement but will again stop and mess about ? He's done this a few times now and can't work out what I've done to cause this and more importantly how I can cure it ? On longer harder if you like retrieves he'll bring it back and put it in my hand . From a pup I didn't let him pick every dummy so I can keep him steady which as worked ,as I say everything else he is spot on and has had some brilliant retrieves out of thick cover etc

Any help is appreciated to what I can try .

[kent]

Yes! never send a dog for something you can easy pick yourself, retrieving is a privilege not a right- it bound to end this way with a young dog pent up with enthusiasm and will lead to running in before a shot is taken even.

[allanm]

I don't think I worded post properly , as I don't send him for all the easy retrieves but even if or when I do he sometimes is slow on return with messing about

I don't think I worded post properly , as I don't send him for all the easy retrieves but even if or when I do he sometimes is slow on return with messing about

[kent]

Yep but the point is don't send him unless you have to, the excitement of getting a retrieve is too great a level and has no time to subside in a young keen retriever

[E.w.]

You don't say what you will use the lab for peg, picking up or wildfowling and remember labs can get bored with the same old dummy work or even the same venue. Have you had him on on cold game or other.

[allanm]

Thanks for replied folks , he's been with me to 3 duck flights (not busy flights with lots of shots), he's retrieved 3 or4 geese and pigeons n rooks from about 16 months . He'll be mainly a wildfiwling dog but I'm also in a small pheasant syndicate so basically he'll be doing a but of everything . I'm very very happy with him apart from the problem I mentioned but il try as Kent suggested and don't give him any retrieves I can easily pick myself

Thanks again Allan

Edited October 11, 2014 by allanm

[jayDT10]

There's nothing wrong with giving dogs short easy retrieves as it helps build confidence as they should find quick . But in a typical training I might throw 20 dummies but only let the dog have 6 the rest I'll pick whilst the dog sits up. Mind you if I've sat on the marsh all eve or morning and only have one shot and it's falls in a easily accessible place 10 yards away and the dog has sat nicely all through the flight I'll let him have it.