Jrshooter

Not all dogs are natural retrievers unfortunately this ones not .you can leed a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. I have two other labs one now retired , still take my other one for retrieving.if the young one gets it fine if she doesn’t it’s not the end of the world as she is a brilliant flushing dog. Small steps but I think she’ll get there.

Just a update .Have a lab which is not interested in retrieving no matter how I tried it wasn’t going to happen.on a clear up day at the end of season she picked a bird ,nobody was more amazed than me,thought it was just a one off but today we walked some woods only got a couple of shots off downed a pigeon in thick undergrowth to my surprise she didn’t hesitate and picked the bird.shooting was **** but that retrievemade my day.feeling hopeful! ,

Just a update .Have a lab which is not interested in retrieving no matter how I tried it wasn’t going to happen.on a clear up day at the end of season she picked a bird ,nobody was more amazed than me,thought it was just a one off but today we walked some woods only got a couple of shots off downed a pigeon in thick undergrowth to my surprise she didn’t hesitate and picked the bird.shooting was **** but that retrievemade my day.feeling hopeful! ,

Never taken her on a shoot before,not too sure how she would behave but it was just a few of us having a walk round.so to be fair it was a ideal opportunity.she didn’t embarrass me was well behaved can’t ask for much more. Hopefully she can do a full season next year.If she picks up it’s a bonus..

Just hope it wasn’t a one off!

Well it happened.had a walk around the wood today bit of a clear up, when to my amazement my Labrador actually retrieved a bird no prompting never ever thought I’d see the day.now I have something to work on .Happy Days!

No offence taken.sometimes you have to make the best of what you’ve got.as I’ve said she can still come out with me rough shooting/pigeons.got a good nose hunts really well..from my experience all dogs are different good points and bad !

I think this dog would test anyone .just not interested in anything; can toss a ball from a few feet away with the dog facing you and it would bounce on its nose won’t even open it’s mouth:it’s got no get up and go.not going to give up on her,l wouldn’t normally take a dog on without doing some research but I was doing my daughter a favour.the plus side she can sill come out and enjoy the day ,could be worse she could be gun shy.

thanks for your input guys , maybe I'm not doing enough 1to1.always find it difficult leaving one at home especially when it's getting near the game season .as for sticks do understand where your coming from .ive heard of dogs not being interested in retrieving then all of a sudden the light switch just turns on with a bit of luck this may be the case.as they say it's not the dog its the owners obviously need to put more work in .

Not overly enthusiastic but will retrieve by throwing a different stick for all of them in different directions. Drops the stick as soon as she comes out of the water ,maybe I'll try her on her own with a dummy.worth a go watch this space!

Doesn't really play with toys,if she did it would give me something to work with. As for training she always goes out with one of my other dogs hoping she will learn from them as for picking up shot birds she will follow the the dog on a retrieve just to see what's she's doing.maybe one day she'll just switch on. On the note of favourite toys just bought them all a textured duck each .she played with it for a few minutes now gone back to sleep.

18 months old.tried all the usuals just looses interest never known a dog so laid back when in a hide just goes to sleep not bothered,yet hunts like a spaniel fearless.throw a stick in water and she's quite happy to retrieve.i have two other labs one 4 year old and a old girl of12.dont have a problem with them.still she may surprise me one day.still good company in the hide.

Have a young lab wich I inherited (long story) not interested in retrieving won't even play with a ball if it does pick anything up it looses interest within seconds. But strangely enough it will retrieve in water.shes not gun shy and hunts really well.any tips on getting her to pick up ?