Starting to train my dog

[Steve29]

Hi all,

 

I’m toying with the idea of training my 20 month old lab, Jack, to pick up for me when out pigeon decoying. I never had any intention of training him up as a retriever as I didn’t get into decoying until after I got him, he is just our pet, but a mate and I took him out while rough shooting last week and he loved it. I walked him on the lead about 10m behind my mate who was shooting. He flinched at the shot the first few times, but didn’t bother after that and kept a keen eye on everything that was going on.

 

So now I’m thinking about getting him trained up as it would be good for him and will save me dismantling my hide to pick up!

 

He’s only ever been taught basic voice commands (by me and the mrs) like sit, stay, heel, lay down, come back and leave but he has them nailed. He also loves to play ‘fetch’! He can sometimes play deaf if he doesn’t like what I’m saying but in general is well behaved.

 

My plan is to get a few dummies, a pistol and some blanks, then start small and easy by just getting him to fetch the dummies in the garden at first. Then I plan to move the game to the field, set up my hide and chuck them out from there, short distances at first then longer. Then progress to adding decoys, using the pistol, wings stuck to the dummies, dead birds, and so on.

 

Does this method seem about right? I am a complete novice as Jack is my first dog, but I plan to do this myself or not at all so any tips or advice would be very well received.

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[Markio]

Can't vouch for the age thing but there are lots of sticky threads in the top of this section on gun dog obedience.

[HDAV]

http://www.livingheritagecountryshows.co.uk/index.php if there is one local may be worth a day out as they have gundog training demos and a training clinic (never been but looking to go and see what its like)