bay firearms Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Hi all, dipping my feet into the wild fowling scene next season. Been shooting forever, and recently moved back to Kent so plan on joining KWCA ready for next season. I've got a 4 y/o springador (Rambo) who I want to train up over the summer for retrieving fowl out the water. He's been out on the pigeons once or twice in his life but didn't do alot, it was more for a walk, and to see if he was gun shy (which he isn't). He's come from a good bloodline of hunting dogs. He loves the water and is a very strong swimmer, I can throw his tennis ball in and out of the sea all day. He brings it back every time, and and he loves it, so the fundamentals are there. I obviously need to translate this into sitting next to me and going in on my command, and him bringing fowl back rather than looking for his ball each time! I would be grateful of some training tips / advice on how to achieve this. I'm positive he's got it in him to be a great retriever, just got to get it out of him as I would love for him to come out with me on the marsh. Col. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 There are lots of good books on the subject of dog training. It would obviously have been better to train the dog a lot younger, but i'm sure, with a bit of work, you can get your dog to be a decent wildfowling dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GADWALL41 Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Hi, lots of dog training videos out there , you might find them better than a book . some clips on youtube . Very hard to give details in a post but as you have the Basics in the dog all I can tell you is , once the dog has all the obedience training done , your biggest item to watch is that the Dog does not break for a retrieve before you send him out . As it will be sitting beside you for quite a long time and may not get to move for hours . Also for training , you would be far better off getting a Training Bumper for the dog to fetch back , as it will then learn to pick up a duck properly across its body and not pull it back by its head etc. Just spend as much time as you can with your dog and wait for the water to warm up a little before you get into serious water training mode . Oh and buy 2 Bumpers , use one then move onto a Double retrieve and don't forget to do some Blind retrieves and some off the mud , not just water . You will have to learn to and Patience of course is the Biggest thing , good luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Sound advice from the above posts . If your dog can sit and stay , isn't gun shy , like going in water and retrieving dead pigeons you are already well on the way with the basics . I would move on from a tennis ball to a training dummy , when your dog is happy with that put a pair of duck wings around it with elastic bands and move on from there , start putting or throwing the dummy in conditions where your likely to be shooting wildfowl , across dykes , rivers , reed beds and salt marshes if you have got any in your area. Another tip is to train your dog in bad light and when he is happy with that take him in the dark , drop your dummy , walk 50yds get him to sit and stay and send him back so he have to use his head and not rely on you for instructions . You have got the lighter nights and warmer days on the way soon to make the training more appealing than the dark cold days at present but whatever the weather there is always some training you can do, and when he bring your first duck back the sense of pride you get will be well worth the time spent training. If you want any duck wings by all means get in touch and I would kindly send you some over , in the meantime good luck with the training and if you need any help just ask and we will do our best to help you out ..............All the best ..M M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawntredder Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 I just read a book (gundog training) by joe irving....I have a sprocker bitch...I would read a chapter then go out to a small pond I know were there was know one around just you's,.then do exactly what it said in that chapter for a week or two then move on to next chapter...really easy book to follow and if its for fowling then you need only do certain chapters....your dog maybe two long in the tooth now being 4y/o but its worth giving it ago...mine turned out great.....just remember not to raise your hand to the dog if he is not doing something correct...not that you would but it will just break its spirit and then he/she will not work for you.....persevere its hard but its satisfying in the end......good luck fella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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