Here is somewhat of a guide line that may help you out a little.
Step
1Select your Labrador puppy. Serious hunters prefer Labradors with field championships and master hunter titles in their ancestry over other purebred Labs. Puppies with ancestors that were hunters are more likely to have the skills, stamina and instincts necessary for hunting.
In addition, the Lab should be attentive and of amiable disposition. If you’re uncertain about the Lab’s disposition, examine the Lab’s mother and inquire about the father. They should be accomplished hunters and in good health.
Step
2Begin basic obedience training immediately and continue it until you’re certain your dog will respond to direct commands without hesitation. Your puppy must be taught to respond to her name. She must also learn to sit, heel, stay and come. These basics are so important that you may consider enrolling your puppy in an obedience class or pay for a personal trainer. Practice the basics often, inside and outside of class. Always remember to praise your puppy for his good work. Each practice session should be a bonding experience between you and your puppy.
Step
3Begin to familiarize your puppy with the natural environment where the duck hunts will take place. It is especially important that your puppy learn to love water. Begin with wading pools in the backyard, and eventually move up to walks through woods and marshes. When your puppy is old enough and large enough, have your puppy practice jumping in and out of your boat. When you’re confident in your puppy’s obedience, take her off the leash and practice heeling as you wander through the woods. Always have your puppy walk on the side opposite where you hold your gun.
Step
4With scented training dummies (duck-shaped dummies are available in sporting goods and hunting stores), practice retrieves. Have your puppy heel at your side while a partner throws the dummy. It’s important that your puppy learn to retrieve the dummy only after your cue. Start easy and gradually work toward retrieves that are farther and more difficult to locate.
Eventually practice water retrieves. When your puppy retrieves the training dummy properly, praise him. Never practice retrieves by throwing sticks for your puppy because you don’t want her to bring you sticks when you’re on a hunt. Practice often but not for long periods of time. This leaves your puppy wanting to do it again and again.
Step
5Desensitize your puppy to the sound of your shotgun. Take him with you when you’re target practicing, or tie him up and then begin shooting away from your puppy into the air. Gradually move the gun until you’re shooting over your puppy’s head. The sound of a shotgun will at first upset your puppy, but he’ll get used to it. He shouldn’t flinch or move at the sound of a gun.
Step
6When your Lab has advanced through all other training, take her on simulated hunting trips. While out in a boat where you’ll duck hunt, shoot the gun, launch a dummy and have your dog retrieve it.
If you hunt with a duck blind, you may find during the simulation that your Lab is inclined to retrieve before you’ve given the command. Try tying a lasso around the puppy’s waist. When the puppy runs for the mark, the slipknot will tighten around his waist and hold him in place .
3 Responses
2010 Mar 02
Depends on the trainer. Ck online or get a good book for proper technique…or have a pro do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CShMqN0dn-w&feature=related
References :
2010 Mar 02
Depends on the trainer. By the end of week one, sitting and staying should be proficient. By the end of week 7, good, solid basics of retreiving on land and water should be developed with a good foundation of basic whistle commands. -for a young dog. For a 8 wk old pup, just making it fun and getting the basics of sit, stay and the very fundamentals of retrieving. I have trained quite a few labs, and it all depends on the dog, too. Every dog can be made to retrieve, but them having fun is the most important. I have seen some dogs have the "fun" shockcollard right out of them, (mondaylakekennels.) and It is truly sad that that dog will never retrieve because It enjoys it. I don’t care if it took me to train certain dogs 2 years to get the fundamentals of retrieving as long as they felt as important as the owner felt proud.
-Please, we need to report this crap by above poster.. It is spam and has no room in this forum. Thanks!
References :
Lock and load. Keep your powder dry.
-sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is the muzzle flash-
-Brew
2010 Mar 02
Here is somewhat of a guide line that may help you out a little.
Step
1Select your Labrador puppy. Serious hunters prefer Labradors with field championships and master hunter titles in their ancestry over other purebred Labs. Puppies with ancestors that were hunters are more likely to have the skills, stamina and instincts necessary for hunting.
In addition, the Lab should be attentive and of amiable disposition. If you’re uncertain about the Lab’s disposition, examine the Lab’s mother and inquire about the father. They should be accomplished hunters and in good health.
Step
2Begin basic obedience training immediately and continue it until you’re certain your dog will respond to direct commands without hesitation. Your puppy must be taught to respond to her name. She must also learn to sit, heel, stay and come. These basics are so important that you may consider enrolling your puppy in an obedience class or pay for a personal trainer. Practice the basics often, inside and outside of class. Always remember to praise your puppy for his good work. Each practice session should be a bonding experience between you and your puppy.
Step
3Begin to familiarize your puppy with the natural environment where the duck hunts will take place. It is especially important that your puppy learn to love water. Begin with wading pools in the backyard, and eventually move up to walks through woods and marshes. When your puppy is old enough and large enough, have your puppy practice jumping in and out of your boat. When you’re confident in your puppy’s obedience, take her off the leash and practice heeling as you wander through the woods. Always have your puppy walk on the side opposite where you hold your gun.
Step
4With scented training dummies (duck-shaped dummies are available in sporting goods and hunting stores), practice retrieves. Have your puppy heel at your side while a partner throws the dummy. It’s important that your puppy learn to retrieve the dummy only after your cue. Start easy and gradually work toward retrieves that are farther and more difficult to locate.
Eventually practice water retrieves. When your puppy retrieves the training dummy properly, praise him. Never practice retrieves by throwing sticks for your puppy because you don’t want her to bring you sticks when you’re on a hunt. Practice often but not for long periods of time. This leaves your puppy wanting to do it again and again.
Step
5Desensitize your puppy to the sound of your shotgun. Take him with you when you’re target practicing, or tie him up and then begin shooting away from your puppy into the air. Gradually move the gun until you’re shooting over your puppy’s head. The sound of a shotgun will at first upset your puppy, but he’ll get used to it. He shouldn’t flinch or move at the sound of a gun.
Step
6When your Lab has advanced through all other training, take her on simulated hunting trips. While out in a boat where you’ll duck hunt, shoot the gun, launch a dummy and have your dog retrieve it.
If you hunt with a duck blind, you may find during the simulation that your Lab is inclined to retrieve before you’ve given the command. Try tying a lasso around the puppy’s waist. When the puppy runs for the mark, the slipknot will tighten around his waist and hold him in place .
References :