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DOG TRAINING

Whitebear

Silent Prop
R. I. P.
Ya know IM even getting interested in duck hunting just reading about all this.

I had a Golden retriever I got as a pup and met with miserable success trying to train him to be a gun dog. Never seen such a scared dog of anything in my life. Obviously I missed a step sommers for sure and for certain. He took to training so easy it was like he was reading my mind all the time, EXCEPT when he heard or saw a gun. He answered imaculately to hand signals or verbal commands. But fire a gun and he was outa sight instantly shaking like he was froze clean through. In the end I gave up trying to hunt with him and just made a pet out of him. He was the worlds greatest pet so I know, had I not missed something early on he could have been a great gun dog.

Anybody else have this problem or know what I might have missed? It seems to me whatever it was had to be very early in his training.

Scotty
 
Whitebear I have a 10 yr old black lab when his was a puppy every time I would feed him I would shoot a .22 off not right next to him a couple off feet behind him and a trainer told me to put little peanut butter on the end of the barrel of the gun I hunt with and let him lick off. Well it did take long to break him in. He was retrieving doves at 11 month.
 
Hmmm I never tried the flavor reward or feeding time thing. I just fired the gun and tried to give the ruffel him up and scrub his chest thing if he sat still. Tell him what a good boy he was. I remember a "few" times he did stay put early on but he was still cowering, even after the play.

Looking at maybe getting another and tryiing it again maybe. Airboats and dogs just seem to go together to me.

Scotty
 
Dark, I've always had a workshop. Air compressors, table saws, drills, cut off saws ..... the dogs have always been with me since they were pups.
When something loud would start, they'd jump and then look at me. If I was OK with it, they'd lay back down and go back to sleep.

I took all of them to the trap range with me when they were young ..... after a few minutes they'd be roamin around tryin to pan-handle somebody out of what was left of a hot dog, paying no attention to the shooters. They get used to it fast if they're exposed to it and they don't see fear.

olf
 
Central Florida Hunting Retriever Club is having thier annual hunt in Monteverde this weekend @ Gey's Golden Oaks Ranch.

There will be @ least 150 dogs plus trainers there.

I'll be running one of my pups in STARTED.
 
Guys I really appreciate the advice about getting a new pup trained. I found this and thought there are just some things a dog flat doesn't want to do !!! Enjoy

Blood_Hound_Second_Thoughts.jpg


Scotty :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
whitebear, sometimes puppies can have an experience with a lightning storm or some other "loud" issue that you don't know about. i've seen lightning storms completely ruin two dogs that were on their way to become good hunting dogs. like previously mentioned, i always start shooting a pellet gun and move up to louder guns. i also start a good distance from the dog at first and move closer. also, IMO, goldies tend to be more timid and a lot more sensitive than a lab. they seem to wear the feelings on their collars, however, they do seem to be a little bit more disciplined than a lab. just my opinion....but, when it comes down to trudging through 6 ft. tall cut grass in 20 degrees to get a duck, i'll take my idiot black lab any day of the week.....like my friends say, "you're dog is an a$$hole, but man he can find a duck!!!"
 
I agree Duckluv. Goldies make a much more sensitive companion dog in my opinion, but Labs are hardheaded as can be.
Once a Lab goes after something they don't let anything get in their way.

Goldies are also more of a 'one man' dog IMO. Labs tend to like everybody, especially if you've got something to eat on you :lol:.
They have a nose that won't quit.

olf
 
Hey Whitebear,Too bad things did not work out like they were supposed to. I would check with a vet to see if there is a medical problem. If not ,the trap and skeet fields are a wonderful place to start. Most loads are light so the noise is less but the training is effective without scaring the dog. Do not let one bad experience keep you from getting another dog. It is a wonderful experience, but you know that already!! I got lucky on my first retriever. I just took her out and started shooting trap at 100 yards and slowly worked her closer until she was training under the gun. In a day she was ready. My dog was a Chesapeake and I was totally pleased. My chessie was retrieving ducks at 7mos. on Lake Okeechobee .
Most chessies are still primarily hunters so there are not many "show dog" negative traits creeping in. In my opinion you should not have to train a dog to retrieve, just behave. The retrieving part is there from day one.
 
UnderPressure

Alex, my Golden was definately NOT a negative experience. He was my constant companion no matter where I went. He just didn't hunt with me.

As for negative traits he only had two. Alex was a borne thief. If you blink your pizza or sandwich was gone. No ya didnt see him take it or swallow it was just instantly vanished. The other negative was Alex was a borne LIRE and the truth werent in him. He told all manner of lies to get the ladies to show him pitty and affection. He told me to look, someone was at the door just so he could steal my pizza, icecream or sandwich.

On the flip side, I could sit food on his nose and tell him to sit still and he wouldn't blink an eye even till I told him to get it. Same for him meals, Id sit him and then make the food and he wouldnt move to eat til told him to ok get it.

He retrieved fine, needed a lil work on release but not bad. He took to hand signals just like verbals cause I trined him with both at the same time, then I could drop either one and he still got the idea.

Nah the part that makes me hesitant is I'm not sure I'm ready to go through losing another one. Alex made 15 years which is really OLD for a Golden, most are lucky to make 12. Alex died on '95 and I'm still not over it yet. Maybe just maybe I'll give it another shot. Really would love the companionship but not ready for the end again.

Scotty
 
We are all guaranteed an end, Scotty. For dogs it comes a little quicker than ours, but I'll take the companionship every time.

They give us an opportunity to practice letting go.

olf
 
WB, When you get back home you need to get you another DOG!!!!!!!
Lost my dog last yr, AM fox hound, was a great dog and full of energy.
Did not think I would ever get another one, but when i came across this little Beagle(DIXIE). It was all over.

OA is dead no the money, you can't beat the companionship. A good dog will add yrs to your life!!!! They have a way of reducing the daily stress of life.

Look back and enjoy the great memories of Alex. But, you gotta move on. A new pup will do your heart and soul alot of good.

Here's a little true story, When I was a young man and stationed in San Diego. I had a old bitch Kerr dog (TATER). Had her for 9 yrs. Got serious with this gal. She moved in and really did not like old "TATER". She asked me to get rid of the dog. Well, I thought about it for a few seconds. I sent the bitch down the road. Old Tater and I stayed together until she died.

Think, I'll take "Dixie" for a little walk and then give her a scouby snack!!!! If you listen you will hear her bay. It's a beautiful thing. DSD
 
Deepsea, they reduce your stress level once you get em house trained ...... :? .

Ann came home with a miniature Yorky about three weeks ago. The little guy (4 lbs) is as cute as a bug, but he poops EVERYWHERE. And he's so little that some of the places are hard for me to get to.
I'll be glad when we get this part of the relationship worked out for sure. Still smilin though.

olf
 
OA, I know what you mean. Dixie goes out alot, that tail goes up and shes looking for a spot for #1 or #2. She gets one in here or there, but we are making progress.

Yorkies, make great lap dogs and are excellent companions. Will he claim a seat on the boat?
 
Seat on the boat ? He won't require a whole seat anywhere, but I told Ann I'd cut a couple of arm holes in a beer coozie and he can wear it for a life jacket ...... :lol: .
I'll see to it that he learns to ride the boat. Things get tough, I can use him for a dock bumper. Just kidding, Dawn and Dakota !!!!

I thought I knew a little about dogs but this one is a whole new experience. All of the 'real' dogs before were happy just to lay out in the yard.
Never had a 'pocket pooch' before and I'm gonna have to learn this deal all over again. He has the attitude of a Lab, and the ass of a termite. What a piece of work.

olf
 
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