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Retrieves bumper but not duck.

1377 Views 33 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Indaswamp, 
JDiPerrio
Hi guys, I got a 1 year old fox red lab. I am a college student an got her last year over xmass break. I worked with her every weekend since my school is close. She is good on OB and we are working on steady. She loves retrieving bumpers and occassionally a pheasant but what I dont get is she will not retrieve a duck :huh: Why will she retrieve a bumper, duck wing, and bumper with duck scent but not the acually duck while Im hunting? Thought you guys might have some good insight on what I should do now that it is only goose season and Ill have plenty of time to work with her. she will go to the duck and mouth it but just doesnt retrieve it.

Thanks guys,

John
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swampbilly1980
Some more info would be helpful,.Bird introduction?... does she deliver those bumpers to hand? How many birds (ducks included) has she seen? FFing your dog without a solid O.B. foundation is gonna' leave you with a dog that knows how to Drop/Hold/Fetch etc.,... (which takes more than 1 month to do completely), but will do it when she chooses to (like now); not when commanded to.. :yes: Seems as though she may need a complete ff program which would take several mos. to complete.

I respectfully say that with the idea that she'll bring back bumpers on "command" when you send her,.. but not bringing back what she's been born to bring back...and that is,..bring back what ever you send her after.....that there is some O.B. missing in the mix.. or maybe has not seen alot of birds in training.. :beer:
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swampbilly1980
JDiPerrio said:
I introduced her to a chukar very young and she loved it. She has put up over 50 pheasant this year while hunting. I think Im gonna FF her if she doesnt learn just from me real soon.
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....... :yes:.......but you won't get it all done in a month.. :wink:
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swampbilly1980
Indaswamp said:
I know one breeder that goes so far as to put duck feathers in the pen with 6 week old pups. Claims that this is what wild dogs and wolves do...exposing the young to the smells....I can't refute the logic...
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........I couldn't keep feathers in the pen,..those field mice would steal 'em and use 'em to make nests to stay warm in the winter,..and some of those mice are big enough to pull a plow :yes:
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swampbilly1980
Me thinks you will be pulling your hair out by water transitioning before he has it on land 1st. :yes:,...although it may have "worked" for another dog. He needs to do what you want him to do ON LAND.
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swampbilly1980
kwacker said:
Me thinks you have nothing to loose trying this method John, but it worked for me, and Kirby was only 10 months old when he started his first season and by the end of our season he had made 137 retrieves on both land & water.
Best of luck to you and let me know if this helps.
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......Me thinks YOU GOT LUCKY :yes: Training in water situations BEFORE it's all understood on land for the most part is putting the cart before the horse,..I don't care who you are ,..or what kinda' dog you have,..period.

Glad it worked out though kwacker,..a dog that takes a dump beside a bird and then is moved to the water, and then is miraculously cured should be recognized :lol3:
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swampbilly1980
kwacker,..after reading more on your dog it sounds like he was just about ready for transitioning to water. Nothing wrong with trying different approaches when necessary. Just wanted to express the importance of having foundations in place. A dog as young as his should not be "bored" with a bird on the ground and refuse it. If it happens on the ground in the yard or in the field,..you can bet it'll happen 20miles down the road in a honey hole with a different mark. Just trying to keep it real :beer:
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swampbilly1980
JDiPerrio said:
No she hasnt been FF'ed she just turned a year old last month. Im trying not to FF since im in college and could only be able to do it on weekends. Unless that will give me enough time to do it then Ill consider it.
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JD,..I'm inclined to say that your dog may possibly have not have seen enough bumpers or birds/retrieves/training in a years' time to influence a retrieve consistantly,.,.ie,..doesn't know what is expected of her.
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