Teaching The Retrieve

While some gun dogs are not trained to retrieve, others, such Labrador and Golden Retrievers as well as spaniels, will retrieve birds and other game for you when you are hunting.  Unlike some gun dogs, retrievers work with you after you have shot the game, instead of before – as is the case of the pointer or setter. 

 

While retrievers have the instincts to retrieve, you need to teach them the right way to retrieve so that they do not damage the bird.  Retrievers have soft mouths that are made for just this task and are often bred to eliminate a hard mouth.  You do not want your dog clamping down too hard on the game. 

 

You should start teaching the retrieve as soon as possible.  You can start by showing the dog an object, such as a soft ball that can be easily picked up by a puppy.  Toss it and allow the puppy to chase it.  Chances are that he will play with it and not bring it back to you immediately.  You can use a lead to bring him in and get him to return the ball to you. 

 

The objective of this is to get him to understand the concept of the retrieval process.  He has to learn that you are the master and that he should return objects to you.  Retrievers are very devoted gun dogs and live to please, so when you give him some positive reinforcement when he does this correctly, he will want to do this again and again.  As a matter of fact, you can amuse your dog for hours once he understands this concept. 

 

But that is not all there is to retrieving.  He has to learn how to pick up the object gently and you still must introduce him to the gun and the bird.  The next step is to use a dead bird, such as a pigeon, for him to retrieve.  You can also introduce him to the gun at the same time. 

 

You will want your dog to retrieve upon the sound of the shotgun.  He has to learn how to retrieve when he hears the gun.  A retriever has a keen sense of smell, so he will be able to track the bird.  You can start him in field retrieving exercises when he is about 4 months old.  It is advisable to use a dead bird for this exercise and start off with a pistol that does not make the sound of a shotgun as it will most likely startle the dog.  If you have a friend who can help you with this, it will be all the easier. 

 

Show the dead bird to the dog and allow him to sniff it and get familiar with the scent.  Have a friend fire off the gun and toss the bird out after this occurs. By this time, your dog should be used to chasing and retrieving, so he will go after the bird and should, at this time, bring it back to you.  Watch the way his mouth is held so that he does not clamp down too hard on the bird.  If so, you will have additional work teaching him not to clamp down so hard.  You can place the bird in his mouth so that he holds it the right way.  Use positive reinforcement techniques at this time and he will soon get the idea. 

 

Once your dog has passed this test, you can then hide the bird before you shoot off the shotgun and watch as your dog searches for it.  By this time, he will get associate the sound of the gun with retrieval process and what he has to do.  Again, this is part of his natural hunting instincts. 

 

Eventually, you will have your dog able to retrieve anything and bring it to you with a soft mouth.  Using voice commands and positive reinforcement are the way to continue to teaching the retrieve.  Have patience and continue to work with your dog regularly and you will have a fine hunting companion. 

About these ads