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Started By
Message
Young lab hunting
Posted on 9/3/17 at 9:39 pm
Posted on 9/3/17 at 9:39 pm
I know it depends on the dog, but in general, what's the earliest you'd take a lab duck hunting? Thanks
9
Posted on 9/3/17 at 9:47 pm to 07Tiger
8mos. Alligator bait during teal season if you bring earlier.
Posted on 9/3/17 at 10:30 pm to 07Tiger
I had a lab pickup wood ducks at six months old. It was quick and easy hunt for him though.
Posted on 9/3/17 at 11:56 pm to 07Tiger
I brought mine at 4 months just to mess around. His instincts were cool to watch, even though he had no idea what he was doing.
Posted on 9/4/17 at 5:37 am to PaBon
Yea, no way I'd bring him now. He'll be almost 8 months old by duck season. He's retrieving good and working on obedience. He'll be at the trainer the month before season starts
Posted on 9/4/17 at 6:33 am to 07Tiger
quote:
working on obedience
This needs to be rock solid before you take him to a hole. There's no place in a duck hole for a dog that isn't steady. Also for the first few hunts I'd recommend leaving the gun at home or hanging on the tree and focus on making sure he gets started on the right foot. 6 months is the absolute minimum unless he's seasoned way beyond 99% of dogs that age. Congrats on the pup btw
Posted on 9/4/17 at 7:27 am to lv2bowhntAU
quote:
obedience
Can't be overstated. If I ever train another one, obedience will be my biggest concern.
Posted on 9/4/17 at 8:02 am to 07Tiger
My Boykin picked up his first duck at 11 mos
Posted on 9/4/17 at 8:03 am to 07Tiger
If you can keep the dog steady and still, then they are ready to start. Some dogs this may be 4 months some may be over a year.
Have to realize that any dog's first few hunts won't be great, but the dog will learn more in one morning of hunting than they will in a week of training.
The dog I had before my current one started hunting at 7 months. Turned it on opening weekend. He picked up over 150 birds that season. Current dog was 8.5 months on opener and he didn't put it all together and maybe picked up 20 his first season. He wasn't ready
Just depends on the dog. Good luck. A good dog is a thing of beauty.
Have to realize that any dog's first few hunts won't be great, but the dog will learn more in one morning of hunting than they will in a week of training.
The dog I had before my current one started hunting at 7 months. Turned it on opening weekend. He picked up over 150 birds that season. Current dog was 8.5 months on opener and he didn't put it all together and maybe picked up 20 his first season. He wasn't ready
Just depends on the dog. Good luck. A good dog is a thing of beauty.
Posted on 9/4/17 at 8:54 am to MallardMaster
Good advice. I brought mine to the rice fields in teal season right at 1 year old and put the gun down to work him. I've found skeet shooting really helps with steady training.
Posted on 9/4/17 at 9:01 am to 07Tiger
I currently own dogs of a different breed, but had labs before I decided to go a different route. My belief on when to start taking a dog out would be the same though.
1. The dog must be properly/fully introduced to the gun
2. The dog must be force fetched, or force fetched to a point that he will properly hold the game without rolling it around in his mouth or being hard on it. He must understand that the game is mine, not his
3. The dog must reliably return to me when I call him
For the most part, if the dog will meet those conditions I will try and hunt him as soon as possible. Hunting experience is one of the things you can't fake, you know a dog that has hunted a lot when you see him. The dogs I remember as being the best were hunted hard and often at a young age.
As for a young dog being steady, I don't worry about it too much that first season. Just tie the dog out.
1. The dog must be properly/fully introduced to the gun
2. The dog must be force fetched, or force fetched to a point that he will properly hold the game without rolling it around in his mouth or being hard on it. He must understand that the game is mine, not his
3. The dog must reliably return to me when I call him
For the most part, if the dog will meet those conditions I will try and hunt him as soon as possible. Hunting experience is one of the things you can't fake, you know a dog that has hunted a lot when you see him. The dogs I remember as being the best were hunted hard and often at a young age.
As for a young dog being steady, I don't worry about it too much that first season. Just tie the dog out.
Posted on 9/4/17 at 9:03 am to PaBon
Are they not gator bait after 8 mos?
Mine made first hunt at 5 months. Just bring them to a low pressure hunt without a bunch of buddies and don't expect perfection. Let them get used to hunting. It's ok to help them with their retireves. Once they pick it up, it'll be natural.
Mine made first hunt at 5 months. Just bring them to a low pressure hunt without a bunch of buddies and don't expect perfection. Let them get used to hunting. It's ok to help them with their retireves. Once they pick it up, it'll be natural.
Posted on 9/4/17 at 9:47 am to PaBon
Dog size matters not to a hungry or mad gator , the only dog I've seen crunched by one was a 90lb lab
No dog is ready to hunt until they are steady....and can honor another dog fetching
A non slip retriever is ready to hunt - period
No dog is ready to hunt until they are steady....and can honor another dog fetching
A non slip retriever is ready to hunt - period
Posted on 9/4/17 at 9:49 am to choupiquesushi
Force fetching before a dog is steady. Jesus h Christ.........
Posted on 9/4/17 at 9:50 am to Redfish2010
quote:
vice. I brought mine to the rice fields in teal season right at 1 year old and put the gun down to work him. I've found skeet shooting really helps with steady training.
No. More reps and command re enforcement dioes I have seen skeet shooting set many many pups back
This post was edited on 9/4/17 at 9:54 am
Posted on 9/4/17 at 9:57 am to CajunCommander
quote:
Are they not gator bait after 8 mos? Mine made first hunt at 5 months. Just bring them to a low pressure hunt without a bunch of buddies and don't expect perfection. Let them get used to hunting. It's ok to help them with their retireves. Once they pick it up, it'll be natural.
I agree with this if handler is not shooting and holding / releasing pup.
And most of the birds are line of sight marks
You want to build marking at this age and that pup is deke proof
Posted on 9/4/17 at 9:58 am to choupiquesushi
I am confused by your last statement.Most all competition retrievers are forced before they are "steadied". Traditionally dogs are started on force after teeth changed which is about 6 months. I have never seen a dog that I would consider steady at 6 months. Bringing a pup hunting and thinking I have a hunting dog are 2 separate things. Make sure you understand the difference. If you bring a dog hunting make sure it is a positive experience and you bring at any age. A dog does not reach his full ability until 3-5 years of age. Take your time.
Posted on 9/4/17 at 10:08 am to Ppro
I have won field trials with dogs that weren't force fetched - IMO .
Point is once a dog thinks breaking is ok it is damn nea impossible to fix. Then they start not only breaking on the shot but breaking on the safety clicking
I am not a fan of force fetching never have been never will be
I f my dog is going to balk at fetching - it probably has a good. Enough reason for me.
Point is once a dog thinks breaking is ok it is damn nea impossible to fix. Then they start not only breaking on the shot but breaking on the safety clicking
I am not a fan of force fetching never have been never will be
I f my dog is going to balk at fetching - it probably has a good. Enough reason for me.
Posted on 9/4/17 at 10:10 am to choupiquesushi
quote:
Bringing a pup hunting and thinking I have a hunting dog are 2 separate things. Make sure you understand the difference. If you bring a dog hunting make sure it is a positive experience and you bring at any age. A dog does not reach his full ability until 3-5 years of age. Take your time.
This is spot on
Posted on 9/4/17 at 10:24 am to 07Tiger
I had mine working at 10 months after 2 months of training.. Talk about drive...
She would wait in the boat while we were drinking coffee before the hunt...
She would wait in the boat while we were drinking coffee before the hunt...
This post was edited on 9/4/17 at 10:26 am
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