Just got my first bird dog - a 6 month old Lab. Where do I even start with training?
I'm brand new to both hunting and bird dogs. Picked up a yellow Lab puppy from a good breeder, and I want to do right by him. I've been working on basic obedience (sit, stay, come) in the yard, but I'm not sure what to focus on next for actual hunting. I'll be hunting ducks and pheasants with my Browning Silver Hunter 12ga.
1 Answer
First off, congrats on the new pup! You're on the right track with the basics - that foundation is everything. For a young Lab, I'd focus hard on building a solid recall and introducing him to birds. Get some clipped wing pigeons or a pheasant wing from a trainer and let him play with it, building that prey drive. Once he's steady on his obedience, you can start simple retrieves with a dummy in the yard. Don't rush into water or gunfire yet. What's your pup's name, and how's he doing with 'come' when he's distracted?
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