The training of a basic gundog or advanced gundog is a process that takes both patience and time. Retrievers learn through the repetition of the training procedure in a day-in day-out procedure.
The process begins with the teaching of basic obedience. This consists of the introduction to birds, the bumper, and the gun. Obedience consists of sitting, staying, coming, and lying down on a one-word command.
In conjunction with obedience, the dog is taught the proper way to hold a bumper and a bird. This is the basis for all force breaking, which is the key to a great retriever.
Retriever Training: $450 per month. This includes boarding, birds, and heartworm treatment.
Obedience Training: $350 per month.
Basic Gundog
A basic gundog is a dog that has mastered obedience, been introduced to the gun and live birds, is capable of completing double marks, delivers birds to hand, and has gone through the first stages of force breaking.
The average length of time for a dog to complete basic gundog training work is four to six months. The aim of this program is to produce a dog that has a strong drive to go on land or in water and is obedient.
Obedience
With the introduction of obedience, the dog will learn to heel off the leash, sit, stay, and come to the owner when called and ignore any distractions. The general length of time for a dog to complete obedience training is two to four months, depending on the dog’s ability to comprehend the commands.
My obedience program is tailored to the individual dog’s personality. It is gentle enough for the “family pet,” yet rigid enough for the most hard-charging dog. However, all training is based on the individual dog’s ability, not a “wholesale” method.
Obedience Training: $350 per month. Remember: An obedient dog is a happy dog.
Force Breaking
Force breaking is the process where the dog is conditioned to give a wanted response in conjunction with a stimulus (such as a light shock from the electric collar). All gundogs must be forced in order to have a dog that delivers consistency.
An excellent example is a dog that is in extremely cold, icy water, with the temperature in the teens. An unforced dog may complete a couple of retrieves, at most. A forced dog will go no matter what the conditions may be or how many retrieves are required.
Land forcing is the basis for all lining and handling. The dog is taught to take a line and to hold that line through this process. This is, by far, the most important element in gundog training, and is, by nature, the longest. This process can take anywhere from four months to one year, dependant upon what level the owner wishes his gundog to reach.
After completing land forcing, each dog is then introduced to lining in the water. This is called water forcing. Since the dog has already been land forced, this process usually proceeds at a much quicker pace.
Once the dog has learned to take a line in the water, he is then taught to stop on the whistle and cast just as he would on land. This enables the handler to direct his dog to the area of the bumper or downed bird.
At this point, the dog has reached what I call the “thousand blind stage.” This is when the trainer has run enough blinds that the dog learns to trust the handler, not his own instincts, to find the bird.
Lining
This is where the dog takes a direction to start a retrieve from the handler. By placing a hand in front of the dog’s head, he is pointed in the direction in which he is to begin retrieving until stopped by the handler or until the retrieve is completed.
Handling
This is the process where the handler or hunter can stop the dog with one blast of the whistle. Then, the handler can direct or “cast” the dog to go in the desired direction of a bumper or bird.
Advanced Gundog
An advanced gundog is a dog that possesses the ability to perform multi-memory retrieves. This dog is so completely forced that he is able to run multiple blinds up to 300 yards or longer. This dog is obedient in every direction on land and in the water. At this point, the advanced dog is totally obedient to vocal commands and is able to remain in the blind or boat until the completion of the hunt.
