Waterfowl Retriever Training Program
When a dog enters our training program, we’ll start by evaluating what they know and identify where to start their training. All dogs will have a different level of understanding and may need to brush up on some commands that were taught at home.
All dogs will start in our basics, unless they have already been through our basics program or similar. Basics start out simple with lead work and learning to walk at heel, sitting obeying simple commands. We also work on collar conditioning ( teaching the dog how to work with the e collar) this can be categorized as obedience. Once the obedience is done we will transition into force fetch with teaches the dog to hold a bumper as well as how to turn off collar pressure and fetching on command. While we are working on the basics we will also be working on fieldwork like introductions to gunfire, birds, dog blinds, bumpers, decoys, duck and goose calls, water etc. This training program shapes your dog to have a successful first year of hunting.
Once they have a good set of basics we will start:
Pushing development in the field with different scenarios that simulate real hunting
Throwing marks in different areas, land and water to build confidence and get them firing on all cylinders
Repeating the training to get them ready for their first year of hunting
Working at the dogs pace and push when we can but never faster than the dogs ability
Next a dog enters into an area we call transition work (when the dog’s basics are good, when they have a desirable attitude in the field, and when they are showing an understanding of everything that is asked up to this point). Transition work builds upon everything they were taught in basics. It works toward the dog being able to sit remotely on the whistle and take directions via hand signals. We refer to this stage as running blinds and handling. This part of training takes a lot of time and patience. We will also work on more complex fieldwork and teach the dog to mark multiple birds as well as increase the distance and overall difficulty. Most dogs that work through the transition portion of training are for the serious hunter that wants a well-rounded dog skilled enough to pick up all birds, even the ones they can't see.
Waterfowl Retriever Training Skills
Drill Work and Fieldwork
Our trainers break up the work into two types of training, drill work, and fieldwork. Drill work is repetitive training required to master commands and has three formal phases (obedience, collar conditioning, and force-fetch). Fieldwork takes us out on the training ground with a day full of different setups and has two formal phases (introductions to hunting and marking). Fieldwork teaches the dog how to apply what they’ve learned and advance their training into real-life hunting scenarios like retrieving ducks and geese, swimming, being comfortable with gunfire and in blinds.
Drill Work Basics
Obedience
Collar Conditioning
Force-fetch
Fieldwork Basics
Introductions
Marking
Drill Work Basics
Obedience
When a dog enters the program they’ll all go through the same drills for heel, sit and come on a lead. For some training dogs, this is their first experience with the commands and for others, they will already have mastered it. When the dog responds to heel, sit and come to our satisfaction they’ll be trained off-lead, and once they’ve mastered that they’ll move onto collar conditioning.
Obedience Milestones
On-lead Obedience Milestones
Walks at a heel with a limp leash
Sits on a whistle
Comes when asked
Off-lead Obedience Milestones (done by the trainer’s side)
Walks at a heel without a leash
Sits quickly when asked
Comes when asked
Collar Conditioning
Collar conditioning runs through what the training dog learned in obedience (sit and come) but reinforces the behavior with collar pressure. We want the dog to understand what the e-collar pressure is for and how to avoid it. Dogs need to respond to the pressure, change behavior, and obey the command. Moving from avoidance to obedience must happen before trainers and owners can expect a dog to take positive redirection in the field.
When you’re out hunting with the dog, collar pressure helps change the dog’s behavior, like a subtle tug on the leash or a tap on the shoulder. If your dog has to be burned with an e-collar every time you hunt with it, either you as the owner don't understand how to use the e-collar, or the dog is unsure of what you are asking.
Collar Conditioning Milestones
Reinforced “sit” on command without avoidance
Reinforced “come” on command without avoidance
Force-fetch
Dogs learn two major skills in this portion of training, conditioned hold and fetch. Training dogs are introduced to these skills on the force-fetch table, then off the table. Then they’ll repeat what they’ve learned using an e-collar, first on the table, then on the ground. These training steps build on one another so it’s important for the dog to completely master the skills in each scenario before moving on to the next.
First, they have to hold a bumper without dropping it. They will be asked to hold the bumper while walking sitting walking at heel etc. Then reach and fetch for the bumper or bird when asked. Once they have a good grasp of hold and fetch, we move them off the table and repeat the skills on the ground. In the third phase, we train the dog to respond to the e-collar for the commands. At the end of force-fetch, your dog will reach and fetch a bird without dropping it while walking at heel.
Force-fetch Milestones
On-lead Force-fetch Milestones
Holds a bumper while sitting and does not drop it
Reaches a fetches a bumper
Reaches and fetches off the ground and returns holding the bumper and delivers to hand
Gun Dog
Field Work Basics
Fieldwork covers a range of new skills that you’ll apply while you’re hunting. There are portions of fieldwork we introduce alongside obedience like an introduction to gunfire, behavior around birds, and getting comfortable in dog blinds. However, we wait to judge, or correct, the dog’s behavior in these areas until they show a mastery of their drill work exercises. Then we know they are ready to test out what they have learned in more action-based scenarios and we’re prepared to correct any unwanted behaviors in a way they’ll understand.
Introductions to Hunting
Dogs at the Fowl Water Outdoors kennel will be exposed to gunfire, water, birds, and dog blinds early on to get them comfortable with these things. Once a dog enters the Field Work phase, we’ll work with them to ensure they’re confident when they’re out hunting alongside you.
Intro to Hunting Milestones
No response and no disruption around gunfire
Will pick up birds and carry them properly
Will enter their dog blind on command
Swims well in water
Marking
Marking is teaching the dog to use its eyes to get it to the area of the fallen bird or bumper. This is one of the most important qualities a retriever will learn if they are going to be your skilled hunting dog. Marking differs in difficulty, as does the training. We train for hunting in various terrains, to different ground cover (grass, mud, etc.), to being on land or in water.
Marking Milestones
Will come back upon retrieve and deliver to hand
Will mark bird in the water
Swims well
