Retrievers: Dogs such as the Labrador retriever and the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever have been bred over hundreds of years to be good gun dogs. This doesn't mean, however, that it is any easier today to get them to work than it was back then.
Command Basics: Whoa, No, Kennel, Sit, and Come are very important basic commands. Before you take your dog out into the field, it should know and obey all of these basic commands. You can't expect your dog to listen and obey when he is running free if he doesn't listen to you when he's on a leash. Teach your dog in the real situation of public fields and not just at home.
Field Training: Once your dog learns those commands and he has been taught not to be frightened by gun noise you can start field training. Start with dummy training. Your dog must learn that he is meant to retrieve something and starting with a dummy is the best way to teach him what he is suppose to do.
Dummy Training Methods: Be sure to choose a dummy that is suitable to your dog. Dummies may be made of plastic or fabric and some are made to look like game birds. You'll know he's ready when your dog has learned to gently retrieve the dummy without shaking or damaging it.
Sometimes switching from the dummy to a real bird confuses or upsets the dog; just switch back to the dummy and add some feathers and streamers similar to the bird you are hunting and work with him for a few more days. A decoy streamer will copy the movement of a bird that is not quite dead, so that your dog will not be scared when he comes across the real thing.
Decoys: Transition to the real bird slowly if your dog shows fear the first time he is asked to retrieve it. You can even get a stuffed duck or pheasant from a taxidermist and use it as a decoy dummy.
While it is possible to use ordinary items this may not be the case in some circumstances.
For instance, it will certainly be necessary to get a case if you intend to crate train your dog and you may want to purchase a clicker or a noisy chain. If you are training a hunting dog then you will want more specific dog training equipment to help with the process of training.
A clicker is used to help with positive reinforcement. Every time you praise your dog you click the clicker and give him a treat and so he recognizes the noise to mean he has done well and is being rewarded.
On the other hand a noisy chain is used to throw at the feet of your dog as negative reinforcement when he has done something wrong. The noise of the chain hitting the floor is irritating to the dog and will certainly get his attention. You should never use the chain to reprimand the dog directly and it should only be used to make the loud noise.
There are other more unusual training aids. You can get remote spray collars that work like ordinary collars but have a small water spray attached. When your dog misbehaves you can click the button and the water will spray into his face.
This will invariably stop him in his tracks and after using this a couple of times it is very unlikely he will do the same thing again for fear of getting water sprayed in his face.
Walking big dogs can be a real challenge. Specialist collars can help. Harnesses give you much more control over a boisterous dog that usually has the run of you when out on walks and the choker chain works by tightening around the dog's neck but quickly loosening again when the tension on the lead loosens.
Electric collars give out a small electrical shock to your dog although this form of punishment is best for hunting dogs and teaching them not to approach certain harmful animals like snakes. This dog training equipment is all fairly inexpensive and will make your life a lot easier when first training your dog.
Both Rebecca Foxton & Marc Lindsay are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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