First Time Trainer Needs Help!!

[Bunk79]

This is my first time training a dog for water retrieves from a puppy to adult. I have a 16 month old male weimaraner and I've been working him to be a duck dog. Last year was the first year I have ever duck hunted and I'd like to have my own dog. He is still pretty antsy and I'm wondering if it would be a mistake to take him this season. Will he be more of a bother than a help? Any feedback would be appreciated.

*I've never owned a Weimaraner before this one*

[Jeff]

I would suggest getting on a training program and sticking to it. Obedience would be the first thing i would work on. Most retrieving breeds will do just that retrieve. What you relly have to work on is obedience. It isn't as much fun as teaching retrieves and hand signals, but OB is you cornerstone of all dog work. Until you have a solid foundation in OB, you will have problems with everything else. As far as hunting it boils down to what you and your hunting partners can put up with during a hunt. If your dog breaks and flares birds are you all going to be po'd all morning? Will your dog listen well enough at the boat ramp to keep from getting run over? (the boat ramp is probably the most dangerous place for your hunting dog) You need to awnser these quesitons for yourself and then decide weather or not you can hunt your dog. Picking birds up may not be that big of a problem, but sitting still for five hours may be. just my opinion.

[BrettG]

Always plan on the first few times hunting with a young dog or the first few sets of birds with an older dog you must work the dog. I prefer not to even shoot much early until I see the dog is adjusted to the situation. A dog that is not under control could be the most dangerous thing around a blind.