What "gives" with this dog?

[stitch]

I have a 10 month old lab that is bird crazy....

He charges out after ducks harder than any dog I have seen.....but when he picks up the duck, it is a slow walk back!!!!

Example: today I shot a mallard that drifted 75-80 yards off. Duck wasn't dead. Dog charges after the duck....breaking through ice...the fight is on. If I had his trip out after this duck and catching it on video.....one of the most awesome sights you have seen, especially breaking the ice!

Then.....picks up the duck, and it's a slow slow slow walk back. I know he is a puppy, never had a dog like this. He goes out harder than any dog I have seen....the slow walk back is killing me.

Thoughts? I assume he will grow out of this? Training issue?

[hntrpat1]

Who cares he brought the bird back. My dog is a ninja slow but does what she's supposed to so why give a damn.

[jdaves]

It's the broken ice. You probably wouldn't return real fast either if you were walking barefoot across that stuff.

[stitch]

Who cares he brought the bird back. My dog is a ninja slow but does what she's supposed to so why give a damn.

.....because if I am hunting with my buddies and we down 5-6 ducks....at current pace it will take him a total of 30 seconds to get to them....but 19.5 minutes coming back. In that 20 minutes there are a lot of ducks to shoot

[stitch]

It's the broken ice. You probably wouldn't return real fast either if you were walking barefoot across that stuff.

He does it when no ice is present....I was using the ice example to show he has no issues come hell or high water going out.....regardless of situation....sloooooowwww walk back

[ACEINTHEHOLE]

I am no dog expert, but I would do some basic here work in the yard with a long lead, when you call the dog let him know that it is not an at his leisure command. Again, no dog expert but when I raised squirrel dogs this is how I taught them here meant here no matter what.

[the tree]

Had a dog did same thing the start of her first season. Someone told me it was the "taste" of ducks.

[the tree]

Had a dog did the same thing at start of her first season. Someone said it was the "taste" of the duck.

[Bonecollecter1111]

i got a 10 month old one that works awesome when training, will bust her booty in water, or on ground with bumpers or birds, but refuses to leave blind to retrieve a duck while hunting, i at wits end

[stitch]

Had a dog did same thing the start of her first season. Someone told me it was the "taste" of ducks.

I have heard the same thing. What I can't put together, is that i trained him all year with a "wing" attached to bumpers. Did your dog get "past it"?

[the tree]

Saved wings in freezer for training. But suspect the real birds might have oiled their feathers. Wouldn't have a problem with teal, but she hated shovlers. Might want to use some fresh ducks and get her real excited to retrieve after the hunting.

[the tree]

Used to hunt with a Cajun that kept coffee can of rocks in the boat to throw at downed birds trying to help his dog locate birds. Said by seasons end he could throw a rock 100 yards and hit his target! Might want to post your question on dog forum.

[QUACKADDIC]

Save some of those mississippi mallards (bootlip) and train with a duck, if you have not been ddoing this already . We keep birds frozen and thaw them out to train during the summer. Also don't force to hard, not all dogs are hard charging. I have a male that is full blast both ways and my female is fast out and a little slower coming back.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

If the dog has the kind of drive that you say (don't doubt you a bit), then a check rope and higher expectations of the dog and getting that point across to him could be your problem. It could quite possibly be a show of defiance towards you.

10 months, lots of drive, hunting well, I'd get the pup on a check rope and get the point across to him- within reasonable terms and with logical thinking. All the rules and terms of training a pup and the foundational keys to dog training should always be there. Meaning: be clear, be quick, be the human. Easy does it, but he sounds like he is at the age where you can demand more of him. I don't know about the taste deal, certainly I am not disputing that logic, but the pup may be trying you. Try approaching him as he walking in and see what he does.

Best to take this to the dog forum, those folks can help.

[ragon]

is dog collar conditioned, if not you may want to think about this process, if the dog knows here and takes his time then the only way is corrections to speed him up, but be careful about the process of introduceing him to it at 10 months with out help and would not start conditioning him in a hunting situation, probably would leave a bad taste in his mouth!

best to seek out help from someone who has done this you can screw a dog up with a ecollar!!!!!!!!!!!