Question about my 3 1/2 yo female british lab

[ducknbuck1]

I have been out of the duck hunting for years and got back into it this year. I got a british lab 3 1/2 years ago and didn't know if I would ever get back into duck hunting. She loves to retrieve and is pretty good with basic commands. Is it a waste of time to try to send her now to a trainer to just make her a meat dog? I don't care about hunt test or anything like that, just would love to be able to take her hunting and have her know what to do from a blind.

[GulfCoast]

It depends. Has she been shot over? I have met a fellow in Texas that takes older rescue dogs, gets an ILP, and puts HT titles on them. So, it can certainly be done as far as making a good meat dog. It just depends on the dog. And the trainer to which you send the dog.

[ducknbuck1]

No she has never been shot over. I was going to do that first to see if she shys away from it before I spend the money to send her to find out that it won't work.

[GulfCoast]

Introduce the dog to gunfire in little bitty steps, and then you should be fine. I would brush up the basic OB to a high level, sit/here/heel/walk at heel, and save yourself some money.

[mfalkner]

I think you can do it if it's in the dog to begin with. Like Mark said don't rush things, don't subscribe to anybody's timeline. Read your dog's responses, but I'm betting you find a dog that loves to work and is happier being useful.

Lots of ways to carefully introduce gunfire, but I'd do it with a partner. Sit your dog and stay with it, have someone shoot a cap gun or 22 at a distance and watch the dogs reaction. If no fear, next shot maybe toss a fun bumper for him to retrieve and then move closer in stages. Then repeat the process at a distance with a shotgun. You want to stay calm, if the dog gets nervous a quiet stroke is enough, if you start talking they may take that as a signal to worry about the noise.

Have fun and keep posting, lots of experience on this board.

[ducknbuck1]

Thanks guys!