Young Chance is approaching 50 retrieves so far in his first year in the blind. I am proud of him, but there have been issues. For some reason, he has been swimming half way to the bird and then for no apparent reason he turns around and comes back to the blind. After two or three casts, he finally makes the retrieve. It's odd because every time he hits the water wide open with all sorts of enthusiasm only to eventually turn back. I have attempted to stop him on the whistle and cast "BACK!". I am also working him with dead birds in the yard at home. Suggestions?



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Maybe working with him at the same distance all the time sticks in his memory. If this is the case, maybe have him make longer runs/retrieves if you can.
I don't know anything about training or hunt with my dog (yet). Hunting conditions haven't allowed me to hunt with him. Not to mention mine is only 8ish months old. It's just a guess.

BTW, he sure is a pretty dog. Hopefully mine will turn out looking like that.

ur dog looks amazing. i wouldnt stress it much, he'll work it out himself i believe.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. Today I worked him on ground with dead ducks and he did perfect. I think he's having trouble marking on the water for some reason. He's near perfect with a bumper in water, but a dead duck is a different story.

Just like most of the guys said, stretch him out some and get him use to longer retrieves. After that start working on force fetching which turns into "back". Once he understands what "back" means with the E-collar, you make him "back" 100-150 yard blinds. He will get the hang of it. Also try freezing some of your ducks and using those for training.

Thanks cbrown. I need to get the wife out there helping me with some longer retrieves. He is forced fetched, but that "BACK" isn't working real good for me right now. He is doing good with "OVER" and left and right hand signals. Today was much better, no recasts!



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Bring him to the same spot you hunt and get rid of training with the bumpers, i had the same damn problem and quit using the bumpers and started bringing her where i hunt (conditions) and use dead birds and throw them all ove the flat, get him use to his hunting conditions al ittle more, don't worry he'll get it.

On the Back thing, get him to sit in front of you about 10 yards and stay and throw the dummy behind him and give him the back command while doing the hand signal. Do this over and over. Good luck and happy hunting, Love to train dogs.

Great looking dog.

Beautiful dog!!!. Have you done force to pile and water force with him? Has he been collar conditioned?

Well, let me back up and say I bought Chance as a started dog at one year old. He spent another four months with the trainer. I'm not always sure of terminology in this business, but he is force fetched and we have worked piles and wagon wheels. Prior to the season he was sitting on the whistle at long distances and taking hand signals pretty good. Even responding to the whistle in water and taking directional commands. Then the season rolls around and he seems to not mark well from the blind. I have been taking him out of the blind, lining him up on the bird(most within 50yds) and casting him, but for some reason he hasn't been as aggressive with ducks as he has been with bumpers. He has shown so much promise that I have been very surprised at this behavior. Especially since he picked up 12 teal and 15 doves in september with no problems.

You guys have given some good advice. I am working him with ducks after the hunt and at home. He's catching on.

I Dont claim know everything, but it sounds like either you need to work on longer marks, or he is unsure and is looking for help. A buddy had problems like this and it stemmed from running to many blinds and not enough marks, he started to work more marks into the training and he got better. Just my thoughts.

Ryder. You have a GREAT lookin boy there. Get him doing longer retrieves. Like a 100 yards or more. He need to learn that when you send him he needs to keep going til you stop him. Get a buddy to go out and throw for you or set him remote and you walk out and toss the bird and then walk back. Make sure he can see the distance and the mark. Good luck, I bet he gets it.........Duckdon