| easoned waterfowl hunters – be they | | | | the day begins and as well ensure that if you are |
| duck, Canadian Geese or other avian waterfowl | | | | not hunting over water that you keep your dog |
| nothing takes the place of a trusted and | | | | well watered – less the dog become |
| experienced bird dog. Simple as that. The | | | | dehydrated as a matter of due course during the |
| helpfulness, instinct to please their master and | | | | hunting day. If the dog is extra thirsty how he |
| intelligence as well as determination have amazed | | | | can be expected to perform top notch. |
| and gratified hunters since the dawn of recorded | | | | It may sound contrite but let your dog have |
| hunting endeavors. Responsible hunters will make | | | | some fun before the intense work begins. These |
| it their primary rule that they do everything within | | | | creatures need to work off some of their |
| their powers to retrieve down game birds and | | | | energies before getting down to business. Its not |
| waterfowl. Nothing is better for this purpose than | | | | all work and no play. When you are setting up for |
| a trusted “bird dog”. | | | | your hunt allow your retriever to run around. |
| In choosing and training your waterfowl canine | | | | It’s an amazing point of hunting and |
| hunting companion what are the basic | | | | wildlife experience that if you do not allow your |
| considerations when it comes to choosing and | | | | retriever to “run around” they well |
| training your waterfowl hunting dog? | | | | may be too excited to listen or hunt well. |
| The first question often is – “What | | | | When tracking downed birds give your dog its |
| kind of dog is best?” Is their a certain | | | | nose. Many an experienced hunter has bet good |
| breed, size or age? First and foremost it’s | | | | money with his chums on where he would swear |
| a matter of training and routine. Great or even | | | | the bird or waterfowl had fallen only to see his |
| good bird hunting dogs are made, not born that | | | | dog or dogs pick up the scent and track the prey |
| way. It all depends on your situation. What are | | | | for a considerable distance. The olfactory senses |
| your boarding facilities that are available? What | | | | of these dogs are plain amazing. Once you have |
| dogs are available to you – both available | | | | your dogs pointed in the correct direction you will |
| and allowable within your financial budget afforded | | | | be doing everyone (including the dogs) a great |
| to your hobby and passion of hunting?? Lastly | | | | favor by letting them do what they do best. |
| consider the type of hunting environs and game | | | | After all is that not why you went to all the |
| birds that you will encounter and be involved with | | | | trouble and expense of obtaining, training and |
| in the hunt. Then start to make your choices. | | | | bringing these hunting canines along in the first |
| To start off, each bird dog is a clean slate. | | | | place. |
| It’s up to you to train the animal best. as | | | | Remember to keep a first aid kit for your dog |
| much as you may have seen effective retrievers | | | | with you in the field. Receivers working hard are |
| in action, it is the case that these dogs did not | | | | subject to numerous ailments. Your vet will help |
| come with the instinct intact to be bird dogs; | | | | you assemble an effective first-aid kit. You may |
| rather they were trained in a regular and | | | | want to carry gauzes and tapes, an anti-bacterial |
| consistent fashion from day one. Not only that | | | | ointment, an ophthalmic ointment in case of eye |
| but training has to be repeated and reinforced | | | | injuries and a pair of heavy duty tweezers for |
| again and again, over and over. It’s a case | | | | removing embedded objects. |
| of regular, ongoing and consistent lessons. Next | | | | It can be said that every dog has its day. So is it |
| don’t make the mistake of thinking , that | | | | with hunting dogs. Some days the hunt will be |
| even though your dog impresses you with his | | | | going lickedy split. Other days it can be just plain |
| great skills and bird dog hound dog instincts that | | | | disaster. You will have your exceptional hunting |
| he can be trained in the one or two week short | | | | days of record and days where everything will |
| time period before hunting season. Start to train | | | | seem to go wrong and even be classified and |
| your agent promptly the minute the dog comes | | | | remembered as a disaster. Your hunting dog is a |
| into your care, then continue to train and | | | | reflection of you, your hunting and preparation |
| reinforce on a most regular , ongoing and | | | | skills. Your dog may well have off days. |
| consistent basis. Practice makes perfect and there | | | | Be patient with the animal. If the day is a major |
| are no shortcuts to make up for hard work in | | | | disaster it is best not to take out your |
| training that is more than consistent and regular in | | | | frustrations and blame the animal. The animal can |
| nature, regularity and thoroughness. | | | | only do its best and if blamed or scolded |
| If there is one factor to stress it is that your dog | | | | unnecessarily be only confused and more |
| should be in good shape. Exercise your canine on | | | | frustrated. |
| a regular basis. How else can you expect your | | | | It can always be said that the worst day hunting |
| animal, not to be labored and perform best in the | | | | waterfowl – whether it be ducks or |
| hunt? Next ensure that your dog has a full | | | | Canadian geese is always better than the best |
| stomach – with a good breakfast before | | | | day at work. |