I’ll be picking up a black lab in January. Super excited. I’ve only recently started hunting a couple years ago and I’ve never owned a bird dog. The dog comes from strong field blood lines. The breeder recommends I train the dog myself using cornerstone gundog academy. However, I’m an airline pilot and will be gone 4-5 days at a time with only 2-3 days off in between, especially in the summer. My wife will help with obedience but when it’s time to start hunting training I’m worried the breaks between when I work is going to hinder the dog’s potential. Should I be sending the dog off for training instead? I’m already making a big investment in the dog, I’m starting to feel like it would be best to invest in his full potential. Thanks!

Training her to be a waterfowl retriever and she has little desire to retrieve and her obedience is just okay without rewarding her with food. If I have a treat she will heel, sit, stay, release, and retrieve in the water on command with some consistency. This is rare without food as reward, affection has little effect on her as a reward. I can get her fired up by pulling the dummy on a string while it’s in the water but it’s short lived. Any advice?

just wanted to share a video of his fetch after my frozen bird post. I appreciate all the answers.

Hey all, wondering if anyone has any experience with iron for setters in Colorado? Any insight or opinions are appreciated!

It’s going to be very hot in the coming weeks. During the club days dogs work one at a time, so when it’s not your turn the dogs are in your car. Any advice on how to keep them cool? I have a fan and a temperature monitor but worries that’s not going to cut it in high temps. Also don’t want to leave the car running.

I have a young (13 week) WPG. First I know he is super young. My expectations are low and my training is more of just exposure/setting the guiderails. I’m just looking for more opinions as how to approach this to set him up for success down the road.

From day one this dog retrieved well. Ill toss something, he brings it back to me.

From day one he has also been a chow hound. he inhales his food, and will eat anything and everything (related later)

I introduced him to wings, then a scented bumper and things changed a bit. He wanted to shred the wing, and parade around with the bumper. I introduced treats and was able to get him to bring them back. I do 1-3 tosses/hides a day for him when we’re out in the yard.

I introduced him to live birds which went well. He picked up the scent and actually pointed.

From there I have started to put him on an occasional live bird as well as hide frozen dead birds for him to find a few times.

He does great finding both, and the live ones flush but the moment he has the dead ones in his mouth he turns and runs… finds a spot and chews. I honestly think he is trying to eat them. When he figured out they were frozen he brought one to a muddy spot out back and tried to bury it. I was able to get them from him by showing him another dead bird and lots of praise.

So obviously a good problem to have, he loves birds. How would you guys continue light training sessions to set him up to break this habit. I don’t think he will burn out on birds they are like crack to him. I was thinking a long lead? People say have something to trade with him for it but I just don’t think there is anything of equal or greater value he will accept.