Labrador retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States. As their name implies, retrievers can be trained to be excellent hunting dogs. Raising a lab to be a competent bird dog takes more than simply bringing it along for a hunt and letting its natural instincts take over. The training required is a rewarding process and can usually be completed without professional help.
Things You'll Need
- Gun
- Body of water or wading pool
- Bird dummies
- Artificial bird scent
Instructions
Train your dog young. The older a dog is before being introduced to being a good hunting dog--traits such as a willingness to swim and being comfortable around guns--the more difficult it will be to turn them into an effective hunting dog.
Teach your dog basic obedience. Several of the tricks taught in basic obedience--sitting, heeling and fetching--will prove useful when teaching your dog to hunt. More importantly, a general understanding of the owner-pet relationship is essential. To be a successful hunter, the dog must know its owner is in charge.
Take your dog with you to a firing range. A dog is naturally spooked by a gun at first, as the loud noise is foreign to them. By making the sound something with which the dog is familiar, you can prevent him from panicking during a hunt.
Teach your dog to swim. A bird dog that is afraid of the water is not a bird dog. It is important your dog be able to scare birds into the air and retrieve birds that land in the water.
Spray a toy with bird scents. This way you can teach your dog to fetch the toy without chewing on it. Dogs will naturally chase thrown toys. But to teach a dog to drop retrieved items at your feet, practice removing the toy physically while giving a release word and immediately rewarding with a treat. Do this for several minutes every day. Progress to bird dummies when your dog has learned to retrieve properly.
Combine retrieving and shooting. Fire your gun while launching a dummy. This will get the dog used to hearing the gun, then scanning for a falling bird.