Black lab @ 6mo old. Already has basic obedience. Wants her to retrieve dove/quail/ducks/upland. This is for my brother's pup, so Dallas area preferred. Please share recommendations (good and bad). Thanks!

-Trap pigeons
-Go to a place you can shoot a gun
-Kill pigeon
-Toss pigeon in the air after shooting the gun
-Have dog go get it

Work your way up in loudness to where you just rip some feathers out of the pigeons wings and toss it in the air and then shoot it with your shotgun.

My dad has done this with all his gun dogs and it always works. He usually started with a 22 pistol then went into shotguns so they wouldn't get gun shy.

If he wants to do it himself, I recommend Evan Grahm's Smart Works program and join a local retriever club. If he wants a pro to do the training, Rody Best, Jeff Brown, or Kirk Wickman... none of which are near DFW though.

Wildrose Texas

Are you wanting to send it somewhere for 6months? Even if not, you can go lessons with Guy every couple weeks to teach what to work on

Check out Eddie Noga and Zion Kennels. East of Dallas in Fannin County.

FancyKetchup14 said:

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-Trap pigeons
-Go to a place you can shoot a gun
-Kill pigeon
-Toss pigeon in the air after shooting the gun
-Have dog go get it

Work your way up in loudness to where you just rip some feathers out of the pigeons wings and toss it in the air and then shoot it with your shotgun.

My dad has done this with all his gun dogs and it always works. He usually started with a 22 pistol then went into shotguns so they wouldn't get gun shy.

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I think I messed up with my Golden, by shooting a shotgun over her too soon. I wish I would have thought to try with a .22, like you said.

Allow me to clarify. He wants to send the lab to a trainer for 6-8 weeks gun dog training. She is 9 months old (correction) now. He lost his previous lab to cancer a couple of years ago. She was a proven hunter and he did it himself following Water Dog program, but now he travels too much to do it and wants to find a very good program to get her ready for hunting next year (not Field trials). Anywhere convenient to Dallas or Houston would be workable.

skelso said:

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If he wants to do it himself, I recommend Evan Grahm's Smart Works program and join a local retriever club. If he wants a pro to do the training, Rody Best, Jeff Brown, or Kirk Wickman... none of which are near DFW though.

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X100. Add Brent Walls with Watermark near Giddings.

Rody Best @ Best Retrievers in Paige.

My 9 month old lab is currently training with Blake Dobesh at Dobesh Family Waterfowl Retrievers & Kennels outside of Wharton and I have been really impressed with how far she has progressed in 4 weeks. He doesn't have his own web page, but they have a Facebook page with photos and training videos.