Hunting Retriever Training

There are many key ingredients in building a solid Waterfowl Hunting Retriever.
Premier Gundogs Hunting Retriever Training advances your dog thru what we call "Formal Training" with time tested, fundamentally
sound, training techniques.

Most all Retrievers are taught the conditioned retrieve with solid commands of "Fetch, Hold & Out". Also, during this stage of training,
Collar Conditioning is applied to all the taught obedience commands. We call this Started Level Training. These techniques are
then applied to single mark retrieves in a "mock" waterfowl hunt on both land and water. Our goal is a very realistic setup for the
simulated duck hunts. This process general takes around 3-4 months and you will have a nice Started Retriever when done that is able
to pick up ducks and geese at nice distances that the dog sees fall. Your dog will be accustomed to; lots of calling, watching for
incoming ducks, taught marking off the gun, be steadied up while shooting and able to maneuver thru decoys during the retrieve.

Advanced Level Training is where we build the finished waterfowl dog. Most waterfowler's truly do need a dog that can run blind
retrieves, so the dog can pick up birds which it has not seen fall. There is nothing more frustrating then watching cripples swim away into
the marsh. Once completed your dog will be able to pick up birds anywhere at great distances. Dogs also now advance to hunting from
duck boats, ground force blinds and stands. Multiple marks with doubles and triples are common during this stage of training.

Here is a 10 month old, that has just finished the beginning stages
of our Started Level Training, now learning several skills by
incorporating the “PLACE” board. The youngster is taught to
"Watch", taught patience while calling, marking off the gun, steady to
shot and then the retrieve.

The key to success in these beginning stages of our
Waterfowl training is to advance the dog with attrition
and realism of setup. Notice the youngster carrying
a dead duck and returning back through the
decoys

A nice calm delivery. Notice she is watching for an
anticipated next bird.

We can now advance to a "mock" layout blind setting.
Notice she is steady and calm while calling.

She remains quiet and steady as I
fire multiple shots with the cap gun.

Once we have established a solid pattern of work on the ground, the transition to water is easy. During this phase the young retriever really starts to turn into a "Waterfowl
Dog". We set up true "life like" duck hunting scenarios with the focus now on continual patience while calling/ shooting & maneuvering thru the decoys, hunting from an
Avery Dog Stand, Avery Ground Force Blind & a Duck Boat. The "Place" command now is used in a real setting. We also continue to teach the youngster how to mark on the
gun with lots of primer loads fired, as well as, shooting the first "Flyers" to the retriever. After the "out" command is given " shake" is what we say and shake is what they do.
(Later in life most will shake on command)

Started Level Training on Land

Started Level Training on Water

Hallam, NE 402-787-2048