what do you think is the most important part of a duck DAWG??

[hunt-chessies]

I think it's obediance and marking....

[Gaddy1]

Blind manners, marking, and casting.

[WoodyRinger]

Being still in the blind and Steady to the shot. Witch being steady to the shot mean the dog needs to have good marking.

[Keith Yates]

I'd like to add one along with Gaddy1. Boat manners if that is how you get to the blind. A wild azz dawg while driving through five jillion coots is not what I'd call fun.

[Silver Pigeon]

a dog that shakes on command! LOL

[uncle D]

One that doesn't bite your hunting partners.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn265/hurricane870/img004.jpg

Duke

[Duckaholic Doug]

a dog that shakes on command! LOL

Nice Newton! Especially since you have the next Super Dog in Mack.

[Silver Pigeon]

DDD-- Nothing worse than a dog that comes into the boat, delivers his bird and then proceeds to drench everybody and everything around him! I need to work on this with Mac! We should all get together for another training session sometime soon. N

[FLAWaterfowler]

LMAO Duke...

Shoulda had a pic of her in the trailer! I miss that onery old girl! About as onery as Billy

[Duckaholic Doug]

DDD-- Nothing worse than a dog that comes into the boat, delivers his bird and then proceeds to drench everybody and everything around him! I need to work on this with Mac! We should all get together for another training session sometime soon. N

OK, so that brings up another training skill. How do you keep the dog from shaking off the water when they get out? Isn't that a natural instinct? My solution is to wear rain gear.:D

[zach raulie]

most important part - legs, otherwise they could not swim or run.

most important aspect-
1. trainability (observant, willingness to learn,
2. being a good citizen (not biting, obedient, socialized etc...)
3. drive, birdiness, determination to find bird

As for the shaking dog syndrome:

1. On land when dog exits water, take dog by scruff of neck(they shouldn't shake at this point), then take bird from dog (still holding onto the back of their neck, take a step away and let go telling them to 'shake' whatever command you want to use. Repetition of this and you will start to see a dog that waits for you to command "shake" or "ok" for them to shake off.

Similar to what you do with a puppy when training "sit". Initially they sit down, then you tell them "sit" (they look at you weird and wonder what you are saying) and you keep this up and eventually you start putting the "sit" command in front of the desired reaction....repetition and over time you will see that they sit when you say "sit"....or "shake" when you say shake.

Just an idea.

zr

[Silver Pigeon]

DDD- You can't-- eventually he will shake the water off. You can only train the dog to do it on command, hopefully away from your hunting partners! Frankly, I haven't been successful in getting a dog to do this consistantly on demand.

I like ZR's approach. I just know my dog, and after he delivers to hand I stand away from him and say "shake". He's getting it, but I like the idea of holding the scruff of the neck and then releasing it when I back away. I may add to his training and see how this works.

[Fastduck-North]

The main thing I look for in my dogs is drive which I use mine for a lot of upland hunting also. I have always found you can teach a dog about every trick in the book but you can't teach them drive.

[Capt HiC]

Obediance! I say that after trying to get Tank out of the New River after he chased an Iguana in!:angry2:
back to the front of the line again.
Capt. Hiram

[Randy Clark]

i would agre with kieth obediance in the boat. as for shakeing water off i started telling scout no than backing away he would wait than i would tell him shake he doesit; what can i say for him it was easy for griz well were still working on it.

[uncle D]

You could shave your dogs.

Just a thought.

Maybe a full wetsuit.

Duke

[bandit1]

Obedience!!!!!!

[Keith Yates]

You could shave your dogs.

Just a thought.

Maybe a full wetsuit.

Duke

I once hunted with a yellow dawg painted up like a tiger. Does that count?

[Reddfin]

Marking (good eyes) is what he needs to bring to the table. You can teach just about anything but basic obedience is the foundation of a good retriever.

I train shake as a command. My previous dog would not shake at all untill I told him too. He had very good manners. Sometimes his marking was not to good.

My latest dog had much better ability and a better built dog just need a littel reeling in.

Next time you guys train I would like to join.

561-856-3271
Tony