Recommend a Dummy Launcher?

[Duckaholic Doug]

I read about the DT Launcher and the Retriev-R Launcher. Are there any others to consider? Which is the softest, longest lasting and best price? Are there better websites to buy from for lower prices? Thanks in advance for the help.

[hunt-chessies]

any of them do about the same thing. I've heard good things about the retrieve-r ones but i don't really like that style of training. I would much rather my dog be looking for the bird to come from out in the field and not from my shoulder.... could cause a habit of looking at my gun barrel instead of down it to where the duck really should be in a true hunting situation

[Silver Pigeon]

HC is right about training your dog to look down field...even better to follow the swing of your gun. This just takes time and live hunting scenarios though in my opinion. The dog eventually learns that where you are pointing your gun, is where he needs to be focused.

BUT-- when you are training alone the retriever r is not bad. It does have a pretty good kick though. It will get a younger dog used to the sound of a "gun", and will associate this sound with a retrieve. It also helps steady a dog, as a lot of times a dog that is not under control and has been hunting, will break on the sound of a gun, something you definitely want to avoid. If you want to splurge, you can get a remote launcher that you can place down field as well. I have used one before and they are great, but I have never owned one. If you are training by yourself though you would have to reload it after retrieve--I would imagine this would get old!

I buy a lot of my training equipment from Lion Country Supply.

http://www.lcsupply.com/

[Reddfin]

I spent a summer working with a pro. Remote launchers are the way to go if you train by yourself or even with a helper. If a club or group has a few then its even better for setups. This guy had 10 Zinger Wingers. Even two or three would be good.

I use a 20 year old Retrive R Trainer hand held launcher. Its a good training tool.

Tony

[RSCeranic]

Go to Lion Country Supply and order their bird launcher, like used for pointing dogs. You can put bumpers, the small teal size dokken, or frozen dove/quail from last season in it. It will throw them about 10 feet high and you can plant them out so the dog learns to look out to mark. The remote control gives you the ability to train by yourself some too. I have a DT hand launcher that I never use that I would be willing to sell if you still want to go that way. I have two original and a flutter bumper for it, plus a box and a half of blank ammo.