Written By: Zach Miller
"Whether you run one dog or 1,000 dogs, there are certain things you pick up on from a dog as a handler. Some of these are more distinct than others and some you pick up along the way. One thing is for certain, when it comes to hunting dogs they teach you these whether you want to know or not! In this article, I’ll break down my top five attributes I look for when selecting, training and working a gundog."
- Retrieving Drive
Drive is an essential trait in a duck dog as it determines the dog's willingness to work and its ability to perform tasks efficiently. It sits at my number one trait for retrievers because… well they are bred to retrieve! A dog with high drive is eager to please its owner and will go to great lengths to retrieve ducks from any environment. This trait is particularly important in duck hunting as it requires the dog to swim long distances, retrieve ducks from difficult terrain, and remain focused on the task at hand. A dog with low drive may lack the motivation to perform these tasks, resulting in a less successful hunting experience.
Furthermore, drive is also important in a duck dog as it determines the dog's level of energy and enthusiasm. A dog with high drive is typically more energetic and enthusiastic, making it easier to train and work with. This trait is particularly important in duck hunting as it requires the dog to remain alert and focused for extended periods. A dog with low drive may lack the energy and enthusiasm required to perform these tasks, resulting in a less successful hunting experience. Therefore, drive is an essential trait in a duck dog, as it determines the dog's willingness to work, its ability to perform tasks efficiently, and its level of energy and enthusiasm.
If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “That dog ‘gon hunt” or “That dog won’t hunt” they're most likely referring to drive.
- Force Fetching
Force fetching is an essential training technique for a duck dog as it teaches the dog to retrieve birds without hesitation or resistance. This technique involves using pressure to teach the dog to hold and deliver birds to its owner to hand. Force fetching is important in duck hunting as it requires the dog to retrieve birds from difficult terrain, such as water, mud, and thick vegetation with an emphasis on the manner in which it carries the game. A dog that is not force fetched may struggle to retrieve birds in these conditions, resulting in a less successful hunting experience.
In addition, force fetching also teaches the dog to remain focused and obedient during the retrieval process. This is important in duck hunting as it requires the dog to remain focused on the task at hand, even in the presence of distractions such as other dogs, birds, or people. A dog that is not force fetched may become distracted or disobedient during the retrieval process, resulting in a less successful hunting experience. Therefore, force fetching is an essential training technique for a duck dog, as it teaches the dog to retrieve birds without hesitation or resistance, and to remain focused and obedient during the retrieval process.
- Forcing (Blind Retrieves)
Blind retrieving is a vital skill for a duck dog as it allows the dog to retrieve birds that are out of sight or in difficult terrain. This skill involves the dog being sent to retrieve a bird that it has not seen fall, and may require the dog to navigate through water, mud, or thick vegetation. Blind retrieving is important in duck hunting as it allows the dog to retrieve birds that have fallen out of sight, or that have fallen in difficult terrain that is inaccessible to the hunter. A dog that is skilled in blind retrieving can greatly increase the success of a hunting trip.
Blind retrieving also teaches the dog to rely on its sense of smell and memory, rather than its sight. Proper utilization of handling techniques and reading of the wind direction will allow your gundog to lock right onto the fallen bird. This is important in duck hunting as it requires the dog to locate and retrieve birds that may be hidden or difficult to see. A dog that is skilled in blind retrieving can quickly locate and retrieve birds, even in challenging conditions. Therefore, blind retrieving is an important skill for a duck dog, as it allows the dog to retrieve birds that are out of sight or in difficult terrain, and teaches the dog to rely on its sense of smell and memory.
- Handling
A very close follow-up from our number 3 pick, these two tend to go hand in hand or paw in paw we should say. Having a gundog who is proficient in handling techniques and understanding whistle commands will make for a great experience for both the dog and the handler. We could spend days and write books on proper and improper handling skills but for the sake of this article, it is a vital skill for any retriever worth their skin in the game.
When practicing handling, understand that your environment and amount of suction from distractions will tend to throw your dog off-course slightly, do your due diligence in training to practice how you play. This technique is also referred to as, “Proofing” a command or behavior. The more we proof something, the stronger and more resilient it will become in the real time scenario.
- Personality
This one is a wild card pick for me and you’ll understand why as you proceed here. When you run enough dogs, you see some who just aren't cut out for it and some who are so cut out for it that they become robots. While they are great dogs no matter which side they fall on, a dog with a great personality or “style” as the grade books refer to it as, is simply a pleasure to work around. We typically see these in our own gundogs or a “trainer’s gundog” as they are a tiny bit closer to our hearts than most dogs that pass through our gates. While this is a tough trait to really break down and describe, I suppose we will say, you’ll know it when you see it.
In conclusion, my traits are simply MY traits that I look for and enjoy seeing during training. These are the things that put a smile on my face when they appear and everyone reading this will have their own list as well. Next time you have some free time on your hands, make your own list and see what you have in common with mine.
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