Written By: Zach Miller
"You just dropped a beautiful “bull” Canvasback and the celebrations have begun as it’s a milestone for any hunter. Your friend sends his “trained” dog and it snatches the first decoy near the splash and immediately ruins the string of decoys and now you are fighting the current to get the kayak out to make this retrieve… If only we knew what went wrong?"
Duck hunting is a popular sport that requires a lot of skill and preparation. One of the most important aspects of duck hunting is having a well-trained gundog. A good gundog can retrieve ducks from the water, track down wounded birds and make the hunt that much more enjoyable. However, introducing duck decoys to a gundog can be a challenge for some and is often a forgotten step in a training scheme. Here are some tips that I have used on how to introduce decoys to your gundog.
1. Start With Basic Obedience Training
Before introducing your gundog to decoys, it is important to make sure that your dog has basic obedience training. This includes commands such as sit, stay, come, and heel etc. This will help your dog understand that you are in charge and will make it easier to introduce new commands and concepts. A house cannot be built without a solid foundation to stand on, we simply cannot skip this step.
2. Introduce The Decoys Slowly
When introducing your duck dog to duck decoys, it is important to start slowly. Begin by placing one or two decoys in the water and allowing your dog to get used to them. Let your dog sniff the decoys and get comfortable with them before moving on to more complex training. When I bring up this topic, we can do this without even trying sometimes. What I mean by this, is incorporate decoy just being present in any session you do. There were many times when I would get dogs for this purpose where I would have at least 1 decoy outside there crate or by their bowl at all times.
3. Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a key component of any dog training, while it is not the entire premise of a training scheme, that is a story for another article. When introducing your dog to duck decoys, use treats and praise to reward good behavior when they are starting out as young puppies. This will help your dog associate the decoys with positive experiences and make it more likely that they will be willing to work with them in the future.
4. Practice Good Retrieving
Once your dog is comfortable with the decoys, it is time to start practicing retrieving. Start by throwing a dummy or training bumper near the decoys and encouraging your dog to retrieve it. Gradually move the dummy closer to the decoys until your dog is comfortable retrieving it from among the decoys. We essentially want our dog to ignore these foam filled ducks in order to “mark” our true fall bird.
5. Use Different Types of Decoys
Duck decoys come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is important to expose your dog to different types of decoys so that they are comfortable with all types of birds. This will make it easier for your dog to retrieve ducks in the field. This is very important, we commonly hear the phrase, one decoy is just like the other, and while they are not wrong, I will say this, not all rigging is the same. Practice having your dog navigate through single drops, stringers, rafts and moving decoy spreads, times have changed in the world of decoys and so must we.
6. Practice In Different Environments
It is important to practice retrieving with decoys in different environments. This includes practicing in different bodies of water, different weather conditions, and different types of terrain. This will help your dog become comfortable with retrieving in any situation. I can make a young puppy retrieve a bird in a calm body of water but we must expose our gundog to a multitude of different environments so nothing comes as a surprise to them.
7. Be Patient
Introducing duck decoys to a duck dog can take time and patience. It is important to be patient and not rush the process. Every dog is different and will learn at their own pace. Some dogs may take longer to get used to the decoys, while others may pick it up quickly. It is important to remain calm and consistent throughout the training process.
8. Hunt With Experienced Dogs
If possible, it can be helpful to hunt with experienced duck dogs. This will give your dog the opportunity to observe and learn from other dogs. Watching other dogs retrieve ducks and work with decoys can help your dog understand what is expected of them. I was always taught, if you want a bad dog to be good, put him with good dogs and let them run the show. Don’t be afraid to have that veteran dog run a few reps while the greenhorn pup is watching in the background, this is a prime example of doing nothing is doing something.
9. Have fun
So many folks mess this step up and it kills me everytime I witness it. Training your dog to work with decoys and just working with them in general is one of the best moments in life and it’s such a rewarding experience. Remember to have fun and enjoy the process. Your dog will pick up on your energy and enthusiasm, which will make the training process more enjoyable for both of you.
In conclusion, introducing decoys to your gundog can be a challenge, but with patience and consistency, it can be done with ease. Start with basic obedience training, introduce the decoys slowly, use positive reinforcement, practice retrieving, use different types of decoys, practice in different environments, be patient, train with experienced dogs, and most importantly, have fun. With these tips, you can train your gundog to be a skilled and reliable hunting companion for years to come.
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