New pup

This season has been my first year working with Tank, our 12 month old chocolate lab. I have absolutely no experience training a dog aside from what I've read from a few books and some Internet stuff, so at first I was pretty worried about how he would turn out. I've been careful on what hunts to bring him on this year, usually with no more than 2 guns to keep the confusion down for now. Much to my surprise he has done exceptionally well! The first couple of hunts he did jump the shot, which I expected, but as of the past two hunts he has waited to be sent which is nice to see. The only things that I think we will need to work on this spring will be hand signals and force fetch. He brings the birds back to the blind but typically sets them a few feet away then won't pick em back up. Overall he has been great for being so young, I'm sure he will only get better as his experience picks up.

First retrieve, this ones in the freezer and will get mounted along with the crappy pic







He wasn't too sure about this crippled canada

good lookin pup...You have a pedigree on him..??

Looks like he is doing pretty ok, so, good job!

One of my buddy's hunting partners would leash his retriever the first year he took her out so she couldn't jump the shot (he wouldn't be hunting when she was on the leash, or at least one person wouldn't be, so they could hold her leash). She got it pretty quickly and her second season does fine. Keep working at it and he will keep getting better.

Yes a craigslist pedigree



I have just been using the shock collar on him for it. He knows when were working at home not to go until I send him, so I just hit him with it as soon as his butt comes off the ground and he gets the idea. All it has taken any time he's jumped is once then the rest of the morning he is fine. Another thing I'm excited about is that he doesn't squirm, whine, or bark when birds are in the air or on the water. Yesterday we had a pair of mallards 30 yds out on the water, he was a little confused why they weren't dead but he didn't budge or make a noise.

Good lookin block headed lab!!!

Nice.

beautiful. Keep working with him.

looks like a whole lotta fun! Keep up the good work!

great job, looks awesome

The little guy ain't so little anymore. He's done grown up. Sounds like he's doing great Mike, congrats!

Dogs are one of my favorite things about duck hunting.

They ARE my favorite thing about duck hunting. And goose hunting. Oh, and quail, pheasant, and dove hunting too.

Nowadays, I enjoy observing the dog work more than shooting my limit, to be honest.

Great job pup!

Awesome looking pup. Looks like a great hunting buddy.

He went to the vet @ 9 mos and was 103 lbs! He's down to 99ish now. He carries it well, must run in the family

Dang...the little guy has turned into a full load.

@ "He carries it well, must run in the family" Unfortunately, I can relate.