4 yr old lab stopped retrieving birds

Kurtz.nb

Kurtz.nb

New member
I have a four year old yellow lab who is not force fetch trained but who has been successfully retrieving birds for 3 years. Yesterday I had her out for the first hunt of the season and everything was going great until I shot the first bird. She pointed it and flushed it as normal, but upon shooting it she refused to pick it up and just stood by it. This happened with all three birds. For three years prior she has brought the bird back with speed and confidence and given it right to me. When I got home in tried a dummy with wings attached and she did fine. The only thing that chanced is that I had her at a trainer this summer who I now realize maybe did not do a few things right. He used winged pheasants vs. chuckers (I’m concerned she may have been spurred), used frozen pheasant, and used an e-collar (of which I have never used on her before). I just wonder if something went wrong here. I called him but he said everything was fine, but my gut just tells me different. Any advice on how to proceed?
 
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Kurtz.nb said:
I have a four year old yellow lab who is not force fetch trained but who has been successfully retrieving birds for 3 years. Yesterday I had her our for the first hunt of the season and everything was going great until I shot the first bird. She pointed it and flushed it as normal, but upon shooting it she refused to pick it up and just stood by it. This happened with all three birds. For three years prior she has brought the bird back with speed and confidence and given it right to me. When I got home in tried a number with wings attached and she did fine. The only thing that chanced is that I had her at a trainer this summer who I now realize maybe did not do a few things right. He used winged pheasants vs. chuckers (I’m concerned she may have been spurred), used frozen pheasant, and used an e-collar (of which I have never used on her before). I just wonder if something went wrong here. I called him but he said everything was fine, but my gut just tells me different. Any advice on how to proceed?
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Labs never stop retrieving.
 
this is just my opinion, but. there is no reason to take a well-performing dog to a trainer.
 
How warm was it when you were hunting? My dog isn't the strongest retriever to begin with, but is probably at his weakest when the weather is 60-65 or warmer. I've noticed it with other dogs too. Heat is hard on them. I think with all the effort expended (tracking, finding, flushing) leading up to a shot, by the time he's run & re-found a dropped bird, he's about had it & is more concerned with water & cooling down than a mouthful of feathers. Maybe this was going on with your dog. You said it was the first hunt of the year, so there's no possible way she's in peak form yet.

My guess is that she didn't get spurred & get scared away from retrieving. I'd see how it goes as weather cools down. If the issue continues, re-teach her how fun it is to retrieve. Shoot a bird & play fetch with it in the water. After doing that for a while, move to weeds & cattails & stuff. Really lay on the encouragement & make a big deal out of it. Absolutely do not show frustration.
 
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A5 Sweet 16 said:
How warm was it when you were hunting? My dog isn't the strongest retriever to begin with, but is probably at his weakest when the weather is 60-65 or warmer. I've noticed it with other dogs too. Heat is hard on them. I think with all the effort expended (tracking, finding, flushing) leading up to a shot, by the time he's run & re-found a dropped bird, he's about had it & is more concerned with a water & cooling down than a mouthful of feathers. Maybe this was going on with your dog. You said it was the first hunt of the year, so there's no possible way she's in peak form yet.

My guess is that she didn't get spurred & get scared away from retrieving. I'd see how it goes as weather cools down. If the issue continues, re-teach her how fun it is to retrieve. Shoot a bird & play fetch with it in the water. After doing that for a while, move to weeds & cattails & stuff. Really lay on the encouragement & make a big deal out of it. Absolutely do not show frustration.
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Yeah it was warm and I was pumping her full of water / taking breaks, but she was working hard and was more tired than normal. Upon getting home she still did not show interest in the bird but I also did not want to push her. I will give it another go in a few weeks and like you said and keep it fun. Thanks for the input!
 
Kurtz.nb said:
Yeah it was warm and I was pumping her full of water / taking breaks, but she was working hard and was more tired than normal. Upon getting home she still did not show interest in the bird but I also did not want to push her. I will give it another go in a few weeks and like you said and keep it fun. Thanks for the input!
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If you can swing it, I strongly recommend not waiting a few weeks. I get it that people have lives outside pheasant hunting, sadly, but a dog that hunts 30 times a year learns a lot quicker than one who hunts 5 times a year. There are lots of things that can only be learned from experience.
 
Find a way to shoot a few birds for the dog soon…game farm, preserve, etc. maybe on a cool day…be positive and full of praise, walk away from dog to encourage running to you. I’ve heard some terrible trainer stories…can’t repeat them here, but it comes down to shortcuts at the dogs expense.
 
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