I watched Nimrod using the Lucky Launcher with his dogs and realized I need to be me one of them things! I'd like to get a cheaper model if I can get away with it and still get good performance though. Does anyone have any experience with the Retriev-R-Trainer dummy launcher, or have any other suggestions? I want to make sure I get something that actually launchers the dummy further than I can throw it.
Dummy Launcher Question
- Thread starter cockerfan
- Start date
delahunter834
Member
Look on Ebay.
I did already, and there are some options on there, just want to make sure I get something that works well. Looking more for help on quality and function.
henhenROOSTER!!!
New member
I've had the same one for 20 yrs - works like a charm! :thumbsup:
Have trained all my labs pretty much by myself from the ground up all the way to multiple marks & blinds for waterfowl & quartering/flushing for upland (with no helpers/bird-boys) & couldn't have done the long marks & steady to retrieve without one. Best dog-training investment I ever made for a small-time regular Joe with no help! You can get 3 levels of loads/shells (yellow/green/red) & two different kinds of dummies to shoot - if you use the hot load & one of the smaller plastic dummies instead of the larger canvas ones (which can also be had with a flapper to simulate wing movement) AND keep a fresh O-ring on the launcher, your dog better either be smart or pretty advanced - mine will shoot the plastic dummy 200-300 yds for the dog to have to go thru any combo of land & water terrain to retrieve it!
The land/water/remote training set-up possibilities are endless...
I have a friend in TX who has a different kind of dummy-launcher altogether which will hold 4 dummies, you can point them in different directions & it operates by remote control - nice tool, but it ain't cheap like the handheld. Personally I like the cheap/simple handheld unit better, still has more possibilities over the fancier one...I can sit my dog beside me & make him watch & wait on triple-marks in different directions or sit him remote 100 yds away from me & make him mark & wait for release while I shoot long-range dummies even further away from him.
Oh, just MAKE SURE you learn how to shoot the thing properly backhanded with it pointed out of the bottom side of your hand (pinkie-finger end) & your elbow bent for recoil - UNLESS you like a lotta kick shooting it stiffly out of the front (thumb/forefinger) side of your hand with no room for recoil absorbsion!!! This is the biggest gripe I've heard about a hand-held dummy launcher, mostly because guys don't know how to shoot one or don't read directions & do it backasswards...
Have trained all my labs pretty much by myself from the ground up all the way to multiple marks & blinds for waterfowl & quartering/flushing for upland (with no helpers/bird-boys) & couldn't have done the long marks & steady to retrieve without one. Best dog-training investment I ever made for a small-time regular Joe with no help! You can get 3 levels of loads/shells (yellow/green/red) & two different kinds of dummies to shoot - if you use the hot load & one of the smaller plastic dummies instead of the larger canvas ones (which can also be had with a flapper to simulate wing movement) AND keep a fresh O-ring on the launcher, your dog better either be smart or pretty advanced - mine will shoot the plastic dummy 200-300 yds for the dog to have to go thru any combo of land & water terrain to retrieve it!
The land/water/remote training set-up possibilities are endless... I have a friend in TX who has a different kind of dummy-launcher altogether which will hold 4 dummies, you can point them in different directions & it operates by remote control - nice tool, but it ain't cheap like the handheld. Personally I like the cheap/simple handheld unit better, still has more possibilities over the fancier one...I can sit my dog beside me & make him watch & wait on triple-marks in different directions or sit him remote 100 yds away from me & make him mark & wait for release while I shoot long-range dummies even further away from him.
Oh, just MAKE SURE you learn how to shoot the thing properly backhanded with it pointed out of the bottom side of your hand (pinkie-finger end) & your elbow bent for recoil - UNLESS you like a lotta kick shooting it stiffly out of the front (thumb/forefinger) side of your hand with no room for recoil absorbsion!!!
This is the biggest gripe I've heard about a hand-held dummy launcher, mostly because guys don't know how to shoot one or don't read directions & do it backasswards...
henhenROOSTER!!!
New member
Retriev-R-Trainer :thumbsup:
P.S. You do happen to have a very good professional retriever trainer right there in your own backyard in Aubrey, TX - 'Toiga Retrievers' (Angie Long). Not cheap though! She actually did a couple months boarding/training for me with my last two dogs while I was in sudden limbo/transition with a totally unexpected cross-country-move/job-change & didn't wanna lose that crucial time with young pups ( the only time I have ever paid for any professional training - not that I'm opposed, simply can't afford it - the force-fetch part was worth it's weight in gold though).
P.S. You do happen to have a very good professional retriever trainer right there in your own backyard in Aubrey, TX - 'Toiga Retrievers' (Angie Long). Not cheap though! She actually did a couple months boarding/training for me with my last two dogs while I was in sudden limbo/transition with a totally unexpected cross-country-move/job-change & didn't wanna lose that crucial time with young pups ( the only time I have ever paid for any professional training - not that I'm opposed, simply can't afford it - the force-fetch part was worth it's weight in gold though).
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Thanks for the info, I think I've found the launcher I'm going to buy.
I've actually met Angie before. She definitely uses different techniques for training than I do, but I have heard that she is very good. Seems like a very nice person too. But, I'm doing the training myself...if I sent them off to a trainer, what would I do in the evenings?
jeffstally
Member
Cockerfan- PM sent.
henhenROOSTER!!!
New member
Seems like a very nice person too. But, I'm doing the training myself...if I sent them off to a trainer, what would I do in the evenings?
I wasn't suggesting a trainer at all - I'm with you, I don't want somebody else having all my fun!
The town Aubrey just happened to catch my eye & ring a bell...Angie bailed me out of of tight spot for a few months at a really bad transition-time in my life when I would have lost "irretrievable" (HAHA) puppy-time basics with my young dogs due to the circumstances. It's the ONLY brief time I have ever hired a professional trainer & looking back I don't regret it one bit - I was able to pick right up & build-on-it/finish-them-off soon as I got my feet solidly back on the ground! I will add that I was able to get both dogs to do all the stuff she was convinced neither one would ever do very well (that is the one major drawback to a larger professional training operation - they are usually working with anywhere from 12-24 dogs or more & really tend to focus on the ones that are gonna bring in the ribbons/acclaim vs. I can FOCUS solely on my one or two). :thumbsup: Lemme know how the dummy-launcher works out for you - I have found mine to be a priceless tool for a solitary trainer! :cheers: