It is also important to keep in mind, that every dog learns at a different pace. It is the trainer's responsibility to learn to "read" his/her dog. Certain tell tale signs will indicate that the dog may have lost interest or does not understand what is being asked of him. Before reprimanding the dog, be 100% certain that he understands what is being asked of him. Failure to perform a task properly is not always refusal on the part of the dog. The dog may simply not understand what is being asked of him. To this point, it may be necessary to re-introduce a previously taught lesson.

Obedience training is one of the basic building blocks for the retriever. Unfortunately this obedience is often overlooked because of the trainer's eagerness to move on to more exciting drills. Without proper obedience training, it is nearly impossible to control the dog later on in "exciting" training circumstances, such as introducing the dog to birds, etc. Sit, come, stay and heel are the necessary prerequisites before moving on to advanced concepts, such as, blind retrieves and handling.

Before moving onto obedience drills, let's cover some of the basic equipment necessary to start training. For early training a leash, choke collar, and whistle are the basic tools to get started. A leash of 6' or 8' length should suffice for obedience training. Although more expensive than nylon, I like using leather leashes (leads), for they are easier on the trainers' hands than the nylon variety.

A thin diameter choke chain collar can be a useful tool for correction. It is important to note that excessive pressure with this type of collar can result in throat damage to the puppy. If you find yourself getting short tempered in a training situation, it is far better to cease training, and resume the lesson at a later time. More control can be had with the thinner diameter models of the metal choke collars. I have found the larger diameter models may require a higher amount of pressure to perform the same task as the thinner version.

Be sure to correctly position these choke collars. Properly positioned collars will "relax" after each correction. Improperly positioned collars will not "relax" after the application of leash correction. If you are unsure how to position the collar, consult someone who is knowledgeable to demonstrate the collar's correct use.

Correction with this collar should be a quick "jerk" on the lead. This "jerk" should be a quick, soft snap of the lead. Remove lead pressure immediately after the application of leash correction. This leash correction should be used in concert with reinforcing verbal commands. By doing this, the dog will understand why the correction is being applied. Once again the appropriate amount of correction pressure is important. Excessive pressure can have negative training results, and in the worst case scenario, injury to the dog.

Finally, whistles used early on in obedience training will give you a head start when teaching the dog advanced concepts, such as handling and blind retrieves. Severe weather conditions that often occur during waterfowl hunting, sometimes prevent the dog from hearing verbal commands when retrieving. The utilization of a whistle saves your voice, and allows you control at longer distances.

Next month we will move onto basic obedience drills for the young retriever. If you have any questions, suggestions, or any topics you would like to see covered, please feel free to e-mail me at bmoyse@wildfowl.net.

(c) Brian Moyse 1998