Just out of sheer curiosity, how did you learn about retriever training? Did you train with someone more experienced, spend time with a pro, join a club, or videos? The people on here have a wealth of knowledge and I would be really interested to see who taught you. Thanks!
Where did you learn?
Christa McCoy
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Just out of sheer curiosity, how did you learn about retriever training? Did you train with someone more experienced, spend time with a pro, join a club, or videos? The people on here have a wealth of knowledge and I would be really interested to see who taught you. Thanks!
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390 Posts
I did 90% of the training myself using a couple books. I didn't find out about this site until later.
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893 Posts
DITTO! My club has proven to be my most valuable training aide........
Still LOTS to learn regards
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1,939 Posts
Initially books in the 80's (very limited) joined local retriever club, training sessions, trained with very successful field trial pros and amateurs throwing birds and planting blinds, successful hunt test pros, Lardy Clinic and other clinics, DVDs, online resources, still learning till they put me in the ground 
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132 Posts
All of the above. Books, Dvds, spent time watching/learning from a couple different pro's, training with successful amateurs, clubs etc...
I really enjoy trying to be a student of the game and Im not opposed to trying to gain knowledge from multiple resources...just got to wade past the B.S and keep the good stuff;-)
I really enjoy trying to be a student of the game and Im not opposed to trying to gain knowledge from multiple resources...just got to wade past the B.S and keep the good stuff;-)
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1,291 Posts
I worked for a Pointin' 'Dogger shoveling poopie, keeping kennels clean and released birds for training when I was 14yrs.old. Not much retriever work there, but learned alot about Gun intro. I knew Upland wasn't my total cup of tea and the trainer suggested James lamb Free as a guide to retriever training, so I got the book. The trainer passed away and then there was no-one around to ask questions. I wound up in a "self-teaching" status and had to figure things out alone with one valueable piece of information to remember from my since passed on employer/mentor, and that was that dogs are situational learners...I've had the fine opportunity to work with a little over 300 dogs since I was 14 yrs. old. I've come to the conclusion that Dogs are like Savings Accounts,..you only get out of 'em what you put into 'em.
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Not that it matters much where I'm learning from, still a newbie. I started with Waterdog and then joined a local club, and now im working with a trainer and some older more experienced gentleman. Those guys are worth more than any book or dvd you can buy, but I also follow Graham's series.
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I learned to train dogs from my brother Clint, who had been mentored initially by John Luther and later by Roy McFall...I also learned a lot from George Wilson when he lived in Utah
I learned a good deal from just going duck hunting with a couple of older gentleman when I was a kid and asking questions, I had alot of experience training hounds so when i got my retriever I bought a couple of books and applied what I knew about dogs and got started. i then hooked up with a guy and trained with him and his group a few times, which showed me what these dogs can do. by now I have made enough mistakes to write a book on how not to do it and have a good idea on what I will do with my next one.
Jim
Jim
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69 Posts
I got my start after going duck hunting a few times, and realizing it's no fun without a nice dog in the blind. So i did what a lot of first timers do. I picked up a news paper and bought a BLF out of it named Lexi. I began reading anything and everything i could about dog trainging once i bought Lexi. I was 16 years old at the time and ended up force fetching the dog, collar conditioning, and teaching her to run pretty good blinds all by myself. Lexi was a nice gun dog but i was young and needed something with a little more "pop" to it. That's when i got introduced to John Broucek, and bought my first field bred BLF named Troublesome Backwaters Delta MH. I began training with John and ended up learning the do's/dont's of dog training from who i consider one of the very best in the country. I've been training with John going on 9 years now and in no way would i be where i am today or have the dogs that i do if it weren't for him.
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2,302 Posts
I trained Border Collies to work sheep and cattle when I was a teenager. Always loved labs and hunted over some very good dogs. I got a CLF as a rescue and it was clear she needed serious training or she would tear the house apart. Through RTF I was lucky enough to find my now training partner who already had MH dogs and he introduced me to a pro who I've been allowed to train with as much as I can get to him for the last 3 yrs or so. He helped me find a new pup (My little man pup in the avatar) and has been invaluable in helping to train me and the pup.
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726 Posts
Wolters and Free for my first hunting dog. A few years later I found out about HTs. Joined a club went to training sessions. A pro taught me how to CC that first dog when he was 6. Sent two dogs to Pros for two 6-9 months stints each. Rest of training with a pro, by myself, or select training group. Follow Lardy/Graham program(s).
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628 Posts
Thanks for the info guys! Its interesting to me to see where people got their start since I'm still pretty new to the game. What I wouldn't give to have a good club and/or training group close by. I have one friend that we train with that lives about 45 min away. Other than that its videos and a whole lot of trial and error. My poor dogs... but they still love me! ;-)
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