Ok I have a 6 month YLM (Tank). He's had 3 weeks of formal training which included, intro to gunfire, birds, and quartering. E-collar is ordered but not recieved yet.
Obedience has been very little so far. I was told to stay away from obedience for a little while. I just introduced him to water and basic retrieves through decoys. He picks it up fast.
Right now he is literally blasting off to retrieve and bring back anything thrown. He has an outstanding nose. I took him on a short put and take hunt after training with flagged (Chukar) in which he found 2 birds that weren't even set out. My trainer said short hunts on a check cord to keep his distance are good to get his enthusiasm up and start keeping his distance proper when I upland hunt. I had no expectations and my trainer said all that is good.
Having said all of that. Tank will primarily be a duck dog but will definately do upland from time to time. My question is should I start formal obedience if not when should I start?
Obedience has been very little so far. I was told to stay away from obedience for a little while. I just introduced him to water and basic retrieves through decoys. He picks it up fast.
Right now he is literally blasting off to retrieve and bring back anything thrown. He has an outstanding nose. I took him on a short put and take hunt after training with flagged (Chukar) in which he found 2 birds that weren't even set out. My trainer said short hunts on a check cord to keep his distance are good to get his enthusiasm up and start keeping his distance proper when I upland hunt. I had no expectations and my trainer said all that is good.
Having said all of that. Tank will primarily be a duck dog but will definately do upland from time to time. My question is should I start formal obedience if not when should I start?
