How do you make a dove shoot better? Make sure you have a couple labs in the field!
I never grow tired of watching a good dog work – whether it be bird dogs, hounds or retrievers. These labs are duck dogs first and foremost – hunting out of duck blinds and making retrieves in frigid water is what they live for! However, in early September they adapt well to sown wheat fields and making retrieves in warmer conditions. A good lab will not only add to the enjoyment of a dove shoot, but also to the success as they recover crippled birds and those difficult to find in thick cover.
by Peter, pictures by Ryan McLemore
Sunshine, a young boy 12 yrs asked me just yesterday, “Ms. Kim, how do you get a golden retriever to not be scared of guns and go retrieve what you’d hunted?” Well, I’ve never been hunting, so all I could think of was to work on getting him used to the sounds. Start shooting from far away, praise with a clicker and treat right away, then move the sounds closer but very slowly. Also work on fetch and again praise right away with the good behavior you like. Any suggestions?