5 Best Tips For Training Retrievers 

As the small flock of mallards circled the decoys for the third time, it was starting to look like they might commit. Finally, they cupped their wings and began to descend, completely unaware that my hunting partner and I were hiding below, shotguns at the ready. 

As they lowered their feet to land, we jumped up and began shooting. When the excitement was over, two greenheads lay floating in the water about 30 yards out from the bank. My partner quickly sent his Labrador retriever to fetch the mallard drakes, and soon both ducks lay on the ground between us, their green heads glistening in the sunlight. 

Those ducks would have been hard to get our hands on if it hadn’t been for this well-trained retriever. There are few things more beautiful to a waterfowl hunter than a quality retriever doing its God-given job retrieving downed ducks and geese. In fact, there’s something almost poetic about watching a waterdog do what it was bred to do. 

While most puppies from retriever breeds are born with a strong retrieving instinct, they’re not born quality hunting dogs that can get it done in the duck blind day in and day out. A ton of specialized training is involved in getting them to that stage, and if you go about that training without knowing what you’re doing, your chances of success are somewhat slim. 

Jeff Chesnut (full disclosure: yes, he’s my little brother) of Washita Retrievers in Marlow, Oklahoma, has been a professional retriever trainer for over 25 years. I recently asked him about some tips for basic retriever training, and he was happy to oblige. 

Jeff often sees those new to dog training try to take a dog from a puppy to a finished dog way too quickly. Consequently, they miss out on the fun of being a puppy, and the owner often ends up with a dog that doesn’t live up to his expectations. 

“Don't push him those first 6 months,” Jeff said. “Use this time to facilitate a bond with your pup and to encourage retrieving desire. In the long run, it’ll be worth it.”  

Sure, Labradors and other retrieving breeds love to go get things and bring them back. That’s what they’re bred for. But Jeff warns that if you rely solely on their retrieving instinct, you’ll likely be let down at some point. 

“Everything a retriever does and cares about involves his mouth,” he said. “Gaining mouth control is the key to all future retriever training.” 

Dogs in training aren’t going to master any task immediately. Those training retrievers need to have an objective of continually moving forward as they try to get the dog to eventually perform at the level they expect. 

“If you demand precision and perfection, you will squelch momentum,” Jeff said.  

E-collars are a productive—even necessary—training tool when training sporting dogs of all breeds and types, from retrievers to pointers to flushers. Spend time introducing your dog to the e-collar, and learn all you can about its operation so your dog can be successful.  

“When using an e-collar, take the time to go through a proper introduction so that the dog understands how to turn it off and eliminate the pressure regardless of the command given,” Jeff said. 

A Google search reveals literally dozens of methods for e-collar conditioning. Jeff recommends the Dobbs 3 Action Introduction, which he believes is the most foolproof of the different techniques. 

Hunting seasons only run a few months a year, leaving many months when there are no hunting seasons open. That’s when your dog can be your companion and friend, not just a duck-dog-in-waiting for the next nine months.  

“Remember that you and your retriever are a team,” Jeff said. “It's about the time you spend together and not the ducks.” 

Also, he advises that retriever owners have a little grace when those mistakes pop up—after all, it’s a dog, not a robot. 

“He's not going to be perfect, just like you're not going to kill every duck you shoot at,” he said.