AWA GUN DOGS Retriever Training For The Waterfowler P.O. Box 663, Jamestown, North Dakota 58402 701-934-2721 or awaoutfitters@rocketmail.com www.facebook.com/awagundogs & www.awawaterfowling.com Introduction Welcome to AWA Gun Dogs Retriever Training for the Waterfowler! We emphasize gun dog training for the dog that will be in the field and marsh chasing down wild ducks and geese! We clearly understand the importance of a good and dependable gun dog one that is steady in the blind, works with its handler as a team member and delivers the goods to hand! We want a dog that is not a liability in the field! We depend on our dogs all season from our fun hunts to guiding clients through our outfitting business AWA Waterfowling. We also guide Spring Snow Geese in South Dakota for one of the premier outfitting businesses in the industry Bill Saunders Big Guns Waterfowl Outfitters. Our gun dog training facilities are smack dab in the heart of the Duck Factory, the Prairie Pothole Region of Jamestown, North Dakota. Much of the training basics are done right here at our 43 acre farm headquarters. The farm is situated on a body of water that is a significant roost site for Fall resident and migrating waterfowl! The area is also host to many breeding ducks and geese during Spring and Summer it is truly incredible! In addition, we have a multitude of training ponds (potholes) and fields in the surrounding area that will give your retriever exposure to a variety of conditions. Some of these ponds and fields are the same exact areas we also hunt during the Fall waterfowl season! We will also have access to technical retriever training 1 P a g e
ponds that are scheduled to be built 2 miles down the road from our main facilites! Our retriever program starts roughly at about 5-7 months, a good age for formal training to begin. Your retriever should have acquired better focus and attention span at this age. For those dogs with all their permanent teeth we jump into our Force Fetch (FF) training program. I can not emphasize enough the importance of a solid FF program for your retriever. FF lays the foundation for much of the gun dog training that follows therefore, it is important for us to make sure FF is solid before moving on! We strive to maximize your dog s full potential at being the best waterfowl dog he or she can be! We train with patience and keep training fun resulting in a happy retriever not one with a tail between the legs! For the retriever and the avid waterfowler it truly doesn t get any better than being here on the prairies! Training Program: May through October Foundation Work From Gun Dog Basics to Intermediate (typically ages 5-7 months) Month of May (+June) 1) Begins with assessing dog (marking, retrieving, swimming abilities, birdiness, as well as obedience and other basic commands). In addition, the new student will have ample time to get comfortable with their new surroundings and their new pack leader (me Jeff). 2) Basic obedience (sit, here, left-sided heeling, place, kennel, down, off, quiet) and whistle commands to sit (a single tweet) and here (tweet tweet tweet) will be taught and are essential tools used to communicate with your retriever under a variety of field conditions. Check cord may be used for here command. 3) Force Fetch program typically lasts 20+ days on table and another 10 days on the ground to get them solid at fetching and delivering to hand. **No 2 P a g e
marks/retrieves will be allowed during this stage. Begins with Hold Conditioning (bumpers and birds), Fetch Command, E-collar Conditioning (understanding what pressure is and how to turn it off). Once a dog has gone through Force Fetch successfully on the table, then learned skills will be transferred to ground drills. 4) E-collar will be used at this point on to reinforce basic obedience commands. Month of June (+July) 1) On the path to basic land handling (3-handed casting) and ultimately blind retrieves on both land and water. Begin Pile Work (establishing the line to the back pile of bumpers from handlers left side). Transfer of learned command fetch to new command back. Back to pile from handlers left side. E-collar pressure to pile (force to pile assessed and used on an individual basis). 2) Dog placed mid distance to pile (remote sit). Taught left and right back casts from remote sit.this will also help to determine which side your dog favors going towards more (going back turning left or right work on weak side). 3) Dog sent from handlers side to back pile and stopped with whistle and then given left or right back cast. 4) Teaching dog to take left or right over casts. Drills incorporating all back and over casts. 5) Developing marking skills on land and water with various cover and cover changes (e.g. tall grass, wetland vegetation, land obstacles). Introduction to gun fire from pistol and shotguns. Live flyers both duck and pheasants, dead birds and bumpers thrown using bird boy or electronic launchers. Retrieving harnessed birds that will act as cripples on land and water. Singles and doubles using birds or bumpers. Incorporating diversions (another dead bird or bumper on land or water). Enforcing steadiness. Decheating drills to keep your dog honest at going out and coming back straight from a mark deters them from taking shortcuts (i.e. cheating by running a bank instead of going directly into the water for a marked 3 P a g e
retrieve). Dogs may be sent for marks from handlers left side, field ground blinds, upright dog stands for use in marsh and duck boats. Month of August (+September) 1) Handling on the T. Here your dog will learn to take over and back casts while being sent from the handlers side, a remote sit and also stopping with whistle when in route to back pile. 2) Continuing the development of marking skills on land and water with various cover and cover changes (e.g. tall grass, wetland vegetation, land obstacles). Live flyers both duck and pheasants, dead birds and bumpers thrown using bird boy or electronic launchers. Retrieving harnessed birds that will act as cripples on land and water. Singles and doubles using birds or bumpers. Incorporating diversions (another dead bird or bumper on land or water). Enforcing steadiness. De-cheating drills to keep your dog honest at going out and coming back straight from a mark deters them from taking shortcuts (i.e. cheating by running a bank instead of going directly into the water for a marked retrieve). Dogs may be sent for marks from handlers left side, field ground blinds, upright dog stands for use in marsh and duck boats. Diversions teaching dog to not switch on birds. Month of September (+October) 1) Basic handling on water begins here. Teach dog to stop and tread water on whistle and face handler before taking an appropriate back or over cast. Teach dog line to a back pile of bumpers on a shoreline. Incorporate left and right bumper piles on water or a shoreline that will allow handler to give appropriate left or right over casts. 2) Continuing the development of marking skills on land and water with various cover and cover changes (e.g. tall grass, wetland vegetation, land obstacles). Live flyers both duck and pheasants, dead birds and bumpers thrown using bird boy or electronic launchers. Retrieving harnessed birds that will act as cripples on land and water. Singles and doubles using birds or bumpers. Incorporating diversions (another dead bird or bumper on land 4 P a g e
or water). Enforcing steadiness. De-cheating drills to keep your dog honest at going out and coming back straight from a mark deters them from taking shortcuts (i.e. cheating by running a bank instead of going directly into the water for a marked retrieve). Dogs may be sent for marks from handlers left side, field ground blinds, upright dog stands for use in marsh and duck boats. Diversions teaching dog to not switch on birds. Month of October 1) Handling drills on land and water and work towards running simple pattern blinds and eventually simple cold blinds on land and water. 2) Possibility of dog going on actual field and water hunts for ducks and geese from our location here on the North Dakota prairies how great would that be for your retriever to get that experience! You may even have the opportunity to come with! 3) More advanced training at a later date or a pre-hunting season tune-up if needed could be discussed. Guidelines for AWA Gun Dog Clients Payment for Training 1) Cost is 650.00 per month per dog. This cost includes high quality Purina Pro Plan dry dog food. I will also provide from time to time photos and videos uploaded to Social Media platforms such as Facebook so you can keep up to date with your dog. In addition, feel free to contact me via phone if you want to talk about any specifics. 2) Payment is due on arrival of dog and on same day each month. **Please don t make me have to bug and remind you. If you think you are going to be late then please let me know in advance but I would really appreciate being on time even if it means sending payment early. If you are unable to supply payment after one week following due date training of your dog will cease unless other arrangements are made. **I can not untrain a 5 P a g e
dog and so it is only fair that I get paid for my time spent with your K9. If training ceases then rest assured I will continue to care for your dog in an appropriate boarding manner. 3) If you refuse payment then arrangements must be made to have your dog picked up from our facilities. Dog will be released once previous payment is received. **Let s not let it get to that point and keep all lines of communication open. 4) Please make payment out to Jeff Pelayo and send to AWA Gun Dogs, P.O. Box 663, Jamestown, ND 58402. Payment for Meds, Vet and Live Training Birds 1) I currently use HeartGard (heart worm) and NexGard (fleas, ticks, and mosquitos) products. Both of these products are ingested and are not topicals. I would be happy to supply monthly doses of each for 15.00 per dose Heart Gard and 22.00 per dose NexGard. Alternatively, you may supply any meds to be administered. 2) Should your K9 need Vet care I will notify you immediately and arrangements will be made between you the owner and AWAs Vet here in Jamestown, North Dakota. Country Acres Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Barbara Looysen at 701-252-7133 or 800-567-7133 or 8279 37 th St. SE, Jamestown, ND 58401. 3) Training birds (i.e. live flyers) of both ducks and pheasants will be available for purchase and to be used as a shot flyer for your dog. Ducks will be 16.00 each and pheasants at 10.00 each. Again, this is not mandatory but we highly recommend your dog gets to retrieve birds that are shot. We do not charge for using dead birds for training. Current Vaccinations and Other Important Information 1) Please make sure your K9 is up to date on all vaccinations (e.g. rabies, kennel cough) and provide copies of that paperwork once your dog is dropped off. 2) Important contact numbers for owners and their vets. 6 P a g e
3) Anything important related to your K9 that I should be aware (e.g. allergies, phobias, aggression towards other K9s or humans etc.) 4) General information should be provided on your dog both good and bad habits. **Please be honest as it helps me understand your dog during training and the best approach I should take when training and working with your dog. K9 Vocabulary 1) If you have already taught your dog many of the basics please provide a list of commands you use and I will try to keep that consistent with use for your dog. Retrievers Abilities 1) Please keep in mind that all dogs are different and that they will learn at different rates. Just like human children during development be patient as will I with how they progress during training. 2) The approach I take will be different with soft dogs versus dogs in the middle and extreme opposite of the spectrum. Training the Owner/Handler 1) Plan on staying a day or two so you can begin to learn how to handle your dog and begin the transfer of authority. A trained retriever needs to be handled appropriately and with authority. The handler must understand how to run their dog. Don t be discouraged it takes time for you and your retriever to become a team. **I highly recommend that you continue to work your dog on needed drills during the off season to keep him or her sharp they will lose it if you don t use it! 7 P a g e
Dog Transport Services Contact Mary Ann 740-236-0578 or Bill Calaway 740-818-7229 at Buckeye Dog Hauling. They are wonderful folks that are completely licensed and take excellent care of your dog to and from. Their rates are extremely reasonable! Thank you for choosing AWA Gun Dogs to help mold your K9 companion into the best waterfowling dog he or she can be hunting with and watching a very well-trained retriever is an amazing sight! 7/11/2014 (revised) 8 P a g e