Since last year I have been worried about my Gordon Setter’s retrieving. Last year in the duck pond he was only about 40%. With upland birds even less. It seems he was so birdy once the bird was dead, he just wanted to find another. At the end of the season I bought a bunch of pen raised birds and got his retrieving to about 90% on pheasant and chukar. I lost my Spaniel this summer so Jack really had to step up to the plate as my retriever. I worked him all summer with a dummy in the pool and finally had him retrieving the dummy on land. I was anxious about dove season.
The first time I took him out he ran to the first bird, picked it up and spit it out. The next two he barely would touch them. That was all we got that day. I took him home and played fetch in the hallway in my house and he started to eat them. I disciplined him and he then regressed. I thought I was doomed to have him force broke. Fortunately I was wrong.
Took him out Friday and the hunt went great! Buy the end he was retrieving my last bird from the canal I was shooting near. I was elated. Saturday while working in the garage he stole my game vest at least 6 times. He would take it into the middle of the lawn and sniff the pouch. No licking the blood, he just snorted the smell until I took it away. Took him out Sunday with my son and shot two more limits and by the end he was a dove hunting fool! He really helped find several doves in the weeds lost in the vineyard that I never would have found without him. I can’t tell you what a great feeling it was.
I have never had to force break any of my spaniels over the last 20 years; I really feel a natural retriever is the best. I am sure many of you will agree. I just thought some of you might enjoy my story.
Jerry
