I recently found a 1yr old black lab that had been abandoned when his family moved. He is a beautiful dog, very strong, very fast. He is also very loyal and smart. He knows basic obedience but is there any hope at this age to turn him into a duck dog? where do i start?

One good tip i was told by a trainer is to bring the dog everywhere you go. If you going for a short ride in the boat bring him. Helps him get used to alot of different smells and he wont be so wound up when you go somewhere new. Its important he knows who's his master. And time spent together is pretty much the best way imo.

Start with a duck dummy let him retreive. Be very repetetive and make it fun for him. He's a lab man im sure he'll pick up on it fast.

Depends on the dog but if you say he is a smart dog and he is willing to learn, start with basic obedience and get that down 100%. start simple with a long lead or rope with "here, heal & sit" at the same time, you should continue to throw marks applying the here heal and sit. if he takes the pressure ok then you can continue on to force fetching.

Go buy the first fowl dogs dvd and start there.

Sent from my SCH-I400

I got my lab as a rescue as well. He was approx 6 mos old at the time.

Didn't start training him (other than obedience) till he was around 1.

He has turned out fine as a duck dog.

I sent him to a trainer and he was able to work him and get him ok on duck dogging.....

He will never be a "grand" retriever or anything special as a retriever, but is a great companion and good hunting buddy. He is still learning too.

A lot of it will have to do with the dog's personality. My dog is a "soft" dog (who knows what happened the first 6 mos of his life?) and so was a little bit of a challenge for the trainer at first-he had to adjust to the dog.... He lacks a little bit of the fierce desire to retrieve but as long as things stay positive with him, he has a ball and can't wait to go.

If I left him with trainer longer might have got into blinds/doubles, etc.... but didn't have the money to spend or the desire to spend it.

The other suggestions are all dead on. Bond with him. Take him everywhere. As you become his master he will do about anything to please you-if he can figure out what that is. Work with him and see what he has but ease into it. Keep it upbeat and fun for now. Eventually get into some harder things like force fetch, collar conditioning, etc......

If you have never trained with a dog, I would suggest finding a trainer that understands that you want a hunting dog, not a field trial champion, and try to work a deal for a few months and get him the basics. And then get the trainer to show you what to work with him on. That is what I did. Not a lot of the trainers want to do this, so you may have to look around.

If you do it yourself, it is an everyday thing. Get one of the pubs/dvds that the guys recommend on here, and go for it. But consistency is the key. You have to put in the work.

My guess is he will be just fine as a duck dog if you get on it and work with him.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Post up some pics.

great I really appreciate the help and a little self confidence that this may work. I will get some pictures up asap. Caddo- If you dont mind sharing, how much did it cost you for the few months of training?

I am located in GA just south of Atlanta

Great looking dog!

The following is the contact for an HRC (Hunting Retriever Club). He may be able to put you in touch with a member (or two) from a nearby Atlanta club - NORTH GEORGIA HRC. With retriever training as the main focus this could prove to be a source for valuable advice and great new experiences. Good luck!

Matthew Dubnik,
3070 Laurel Springs Drive,
Gainesville , Georgia 30506
(678) 637-2912
mdubnik@fullmedia.com