Most of us have either experienced, or at least seen, a hunting buddy go through the pain of shooting a bird and watching the dog go out only to mouth it, drop it, play with it, roll on it, and then leave it. The humiliation deepens as the hunter wades out in the mud or hikes down the mountainside to ingloriously pick up their own bird while everyone watches smugly. To add insult to injury, the dog is likely following along happily jumping around and wagging its tail as if the experience is as good as it gets. It pretty much ruins the rest of the day for both hunter and dog, with the hunter trying to keep a lid on the irritation and the dog not fully hunting as it senses its owner’s frustration. It isn't the dog's fault though, it’s the hunter’s fault for not helping the dog understand the desired outcome though proper training.

I would compare a hunting dog who doesn’t retrieve to having a 4-wheel drive truck in which the four-wheel drive doesn’t work. In both cases of the dog and the truck, you’re not going places and accomplishing things you would have if your tool worked to its maximum potential.

If you have a dog who completes successful retrieves to hand, you know it’s hard to find any hunting experience better than that. A bird dog and hunter firing on all cylinders, working in tandem to execute the full game plan, is a thing of beauty. This special experience is a partnership uniting canine and man in a common, primal—yet weirdly domestic—outdoor cause.

Foster Natural Behaviors and Retrieving

The first few months of a pup's life should consist of simple fun tasks meant to foster natural abilities, desired behaviors, and build a relationship of trust and companionship. Use this framework to awaken and encourage your puppy’s retrieving behavior without any pressure. Fun drills in a direct and strategic manner will bring out the retrieve behavior in your new hunting companion. And I chose my words purposefully by saying ‘retrieve behavior’ rather than ‘natural retrieve.’ Our hunting dogs are descendants of wild pack animals and the natural instinct for those wild dogs was to devour dead game, not pick it up softly and take it to another dog in the pack, let alone humans. I believe this has been carried down through genetically related generations, and it is why a pup's first instinct is to grab something and run away while death shaking it. It’s a behavior stored in their ancient souls as carnivorous wild pack animals trying to stay alive.

But our modern hunting dogs have a psychological override mechanism for these ancestral behaviors, and it’s their innate desire to please us humans. Our job is to guide them in making those pleasing decisions, which in turn makes them happy too. During the early puppy stage, I encourage you not to even think of it as retrieving, just think of it as encouraging the behavior of your dog ‘coming’ to you when it has something in its mouth. Here are a few tips for encouraging that behavior.

How to Encourage a Puppy’s Retrieve

1. No Tug-Of-War: Most of us have done this at some point. Playing tug-of-war with a pup comes natural to both human and pup. Although it seems fun and playful, tug-of-war leads to future challenges in bringing the bird back and releasing the bird.
2. Barter: I suggest bartering in exchange for the fetching dummy using some sort of treat. A pup’s natural instinct is to hold on for dear life. This is where the previously discussed tug-of-war ends up happening. Instead, entice the pup to release the fetching dummy using a tasty treat instead of some sort of pressure. This also encourages the pup to make its own decision to achieve positive outcomes, rather than you forcing it.
3. Use Obstacles: Use your environment as a tool for success. When playing fetch, choose an area that forces the pup to run straight away and straight back. This will limit the pup’s desire to run around, and play keep away. A hallway is a perfect example of this. When throwing an object in the hallway, the pup has to go directly to it, pick it up, and the only option is to come back to you.
4. One-On-One: Keep these retrieving sessions as simple as possible by eliminating other people and dogs. Doing so puts your focus on the pup, and the pup’s focus on you. Pretty simple.
5. Repetition for Success: Puppies will be puppies; some days seem like you are moving forward, while other days it is a step back. One of the easiest ways a new bird dog owner can become discouraged is by over expecting. Instead of moving on when a pup does well with something, continue to reinforce the same skill repeatedly.
6. Short Training Sessions: With a pup, keep training drills short because their attention span is also short. Keeping these drills short also leaves them wanting more, so they will be excited for the next session.
7. Have Fun: This goes for both the owner and the pup. Make sure every play/training session is enjoyed by the both of you. A dog is acutely aware of your tone and mood. You are the leader. If you are not enjoying the training, neither will the pup.

Build a Relationship Now for Future Success

The bond you build now with your hunting pup will set the stage for future success, not only in the field but at home too. Positivity and fun are your best tools to bring out desired abilities and behaviors during these critical first few months of your puppy’s life. Good luck, and enjoy the process, because soon they’ll be grown up, and you’ll be left longing for the days when they were a puppy.