Quick Breaks Are Helpful: Giving Your Retriever Some Time Off

If you're worried about taking a short break from retriever training, you're not alone! One of the most common questions about gundog training is, "How long is too long to take time off with your retriever?" The reality is that hunting season can be tough on a dog, both physically and mentally. Many water dogs end the season a little behind in their training compared to where they started.

Giving your duck-hunting dog a short break once the season ends can be incredibly beneficial. Your retriever has probably earned some rest between traveling, navigating cold water, and enduring demanding hunts. And let’s face it—most of us duck hunters are pretty worn out too. Taking a break won't be detrimental to you or your dog; in fact, it can be a great opportunity to recharge.

Making the Most of Your Time Off

While taking a break from retriever training, it's helpful to start planning your training strategy for when you resume. Reflect on the past season and consider what your gundog struggled with. Were there any specific challenges or behaviors—good or bad—that stood out to you?

Once you have a solid assessment of the season, you can begin mapping out your training plan for the spring. Address the key issues you faced and work on making improvements for the next season. Plan your first few training sessions based on the weather and your schedule, and choose the location based on the specific skills you want to focus on. Be flexible with your drills and willing to adjust as needed to suit your dog's skill level and progress.

When Should You Start Training Again?

Deciding when to resume training depends on several factors. If your schedule is busy, don't stress about taking a few days or even a couple of weeks off. Weather is another important consideration. After waterfowl season, many parts of the United States still experience harsh winter conditions. If the ground is covered in snow, it will be challenging to run marks and drills effectively. Cold weather can also affect a dog's attitude toward training, as it may not be as thrilling as a hunt.

A good rule of thumb for water training is to wait until the combined water and air temperature reaches at least ninety degrees Fahrenheit. Attitude is crucial, and you want to ensure your dog is enthusiastic and ready to work. If your retriever doesn’t have a double coat, such as an English Springer Spaniel or a Golden Retriever, you need to be particularly cautious about cold temperatures. Even dogs with thick coats, like Labrador Retrievers or Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, can be at risk in cold water during training.

Typically, I aim to get back to training when I see a mild day in the forecast and have caught up on all the chores I neglected during the hunting season. If the water is still cold, consider focusing on land-based training initially.

Monitor Your Dog's Health and Nutrition

It's essential to keep an eye on your dog's nutrition and overall health. While most of us strive to maintain our dog's weight and muscle tone throughout the season with a healthy diet, some dogs may eat less while traveling or lose weight from working overtime. Ensure your dog is well-rested and back to a healthy weight before diving into your spring training regimen.

Choosing the Right Training Location

If you have access to multiple training locations, start in a familiar area, especially if you've taken a break. New locations introduce new challenges, so beginning somewhere familiar can help ease your dog back into training. Once you're back in the groove and making progress, you can explore new spots to continue building your dog's skills and generalizing behaviors.

Choose locations with the terrain and features that align with your training goals. For example, if you're focusing on long casting drills or marks, ensure you have ample space. If you want to work on land factors like hills or cover changes, find a field with varied terrain. The natural features of the training site should mimic your hunting environments, providing a realistic setting for your retriever.

What to Focus on When You Start Back

Your training focus should be guided by your assessment of the last hunting season. Identify the most significant challenges your retriever faces and develop a plan to address them. Here are a few examples to help guide your training sessions this spring:

1. Addressing Specific Issues: A friend of mine has a Boykin Spaniel who struggled with running blind retrieves, particularly over levy roads near their hunting blind. To address this, he plans to find training areas with similar terrain and run various casting drills, teaching his dog to navigate across levies and into water effectively. By using walking baseball, pattern blinds, white bucket drills, and cold blinds, he aims to build his dog's confidence and skill in handling similar scenarios.

2. Preventing Bird Switching: One of my advanced retrievers tended to switch birds if he saw another downed bird on his way to or from a retrieve. This can lead to losing a crippled bird if it's not retrieved promptly. I plan to run drills where the dog must ignore high-value rewards to retrieve lower-value ones, gradually increasing the challenge until he reliably ignores distractions.

Be Creative and Aim for Progress

Whatever challenges you encounter, you can get creative in finding ways to overcome them. While it's a bit disappointing that hunting season is over, the good news is that you have several months to continue building and shaping your retriever into a highly skilled hunting partner. There's no rush to get back into training. Take your time, develop a solid game plan, and ensure your retriever is even more prepared for next season.

By approaching training thoughtfully and methodically, you can help your retriever reach new levels of performance and enjoyment in the field. For more tips and guidance on preparing your retriever, click here.