Marley leaps into action as soon as you let them off the leash. All you catch is a glimpse of golden fur as he dashes between bushes, trees, and any other poor object that’s in the way. Yes, your Golden retriever loves to chase birds, rabbits, and other animals. You love his energy and the indication that he may have a killer instinct. After all, you spend many an early morning stealthily maneuvering through fields with a rifle slung over your shoulder. Hunting has always been a favorite past time. But now you’d like to improve your results and you think you know just how to do so.
Training your Golden retriever to hunt would give you a formidable hunting companion. Marley could help you track and capture prey. It’s also a fantastic way to bond with your canine buddy. Not to mention, this sort of training will teach him a range of useful commands.
Training a Golden retriever to hunt is no easy feat. It will require discipline and will-power on both your parts. From as early an age as possible, you will need to familiarise Marley with his future prey. You will also need to naturally develop the hunting skills he needs if he is to be an effective hunter.
To do all this, you will need to use the right incentive. Fortunately, like most dogs, Golden retrievers have a soft spot for anything they can eat. So positive reinforcements will play an important role.
If Marley is just a puppy, then he should be eager to please and a fast learner. This means you could see results in just a month or two. But if your Golden retriever is older, stubborn and not such a great listener, then you may need several months. Stick with training and hopefully the days of returning home empty-handed will be over.
Before you and your Golden retriever can get to work, you’ll need to make sure you have a few things. You’ll need some decoy toys and scent spray. You will also need a generous supply of tasty treats or his favorite food broken into small pieces.
The other main component is time. Set aside around fifteen minutes each day for training. Bear in mind, the more frequently you train, the sooner you may see results. You’ll need a large yard, local fields, or your dog's future hunting environment to practice in.
Once you have all those boxes ticked, just bring patience and enthusiasm, then work can begin!