Duck hunting can be a relaxing and enjoyable hobby to have, but being successful with it requires having the right tools for the job. A well-trained retriever can drastically improve your hunting ability by fetching your kills for you. To get the most from your hunting dog, it is vital to follow sound training practices, but if you have never owned this type of dog, this may seem like a confusing task. Luckily, there are two tips you can follow that will drastically improve the performance of your dog the next time you are duck hunting. 

Avoid Over-Training

It is vital to train your dog on a regular basis, but some well-meaning owners will make the critical mistake of over-training their dog. When this occurs, you can make the dog less likely to perform when you are in the field, and you can cause health problems due to overexertion. 

To avoid these issues, you should only train the dog according to a set schedule, and you should always closely monitor the animal for signs of fatigue. Ideally, you will want to mimic the activity of hunting as closely as possible for the dog, and this will entail ample rest between each retrieve. 

Avoid Using Sticks

It is a common tendency for people to throw sticks for their dog, but if you have a retriever, this can be a major mistake to make. There will often be times when your dog will have a difficult time finding the downed duck. If you have been throwing sticks for the animal, there is a good chance that it will get confused and bring you back a stick as opposed to the duck. 

If your animal ever does this, you will need to severely reprimand it for the mistake. Also, it will be necessary to step up the training until the habit is broken. Fortunately, it is usually possible to break dogs of this habit, and this will help ensure your hunting trips go smoothly. Instead, it's best to use retriever training supplies, such as those found at Dixie Dog Supply.

A retriever can dramatically reduce the difficulty of getting the ducks that you have downed while hunting. However, it is vital for these dogs to be highly trained, but if you have never owned one of these animals you may not understand the training process. By following these two tips, you can avoid making a couple of mistakes that can cause your retriever to fail to perform while in the field.