STARTED PROGRAM

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This is an approximately four-month program and is designed for owners who desire a basic hunting dog or a "started retriever." In this program, all dogs are introduced to birds, training dummies, boats, decoys, ATV's, hunting blinds, dog stands, etc. Following the obedience phase of training, we move on to force training, which teaches the retriever to pick up the bird on command and properly hold the bird until instructed to release it to hand. This will prevent your hunting dog from chewing, chomping or eating the birds. Once the retriever has progressed successfully through these phases, we move on to the marking phase of training. Retrievers who complete this phase of training will be conditioned to gunfire, steady to shot, able to mark and retrieve at least a single fallen bird on land or water and deliver that bird to hand. Most dogs that finish this program are able to complete a multiple marked retrieve.