Dog training

I sent my dog to a trainer about 2 months ago for gun dog training. I got a call yesterday that I needed to come get her. They said she wasn't progressing and that she didn't have any drive. She wasn't progressing thru force fetch and would retrieve 5 or 6 times then get to where she wouldn't retrieve after that. Is this a common problem and what should I do from here. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds like you have a good pet and companion for the next 10 years

So you don't think that any amount of work at home now would help. She has all basic commands down she will sit, stay, place, and heel.

Is the dog from a good bloodline of working dogs?

I’m no expert trainer but I think drive is one of those things that really the dog either has it or he doesn’t. A decent dog hunt’s for his owner….a great dog hunts because he loves it.

Her dad is one of the best duck dogs I've ever been around. Her mom is good as most. No champions or anything like that in her blood line but all good hunting dogs.

How old is dog?

about 9 months

Pm sent

The trainer is being honest. The dog doesn't fit his program and he doesn't want to take your money and not produce the expected results. You now have a well trained pet.

If you want to try it yourself then get some live ducks and see if that excites the dog. If not and you still want a duck dog then rehome the pup and start over.

Give the dog some time and make retieves as fun as possible with the obedience she already knows. Then maybe send her back for an evaluation. My dog was ape chit crazy from 9 months to about 18 months. Almost gave him away. He is now a great great dog and hunter.

Was she exhibiting "drive" and interest in retrieving and working before she went to trainer?

She was retrieving some before we sent her. We never made her retrieve for too long at one time. It was always just a few minutes here and there didn't want to make her loose interest. I have never pushed her very hard before she was only about 7 months old when we sent her.

PM Sent

2 of the best labs I had when I used to guide would not retrieve much in the yard. Old Shadow would never pick up a stick, bumper or a ball. Nothing except a bird. He was a beast in the marsh. My little Cajun would retrieve a few times in the yard and then had no interest. You grabbed a gun and she was nothing but business. Her 1st hunt in the marsh at 8 months she retrieved 18 ducks and 3 specklebellies and never looked back after that. It may be because all I trained them with was a teal. So don't give up hope.

thanks for the encouragement marsh. I am planning on taking her on every dove and duck hunt for the rest of the season and see how she does. We are going to keep working her in the yard too. We raise chickens and quail so I am going to sacrifice one or two of the quail and see how she does.

I had one I trained that wouldn't pick up a biscuit when he brought her to me. It took me about 5 weeks to get her through FF and then I just started throwing her a few short bumpers and made her pick them up. Before long she was retrieving and had tons of drive. She was 3 1/2 when I got her. She got her started title about a month ago. This dog is one of the best marking dogs I have ever worked with. She is a Rascal/Maggie pup out of my first litter and the reason I took her in.

You find the right key to unlock that certain drive point whether it's prey,hunt,fight,ball drive,food,etc you can train any dog. It's just going to take time lots of it and double your patience to find out which one to base your training on. You can gain a lot of wisdom in a situation like this that will be in your arsenal for your next dog/dogs.