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  1. #1
    Real Retriever alixb's Avatar
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    Not hunting: what can I do with her

    My Lab is now a city girl after growing up a kennel girl out in the country. She has a Junior Hunting title but I am not a hunter. I would love to keep her busy & active. What sport would you suggest? Rally obedience, agility? that sport where they fly off the dock into the water?

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    I would start with Rally. It's great for people just dipping their toes into performance. It's positive (you can talk to your dog, tell them "good dog", and praise them even during trails) and supposed to be fun. Anyone and any dog can do it and Rally Novice is on leash.

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    whichever one you think you would like to do with her Honestly I often pick class based on when they are given and what works for my schedule I personally like dock diving but that's dependant on their being a dock nearby and is a sporadic sport for many of us. I like Rally-o as it's less precise than obedience. Agility is a lot of fun too but classes are often a bit farther out.

    Not being a hunter I don't know that it would matter to a hunting dog which sport.

  4. #4
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    You have had some contacts in the Hunting Retriever circles since you have your JH. I don't hunt (ugh... up before the butt crack of dawn, schlepping out into the bitter cold to sit in an unheated duck blind and watch a pond with skim ice on it... plus I can't hit anything with a shot-gun, unless I'm using the stock like a club.)

    But I am pretty addicted to Hunting Retriever Tests.

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  6. #5
    Senior Dog
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    You might want to see if there are any Canadian Kennel Club Working Certificates tests in your area. These are nice simple tests that would keep your dog retrieving ( they do use ducks). Rally obedience has been suggested and that is fun. If you and your dog are high energy then agility is a possibility I just can't do the running around. We have done tracking with our dogs but found it a little too time consuming. Look for a local club or facility in your area, we have one that does all these and more. They have a games activity class where the dogs learn to do all kinds of tricks. Labs also love to do scent discrimination. Not sure where you are in BC but know there must be local CKC clubs somewhere in your area.

    Good luck luck. If you don't find an activity your dog will still benefit from long walks and your undivided attention.

  7. #6
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    [QUOTE=TuMicks;72772]You have had some contacts in the Hunting Retriever circles since you have your JH. I don't hunt (ugh... up before the butt crack of dawn, schlepping out into the bitter cold to sit in an unheated duck blind and watch a pond with skim ice on it... plus I can't hit anything with a shot-gun, unless I'm using the stock like a club.)

    Lmao. Amen

  8. #7
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    Bacon loves Dock diving!!! Its great for exercise in the off season for us.
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

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    Born: 9/02/13

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  9. #8
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    OUr rescue ESS was gun trained and the OH did hunt her but she was out far more often with me. She still hunted, I just didn't shoot. Whisper would look for birds, put them up, I'd tell she was good and we'd keep on hiking. We have thousands of acres to walk in so this worked fine for us.

    With the next dog, our first Lab, we sort of did the other way around. Got into agility but worked the dog on birds anyway. That sort of gave her a job to do while we were walking.

  10. #9
    Senior Dog
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    Really, I'd try all types of classes. Kimber and I took basic and intermediate obedience, rally, flyball, and agility. We did a one-day frisbee workshop. Basically, I signed us up for anything that came to our (rather isolated) area. She found rally to be a bit boring, got a little too into flyball (she'd *slam* into the boards and be limping the next day), and really hit her groove with agility. I encourage taking time to experiment and find a sport that works for both you and Hope.
    Stormageddon, Princess of Darkness, aka "Stormy"
    Birthday 9-13-18, Gotcha Day 11-11-18
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  12. #10
    Real Retriever alixb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BaconsMom View Post
    Bacon loves Dock diving!!! Its great for exercise in the off season for us.
    Now that is something I think she could do. Just don't know where yet. Will look into it. she flies when she is getting into the water.

 



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