Duck hunters with dogs... Need advice!

[Duck_hunter11]

What kind of food do y'all use?

[bowfisher1725]

I just feed a good quality food I get from my local fees store. It's called excel. It seems to do with digesting and keep there coat nice and good energy. A lot of ppl use pro plan, but I think blue wilderness has kinda moved to the top if the list. I would buy foods that avoid using ingredients that cause food allergies in dogs. My last lab had food allergies.

[Bill's Unlimited]

Purina Pro Plan Sport - Performance 30/20 Formula

This is a high protein (30%) for active dogs. Don't feed this if they are sitting on the couch...

We feed this to our lab and our JRT. It is what the kennel uses so I keep the lab on it all the time.

[JoseyWales82]

Thanks what's everyone's opinions on shock callers?

I have a friend that guides along the coast and hunts inlets around bays.

He said a shock collar has saved his dogs life numerous times because most dogs have such a drive that it sees a wounded bird fall WAY too far out and it will still go for it not knowing better. He says he rarely uses it, except for initial training and now just for emergencies.

I guess in flooded fields or small tanks it wouldnt matter.

[JoseyWales82]

I am also interested in getting a lab for a house pet, that also hunts. Mainly a house dog.

Whats everyones opinion on getting a "started" dog versus getting a puppy?

[Duck_hunter11]

Not the best pictures but I got him late last night, he is 7 weeks

[mooch]

As far as e-collars - When I pull the collar off the charger my lab starts bouncing off the walls with excitement for me to put it on him. He completely associates it with time to go do his job.

Same here. He goes NUTS when he hears the beep from turning it on. He loves that collar.

I have a friend that guides along the coast and hunts inlets around bays.

He said a shock collar has saved his dogs life numerous times because most dogs have such a drive that it sees a wounded bird fall WAY too far out and it will still go for it not knowing better. He says he rarely uses it, except for initial training and now just for emergencies.

I guess in flooded fields or small tanks it wouldnt matter.

No doubt about this. It can get dangerous quick for a dog on the bays. The collar helps out TREMENDOUSLY with this.

[mooch]

OP,

if you do go the collar route be sure to know exactly what the levels feel like. I've shocked myself on each level the collar has so that I know exactly how hard I'm shocking my dog.

Also, the shock is more to get their attention rather than burn their butt. My collar has 6 levels, if I remember correctly, and I hardly ever shock over 2.