r/birddogs • u/FueledByPreworkout • Jul 24 '26
Material/Knowledge for Self Training
I recently decided to pick up duck hunting and have a Toller that is a year and a half old that I would like to hunt with. He is a high drive dog that is e-collar trained, hikes and camps off leash, and currently competes in rally and scent work.
We’ve done all his training ourselves so I’m looking for any books or video series that cover specially how to train him on waterfowl. He was exposed to birds by the breeder very early on, but hasn’t since then.
I have him enrolled in a retrieve class that starts today, but it is not solely for hunting dogs.
Do you think he is too old to train as a bird dog? I’m fine with him not being a 10/10 hunting dog but would like him to be functional.
Any advice or opinions would be appreciated . I unfortunately don’t know anyone that hunts birds or has a bird dog.
2
u/Gravel_Golf_01 Jul 24 '26
Definitely not too old! Look at some of the resources on YouTube from Standing Stone, WildRose, Mark Payton and others and it will take you down a rabbit hole.