Duck Dog Tip of the Week: Introducing your Pup to Training Dummy

We all hope to instill a sense of drive in our puppies that they’ll carry with them into the field as they mature. The first steps include introducing your pup to his training dummy and getting him excited to play with it. This can be achieved with short sessions of playful retrieves in the hallway at home or in the yard. Limit your sessions to one or two minutes of fun retrieves, and then place the dummy out of reach until next time — leaving your pup wanting more. The training bumper should never be used as a chew toy. Consistently leaving your puppy desiring another retrieve with his bumper will keep his excitement and focus during your short play sessions, setting the stage for the more formal training to come.

Duck dog tip of the week brought to you by Eukanuba