Speaking of risking one's life to save a dog, I was wondering if anyone has advice on teaching a dog to be a well-behaved fishing companion. When I take my
dog with me fishing, he instinctively jumps into the water and chases my fly line. If I leave him on the bank and wade in, he will bark incessantly at me or
jump in and swim to me. I think he senses that I'm in some kind of danger and becomes alarmed. So it's impossible to take him along on most fishing
trips, and we've spiraled down into a cycle of fewer and fewer training opportunities. In non-fishing situations, he is exceptionally well-behaved.
Retrieves the newspaper on a daily basis from the end of the driveway. Obeys commands; heels properly. He's a large breed dog but never goes after other
dogs or threatens people. He's an impeccable watch dog and sweet family companion. He loves the water and loves to swim. When I do take him along to fish,
I patiently work with him to control his behavior but with little progress. Those excursions turn into long walks along the river carrying a rod in one hand
and a leash in the other. Does this situation sound familiar? Any advice or training shortcuts would be greatly appreciated.
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You Can Lead a Dog to Water, but Can You Make Him Fish?
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 RPL |
You Can Lead a Dog to Water, but Can You Make Him Fish? |
Lead | ||
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Posts: 132 03/07/2009 12:49 |
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kimk |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 627 03/07/2009 13:24 |
I grew up with golden retrievers and had a few myself over the years. I could never take them fishing. They are water dogs, and if they see water they just
have to get in it. And if they think you threw something in the water they just have to retrieve it. Bucky was trained well enough that he would obey and stay
out of the water but it just wasn't fair. I decided it was kinder to leave him at home.
AgMD |
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gofish60 |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 1950 03/07/2009 13:33 Registered User |
My experience with my Labs was about as stated above. They'd get into the water, and when a fish is on, try to retrieve it.
gofish |
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 quashnet |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 2493 03/07/2009 13:52 Moderatus Muscae |
There must be some variation of training a dog to behave appropriately in a duck blind that would apply to this situation. A duck hunter can't allow his
dog to leap randomly into the water whenever it wishes. It seems to me that in fact you would want the dog to be still and silent as the ducks are approaching,
and of course you need the dog to be absolutely immobile and under control at the most exciting moment - when the hunter rises from concealment and fires the
shotgun. You can't have the dog wildly jumping out of the blind just at the moment when you are shooting. The dog must be still until you command it to go
into the water and fetch the duck.
So although this is not my area of expertise, logically it seems to me that a good book or tape on training dogs for duck hunting from a blind might have ideas transferable to the trout stream.
Quashnet's Paul H. Young Rod Database has photos and descriptions of over
430 PHY Co. rods, plus catalogs, accessories, etc. Thank you to all
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kimk |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 628 03/07/2009 15:01 |
Quashnet, you are exactly right. Retrievers are taught to hold on "sit" until commanded to "fetch". But they expect that command and will
sit there shaking and quivering in anticipation until it is given. It is what they live for and denying them the game is just cruel. I think it would be a bit
like sitting on the banks of a river, with an awesome hatch, rod in hand, only to be told that you can't fish. If I were made to sit on the bank under
those conditions I think I might bite someone on the leg.
AgMD |
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quashnet |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 2494 03/07/2009 15:26 Moderatus Muscae |
I see what you mean. Although you would reward the dog for carrying out a good "fetch," in part the "fetch" is itself part of the reward
for carrying out a good "sit," because a retriever breed is to some degree hard-wired to go into the water and retrieve. It is hard to know how you
would effectively reward a water-loving retriever for sitting patiently on the bank for hours while you fish.
Quashnet's Paul H. Young Rod Database has photos and descriptions of over
430 PHY Co. rods, plus catalogs, accessories, etc. Thank you to all
who continue to send me PHY rod photos and info.
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RPL |
Towards a Possible Solution | #6 | ||
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Posts: 133 03/07/2009 20:34 |
To All -- Many thanks for your insights, which have given me an idea. My German shepherd, unlike a lab, should probably not feel genetically compelled to jump
in the water and retrieve. So I was going to try to train him to sit and hold while I cast on the lawn. If I succeed, I'll then try it on the water. If he
can't manage to behave on the lawn, then the river is hopeless. The lawn is also a place where it's easier to experiment, and it's easier to get
to. It also helps to avoid the wet-dog-in-the-car syndrome. If this works, can I patent it? Copyright?
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bearbutt |
Dobs & Ducks | #7 | ||
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Posts: 258 03/07/2009 21:22 |
Thats's odd--my doberman LOVES water--though to be fair, she's only part doberman. The other half is Paraguayan jungle mutt: 
This was on the Big Blackfoot in Montana when she was 9. Now that she's 12, she's a little more laid back and content to play ghillie for me, as she's doing in my avatar. However, she does fish, by which I mean: she'll look for fish, even point them, and bite at them (she puts her head under the water in the process). She's best on larger rivers, where we can go separate ways--on smaller streams, like Wisconsin Spring Creeks, she has a nasty habit of concentrating her attention at the very place I am concentrating my attention, which can be a problem. bb |
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Southbranch |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 399 03/08/2009 00:07 |
After watching me wade and fish dry flies to rising fish a few times, Rufus, my first German Shepherd, figured that he would "help" me find trout. He
would sneak upstream and spot them from the bank. The fish would get spooked and come tearing downstream toward me (and keep right on going). I would holler at
him and order him to sit and stay on the bank behind me, while I went further upsteam past the stretch he had worked. He would get bored, and fifteen or twenty
minutes later, I'd see trout coming downstream at full speed again.
He also liked to play "leaping trout" when I practiced casting in the back yard with a bit of yarn for a fly. Sometimes he'd catch the fly in mid-air and I'd try to reel in all 105 lbs. of him. If I let the line go slack, he would drop the fly and we'd do it all over again.
Last Edited By: Southbranch 03/08/2009 00:15.
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RPL |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 135 03/08/2009 00:13 |
Southbranch -- That's funny. I can imagine a dog doing just that. Wow, wouldn't it be something, if you could teach a dog to point out fish the way
that setters point to birds.
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bluejayee |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 665 03/08/2009 00:13 |
Hi Guys, Get a hound. They hunt, therefore they're gone all the time. Of course, they do swim. My dumb hound swam right next to a rock face I was
fishing, Oh well, forget that hole. But, but, wait what's this, a fish? An 18" Brown it was. She usually walks up and jumps right in the water
I'm fishing ending all hope. I always take her. Jay Edwards
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Wyfish |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 41 03/08/2009 11:22 |
STAY....
I find few things more pleasant than fishing with my dog. I have not been tested by retrievers, but have some experience with Airedales and now a Rotteweiler. I have fished with my dogs for many years and have found it is largely a matter of patience and practice. Young dogs have little patience and soon are distracted by birds, bugs, or just curiosity. They do not get to go fishing. By a year and a half, most dogs can be acceptable fishing companions. Training just involves lengthening the time and distance before release. Practice can start indoors and need not be on the water. Do not forget to call for your dog and praise them for a good stay. On arrival while rigging up, let the dog run a bit to take the edge off. It takes a good bit of patience to teach a dog to stay on command for more than 5 minutes, but it sure helps one's fishing. |
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ayres654 |
Lab instincts | #12 | ||
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Posts: 66 03/08/2009 20:54 |
Not even a little bit related to fishing,but I recall a young black Lab many years ago on a small public beach that was most insistant on reteiving me.I am a
fairly decent swimmer,but it became a bit difficult with one arm being gently mouthed and being pulled to shore.Never did find his owner,but I was one of many
that "got saved that afternoon.
neat memory, Bill H |
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mtn |
re dogs and water | #13 | ||
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Posts: 449 03/09/2009 10:24 |
Both dogs I've had in the recent past both had issues with fishing and water. The first Ashley an aussie was just scared to death of it, stayed a
comfortable distance along the bank and wait for me and would relax and have here own fine time. The second a husky, Tanner was the opposite, loved to swim
and spook fish, even when I'd take the boat out on the lake he'd immediately jump out swim about until he had his fun then climb back in and shake
soaking me and covering the boats bottom with a few inches of water, sounds funny and I laugh about it now but not much fun at the time. Needless to say
Tanner stayed home not only for my sake as I felt others wouldn't appreciate it on public waters I frequent. Unfortunately I had 2 other experiences with
other fisherman's dogs that weren't very pleasant on public water. Their dogs repeatedly swam in areas I was fishing, spooked fish and became quite
annoying. In both cases the anglers didn't seem to be annoyed and seemed unconcerned but I thought it was rude on there part and mentioned it, to the
master not the dog and moved on. Thinking back, maybe their dogs were we'll trained.... at clearing out other anglers.
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fishnbanjo |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 5951 05/05/2009 06:37 the Canefather |
Get a pointing breed.............
 
banjo
Fly fishing is my Quisisana (the name is Italian for "place where one heals one's self.") "...... SLG Visit my website about Bamboo rods... Fishnbanjo's Place |
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pmag |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 412 05/05/2009 08:09 |
On a trip up the Cour de Alene several years ago with my lab, Emma, I was catching small trout on dry flies. I would bring them in and Emma was right there
waiting. I would bring in a fish, unhook it, and Emma would give it a sniff as it swam out of my hand. I was catching fish about evey cast and Emma was beside
herself in expectation. I walked downstream to where I could see some large trout nymphing. I was there about five minute trying to take a trout with Emma at
my side. Soon Emma ran beck to the old spot and looked at me and started barking. when I didn't go back she came to get me. We went back to her spot and
the smaller fish.
The next day we went to another spot where larger fish were rising. I caught a 15 incher, released it as Emma had a sniff and started casting to other rises. Emma went in the water and started swimming to evey rise. "Right here, boss". She is an old and happy dog now but her back legs are going and it breaks my heart. She is well loved. |
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MFRS |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 404 05/06/2009 20:03 |
RPL wrote:This dog needs to be rewarded with a jump in another body of water before the fishing commences, my lab slows down when she has had enough of the water. Maybe a leather bone after play time will keep your dog busy on the beach as you fish the pool, when I move somewhere else the lab just picks up the bone and lies down to where I moved too. If this does not work, then professional lessions to learn command words should work but the end result is the dog needs to be rewarded with what she/he loves, water. |
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Dewardian |
dogs and fishing | #17 | ||
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Posts: 66 05/07/2009 07:53 |
Max our five year old Wirehair Pointing Griffon is an occasional fishing companion. Though his main focus tends to be exploring and frogs.
In boats on lakes he is a disaster......... in the boat, out of the boat........ the happy medium does not last long. WPG's are an energetic, curious breed, very much at home in the water. When kayaking on rivers he will run the bank, swim along, and climb aboard when he gets tired, ( Which is not often). The key is to not go faster than he is comfortable with. As a fising companion and Alpha male, he has to be in the lead......... this also spooks fish. So if the plan is to catch fish, and have the dog with me, I have most success when fishing upstream, and he walks the bank. Fishing downstream, he is in explorer mode and in and out of the river, there are log jams and structures to climb and explore, and streams to traverse, though he is gradually getting the idea that walking the bank and exploring gets him more "good boys" than being in casting range. Fish slow and fish upstream. We mostly fish/explore the same familiar stream.......... If there is the likleyhood of there being othe anglers, he stays home. |
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the abandoned brane |
#18 | |||
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Posts: 136 05/16/2009 23:16 |
My dog is a pest. He annoys me and other fisherman. And loves to swim though prime holes and has this habit of drifting freely with the current past
fisherfolks. I catch more fish without him than with. Having said that, he goes fishing with me almost always. Unless its winter and the water is icy(he has
arthritis), I'm heading to an area where there will be crowds or I'm traveling to unfamiliar waters.
Last Edited By: the abandoned brane 05/16/2009 23:19.
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