fishing dog training

[Brian Sloss]

I've got a 7 month old yellow lab and I'd like to take him fishing. Until recently he never really showed much interest in leaving my side, but now he is getting bolder and constantly swiming in my fishing hole. I don't want to discourage his swimming, I just want him to stay out of my hole until I'm done. He is fine in the boat, but when we get out to wade he can get in the way. Does anyone have a dog that fishes with them and how is the best way to train them to behave at the fishing hole?

[Phil Lilley]

I'd say general obedience training... minding your commands. That and time, maturity. It's hard to calm a pup when they get excited!

[LostMyWife]

Brian

I agree with Phil. The maturity part is where it's at. I take my Dalmation with me. Bailey used to chase everything that moved. As she got older, I found that a dog treat and a place for her to be was all she needed. Keep in mund I am talking about bank fishing, but there was a time that she would not stay out of the water either. Now she lays next to me. I drink and fish, she lays down and sleeps.

She does get a bit excited whenever I bring in a fish. She has learned not to mess with a big channel cat, the hard way.

There is nothing like fishing with your friends, especially the four legged kind.

[Phil Lilley]

I got a black lab as a pup back about 1988- fantastic dog, both in the field, at the resort- wherever she went.

January 1990, we went over to Bull Shoals and fished below the dam for browns. With me were Jim & Phyliss Johnson from Baldwin, MI. I took Bo... what a mistake.

It was rainey all day. No generation. The lake level was up just a bit. There were browns all over the place and we were hooking them readily. But Bo kept it interesting. I could keep her out of the water- until one of us would hook a fish. Then she thought she needed to retreive it. She'd blow through the run and chase even brown to deep water.

It was frustrating at the time but I chuckle everytime I think about that day.