It Was My Fault

I acquired Shadow at the age of 4-months where he was mistreated and scheduled to be put down if a home was not found for him. He hated water, hated men and hated to go downstairs into a basement. After 5 exasperating months I managed to put 2 of these 3 problems to bed (hating men and water). During this time I also trained him the command of fetch for sending him out to retrieve. Keep in mind that this was my first attempt to train a hunting dog.

Okay opening season of duck hunting arrived and with another friend we headed out to cover some ponds that were adjacent to each other. On the way there I told my friend of how Shadow had really taken to retrieving and that the days of retrieving ducks with chest waders was going to be a thing of the past. When we arrived my friend took position at one pond and I with Shadow at the other. As it became light and legal shooting time a flock of wood ducks flew into my friend’s location and he shot 3 ducks. The ducks then flew around and again returned to my friend’s location where he shot 2 more.

After the second folly my friend yelled out that there were some ducks here for Shadow to retrieve. I confidently came over to his location with Shadow, put my shotgun and gear down in preparation to give Shadow my full attention. Shadow gleefully followed me to the waters edge and was fully focused on me. Out on the water lay 4-ducks and the fifth one had fallen in tall marsh grass. Here I raised my hand and gave the command fetch. To my surprise Shadow just gave me a funny look but stayed focused on me. I outstretched my hand giving the command fetch. Again Shadow did not move and gave me that funny look. Well after 4-5 tries my friend began to laugh and said he would search and retrieve the downed duck in the tall marsh grass while I had a heart to heart talk with Shadow. This angered me somewhat but a little reminder I had read surfaced that if a dog did not respond properly then the owner was doing something wrong.

Okay I began to rethink about our practiced retrieval sessions and the light all of a sudden came. During our sessions I always through a dummy out and as it hit the water gave the command retrieve. Shadow was waiting for me to throw something. Okay I picked up a rock instead of a floating stick and tossed it to the closest duck on the water. As the rock hit the water I said fetch and Shadow immediately swam out there. But when he arrived where the rock hit the water near the duck there was nothing there. He then looked over to the duck and I yelled fetch again. To my delight he grabbed the duck and brought it back. Boy did I praise him and gave him a hug getting myself wet and muddy in the process. I then pointed out to the next closest duck and said fetch. Spotting the next duck on the water he took off after it and brought it in. Again praise and hug to let him know of my pleasure of what he was doing. Then a repeat for the third duck followed by that 4th duck retrieve.

Now you have to remember my friend was out of sight looking for the duck he downed in the tall marsh grass. Boy talk about perfect timing, my friend was just coming out of the marsh grass with the fifth duck and caught sight of Shadow approaching the 4th duck, grab it and bring it back to shore. Needless to say there was no smirk or laugher on my buddy’s face as it was replaced with amazement at what was happening. I imagine he saw a smile of satisfaction on my face now with all 4 ducks on shore.
There were many more adventures shared with Shadow that have left me with many fond memories. He was only 10-months old on his first hunt and only got better including blind retrieves.


Ed