FS Digest

My wife and I are moving to a larger house and the stipulation was when we move I can get a dog (currently living in a town home). I want a labrador which I've always had growing up but would love to train him to stay close to me, enjoy the outdoors and stream, and be overall awesome hanging out with me. Few questions about it: what do you guys think about other guys who take dogs along? Have you ever had a negative situation with another dog on the stream? And the guys who take dogs with them, how did you train them and stay out of the way but close to you?

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by Flo_ren_tine

FS Digest

I had a lab that I would take fishing with me but out of the dozen or so dogs I’ve raised he was only one I’d take - more personality driven than behavior as they were all well trained.

- Training starts well before time on water. The dog should be able to follow you around suburbia without a lease without going off exploring or being distracted before you consider taking them to your fishing hole.

- If the dog is a water lover they likely aren’t a great fishing companion bc they’ll want to swim and that will ruin other people’s fishing.

- If the dog is too clingy/protective it could be a problem if they try to come out to you in swift current or try to tread water along side you and get tired.

My one dog is that was my fishing buddy loved the outdoors and hanging in water to cool off but not so much to actually swim. He had the personality of eyeore so not too excitable when someone is whooping about fish on (yes it happens) was friendly to everyone but too lazy/chill to worry about following them for attention. I never took him to super crowded spots/days. I taught him to stay down river as we worked our way up river as to not disturb anyone else upstream.

Only issue I ever had with fellow fisherman was when the dog out fished a guy. He was lazy but a fat lab so food motivated and would stalk pools on side of river and plunge head in to catch fish. I’d hear the splash turn my head and he’d be surfacing his head often with a little trout halfway down the hatch already.

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by shwoody17

FS Digest

My last yellow lab would follow me everywhere, loved outdoors, but hated water (weird, I know). I'd also like to train him for burden hunting and retrieval. What personality should I look for? Dominate or passive?

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by Flo_ren_tine

FS Digest

If you want a bird dog get a bird dog. Focus on that go to a breeder that breeds for hunting not companion dogs. And likely a great bird dog isn’t going to turn out to be a great fishing companion. See other comments in thread people have made they are on point but the traits you want in a hunting dog make them unlikely to the chill by side of river dog.

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by shwoody17

FS Digest

The dog occasionally comes on backpacking hiking with some fishing. He gets used to listening early on in the hike and its usually cool. Hes more tired than me after day 1 too, that's when I really hit the water. Less crowded locals too.

Otherwise nah, never. I'd rather focus on the river, he needs a lil supervision and dosent love water, and other Fisherman would rather not.

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by ommanipadmehome

FS Digest

I fish with a Labrador. Wouldn't go without her. She stays close, behind me and out of my backcast. Knows her way around a driftboat real well.

I've NEVER had anyone say anything remotely negative. I've got friends that I fish with and she digs them and they dig her. Besides, and while this has never happened, anyone that's not 100% OK with her coming along doesn't get to fish with me anymore. Love me, love my dog.

And two guys I fish with regularly have Labs, too. Their dogs are welcome as hell in my car and my driftboat, along with my dog. They get along fine.

You get her trained up right and you'll enjoy your fishing at least 20% more. Until, and this is sad, the day comes when she's too old for it and you have to make her stay home. The look you'll get will be devastating. It'll haunt you for a long time.

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by DancesWithTrout

FS Digest

I have a mutt that we assume is a hound terrier, and he’s not good fishing. Too prey driven and he doesn’t have much patience.

So, I’ve learned to be very selective about when/where I take him. Pretty much only take him to small creeks that are either encompassed with brush or in small valleys.

I’d imagine he’ll screw someone’s pool up one day, but for now he’s been doing fairly well following me along in controlled environments.

Recognized he’s not a good fit for larger and busier rivers.

All this to say, know your dog and if they’re even capable of staying out of others water/space.

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by mistaaT

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

This ones mate just had a litter about 6 weeks ago, he will watch your bobber all day long but never tell you if it goes under.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Start training at day one around the house. Baby steps at first, rewards, and plenty of play time. Take him/her to training school at the appropriate time. Both a dominate or passive dog will be loyal, the dominate will have some quirks because he wants to be in charge. The passive might be slow to respond to commands but will come around eventually once its confidence increases.

On the boat just the two of you for awhile and have patience. If he or she does not work out that will be a tuff obstacle. You and the dog have already formed a bond and transitioning him or her to another will scar more than you can imagine.

Raw Dawg Ron Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Just a note bout labs. Hi spirited dogs need lots of attention. They do not get lazy until old and grey, gotta play a-lot and retrieve things. Very active dogs not a lap dog per say. What fun they are!

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Good luck, but I hope you don't need it, but you probably will.

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

I’ve had golden retrievers since 1964 and I’ve taken them with me everywhere, including stream fishing and fishing on my rowboat. Only once did I lose a fish because of the dog and only once did one get a hook tangled in the fur. One of my dogs actually caught a trout on his own. In fact, that was the same dog that caught a wood duck 🦆 that hadn’t been shot. Unfortunately ducks weren’t in season and I couldn’t keep the duck.

pb1 Loc: Nassau County, NY

I don't have a dog, but I enjoy watching YouTube videos by professional dog trainers. Stonie Dennis in Lexington, KY has some fine ones on training Labrador puppies, which he does on his farm.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

My dog(1/2 lab - 1/2 rotwieler) goes fishing with me all the time in the boat. She is great and will watch my bobber for me while I fish lures on a second rod. If the bobber goes down, she starts dancing around with excitement.She loves to “kiss” the fish before I release or string them.She’s been fishing with me since she was a puppy.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas