Should I buy a started (retriever) dog?

In the market for a new hunting dog? Here is what you need to know.

If you are in the market for a new gun dog, or duck dog, you may be looking at all your options. Those options may include getting a puppy and starting from scratch or buying a started dog that has a little training under his belt. Or, if you really want a polished dog, maybe consider buying a finished dog. But that is a discussion for another post. Today, we are going to talk about ‘Should you buy a started dog?’

I am going to assume that most of you know what you are undertaking if you buy a puppy. Puppies are a lot of work and require a lot of attention. This is not a bad thing, just a fact of life. If you are considering a started dog, you may be hoping to avoid the puppy stage or are just anxious to get in the field with your new hunting partner. Regardless of the reason, here are some things you should consider.

What is a started retriever?

This is actually a really good question, because the definition varies widely. I have seen dogs sold as started that have never seen a bird and other dog’s that are two-years old and have been hunted quite a bit.

should i buy a started retriever dog? — Tigger and Rue, two of our started dogs as puppies

There is no solid definition of what a started dog is. That is why it is so important for you to ask the right questions. Here are some of the questions you may want answered if you are searching for a started hunting or gun dog:

How old is the dog?
What training has he/she had? Get specific:
- Is the dog obedience trained? – What commands?
- Has the dog been exposed to birds? – What kind and how often?
- Has the dog been exposed to gunshot? – How close to the dog? How does he/she handle it?
- Has the dog been whistle trained?
- Has the dog been electronic collar conditioned?
- Has the dog been force fetched?
- How long of marks can he/she do on land? On water?
Who did the training? What credentials?
Has he/she been swimming? How does she swim?
How is he around other dogs?
Are there any health issues?
What kind of health guarantee is there?
What is the pedigree? Did the mom and dad hunt? Compete?

In addition to these questions, it is also important to see the dog work, preferably in person, but at least in a video.

Advantages of buying a started gun dog

There are some advantages to buying a started dog vs getting a puppy. We have already mentioned the time and work a puppy takes, but here are some other advantages.

Know the size of the dog

If you are particular about the size of dog you want or how the dog looks, a started dog may be a good choice. Most started dogs are older so you can better judge what they look like and how big they are going to get. If the dog is close to a year old, you most certainly will be able to tell their body style, although many retrievers fill out as they age and get a little thicker.

Know the personality of the dog

While it is exceedingly difficult to know what the personality of a puppy is going to be like as he/she ages, a started dog is much easier. You can easily see if they are shy, timid, energetic, or loving. Much of the personality shines through by the time they are 6-7 months old.

Wash-outs vs. dogs specifically trained as started

Some dogs you see listed as started are actually wash-outs. A wash out is a dog that was purchased to compete in either field trials or hunt tests, and for some reason didn’t make the grade. There is nothing wrong with purchasing one of these as a started dog, but you really need to make sure you know what you are buying.

Some dog’s wash out because they are:

Aggressive with other dogs or people
Have low retrieving desire
Shut down with pressure, can’t handle correction
Not healthy, have conditions such as Exercise Induced Collapse or another health issues.
Too hyper, can’t settle down
Too noisy, making noise before, during or after the mark

Many of these issues can also be issues in the hunting blind, so be sure that you understand exactly what you are getting if you are looking at a wash-out for your started dog.

Value of a started retriever dog — Tigger is one of our trained dogs. Photo courtesy of his new owner.

The value of a retriever trained specifically for you

Every year, here at Otter Tail Kennels, we get dozens of calls from people looking for started retrievers. Many times, the person calling is looking for a cheap trained dog, something we don’t sell. We know the value of a retriever trained specifically for hunting. We produce excellent started and finished dogs because we train the dogs specifically for the owner.

Why good started dogs are not cheap

Producing good started dogs requires a lot of time and work.

Often, we invest seven months to a year of our lives in these dogs. In addition to the cost of the puppy, which often exceeds $1,000, we pay:

Transportation costs to get the dog home
All vet bills while we have the dog,
Food costs,
Live bird costs, and
Training costs.

In addition, we assume all the risk with these pups. If for any reason the pup isn’t able to be trained to the level requested, we absorb that cost.

So while the cost of trained dogs may seem high, if you consider all the time, money and effort that it requires, it is actually a great deal!

Our Custom Trained Hunting Retrievers

We used to buy a few pups a year, trained them and sold them as started dogs. But over the past couple years, we have found that our Select & Train program is a better option for everyone. With this program, we provide our clients with exactly what they want. It allows us to provide very specific training based on the needs of the buyer.

With Custom Trained Retrievers, our clients tell us what color of Labrador Retriever they want and what sex. From there we start the process with lots of research. We look for litters of retrievers that have proven lines. We want to know that the mom and dad are working dogs and have titles to prove it. We also want breeders that take pride in their litters and begin working on socializing and teaching and exposing the pups to new situations right away. And we want a health guarantee that we can pass on to our clients.

Once we pick up the puppy, we bring them right into our home. We take the time to socialize them to the house, people, and children. We work through all the aspects of our hunting training programs, focusing specifically on the client and how he/she hunts. As I previously stated, this means we often have and train the dog for seven months to a year. In the end, our clients have a well-trained, obedient hunting partner that will love and serve them for years to come.

In addition, we offer ongoing support to our clients with these dogs. If they have questions or concerns, they just give us a call. We encourage them to seek our help often and early for any small or large training issues they see. In this way, we can help our clients maintain the training long term.

Will the dog bond with me?

This is a common question from people considering a started or finished dog. Will the dog bond with me after being with you for so long? The answer is yes. We have had good luck with our trained dogs bonding with their new owners. Especially if the dog is a Labrador Retriever. Some breeds are a little more challenging, but Labs are amazingly easy going and quick to bond to new owners.

Final thoughts on should I buy a started retriever dog

Buying a started retriever is a good option for some people. If you don’t have the time to take care of a puppy and are unable to work on the training regularly, then a started dog may be a great option for you. But remember, there are some not-so-great started dogs for sale out there, so be diligent and make sure that you are buying a dog that will meet your needs and bring fulfillment to your life.

If you are looking for a dog that is ready to get in the field or the blind right away, consider one of our Select & Train dogs or a finished dog. Many started dogs are not hunter ready, so keep that in mind.

If you would like to talk to me about our Select & Train dogs or training for your retriever, you can email me (ottertailkennels@gmail.com) or just give me a call (651-303-6459). I would be happy to discuss your goals for your retriever and tell you about the programs I offer.

Until next time happy retrieving.