Hello,
I put my Blue Heeler through the pack leader training and my boyfriend is putting his dog through pack leader training now as well. His dog was running the show in his home, doing whatever he liked. He has some dominance issues now. He is a black lab that my boyfriend uses for hunting. So in this training, can the dog be off a leash to fetch at all? My boyfriend said this is necessary for the dog because he is a hunter and retrieves ducks when hunting. I automatically told him that anytime off a leash is earned, but I am not sure how that applies to hunting dogs.

Thanks!

Is the dog currently hunting/retrieving or is this just your boyfriend grousing about having to have the dog on a leash?

Off leash and under immediate control would probably be fine. Off leash with the option to "flip you the furry finger" would not be. Meaning if the dog is very e-collar proficient to the point of having an "invisible leash" I would be fine with some retrieve practice/drills with the dog immediately going back on leash afterwards. If the dog is giving you respect issues like blowing off commands/direction off leash then fixing the pack structure issue needs to take priority over sport-specific stuff. He will find he progresses a lot faster and with less frustration if the respect foundation is there.

Slow is fast.
Fast is slow.

I just switched jobs to a working dog kennel. These dogs are off leash proficient but don't know me. Some have a history of iffy handling. They are being worked on a 6 ft leash with me until the respect and relationship is there. Going off leash would just result in a lot of high corrections and resentment. I would probably be bitten as well. Just not worth it.

How old is the lab?

How far in his retriever training is he?

Is he now used for hunting?

If so how, reliable is the retrieve?

If the retrieve isn't reliable then I'm 100% with Cathy on the "no off leash" training.

All that will do is leave an opening for more issues and do nothing but create further training issues.

"IF" the dog is crazy about retrieving then us a duck bumper/retriever bumper as a reward for good obedience with marker training.

Marker training as in motivational, reward based training and not marking fallen birds.

That can be done on a long line to give the dog more freedom and also get the dog used to obeying from a bit of distance.

ANY dog that is crazy to retrieve, as any good Lab should be, is an excellent candidate for marker training.

If the dog doesn't retrieve to hand then work on back chaining the retrieve with markers.

No point in a duck dog retrieving if it doesn't retrieve to the hunter.