I need help with my dog (my first hunting dog).  I have a 1½ year old male black lab that is so full of energy that I have a hard time controlling him.  This was his first year to hunt (water fowl exclusively) and he did ok marking a good job retrieving, but had a hard time with the extended stay while in the blind.  He would lose focus after about 30 minutes if the ducks weren't flying. I hunted quite a bit on a little island this year, so I was on hard ground, so he could just wander off if I didn't keep an eye on him.  We have been training about 4-5 nights a week for about 20-30 minutes and I am extending the stay and it he is improving, but man it is like he has Attention Deficite Disorder.  I love his enthusiasm, but I have to admit that his excitable nature frustrates me at times.  Is there a good way to calm the dog down?

I have a climbing stand that I make him sit on when were training and he does good...I usually make him stay for 5-10 minutes I throw a dummy and then send him.  He will stay, then retrive the dummy, bring it back, sit at heel, but as soon as I take the dummy out of his mouth, he runs off unless I blow my wistle or give him a strong stay command before I take the dummy.  I have never trained a dog before, so I am sure I made many mistakes...is there anything I can do to calm this dog and teach him that I want him to bring the duck to hand and then stay with me without having to strongly remind him that he needs to stay.

Also, he doesn't want to jump up on the climbing stand by himself.  I have to put his front legs on it, then push his tail up.  I have been giving him the "load up" command while pushing his tail up for about 6 months, but he just refuses to jump up on the stand (or in the back of the pick-up).  Any suggestions with that one?

Any help on training an excitable do would sure be appreciated.  By the way, he is a good dog, that is extremely lovable...just a few flaws.

Gabrien Gilzow