Pond Boss
Posted By: Tim West Ponds for Retrievers - 02/08/07 08:26 PM
I'm brand new to this forum and offer a suggestion or two to possibly get some help on constructing your ponds.

There are retriever clubs and lab training enthusiasts all over the country who are dying to be able to train their dogs on nice ponds. Folks all over the country also build ponds for the purpose of training their dogs.

These ponds usually are constructed where there are a lot of points, islands, Penninsula's, etc. Coincidentally, these types of ponds lend themselves to great fishing and are very pleasing to the eye compared to a pond with a straight bank.

If you are looking to find some ways to help fund your pond building, or just want to share your onds with some very good folks, contact your local retriever clubs. Many clubs will also pay for the privaledge of holding a trial on your grounds.

A good place to look for clubs are: www.working-retriever.com or AKC.org.

Here's a few pics of some nice ponds designed for retriever training from a retriever training forum I belong to.

http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=40514

Generally, retriever folks don't want a lot of trees around the ponds, cause a dog can't see through them to mark birds or do blind retrieves.

Also, if your pond holds ducks on a regular basis, you might be able to lease your pond for duck hunting only for anywhere from $500 to $5000. It all depends on how many ducks you have and how long they stay there.

Have a good one.

Tim West
Arcadia, OK
Posted By: Double-Camp Re: Ponds for Retrievers - 02/10/07 02:11 PM
Welcome to the PB Fam mark!

I'm not so sure this idea will fly, pardon the pun... \:\) With money invested comes contracts, and with contracts come control, or lack thereof. I'm a lab lover myself, and watching a dog 'work' is an awesome expereince, but to have people coming by on a regular basis would take away from one of my important pond goals, and that is peace and quiet away from the very population that generally pushes that peace and quiet out. Now, on the other hand, if the pond is 'remote' and so on, I am sure something might be worked out. Good food for thought.
Posted By: Double-Camp Re: Ponds for Retrievers - 02/10/07 02:12 PM
Mark??? I meant Tim... Sleepy brain here.
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