Retriever dog training

What do I need to know?

Individuals (for examples private trainers or breeders), in addition to retriever dog training clubs are allowed to possess up to 200 carcasses of legally harvested migratory game birds for training dogs as retrievers.

However, it is prohibited to exceed the possession limit for murres for training dogs as retrievers.

Individuals and retriever dog training clubs that exceed their possession limit in order to train their retriever dogs, must both register with Environment and Climate Change Canada and maintain a logbook at home.

A fully feathered head or wing must remain attached to the carcass.

Which birds can be used for retriever dog training?

• migratory game birds harvested under the Migratory Game Bird Hunting permit
• migratory game birds that have been killed under a Damage or Danger permit, if it is a species that may be legally hunted in Canada
• migratory game birds harvested by individuals exercising harvesting rights under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982
• it is prohibited to use species of migratory birds listed under the federal Species at Risk Act for training dogs as retrievers (for example Barrow’s Goldeneye, Eastern population)

Who must register with Environment and Climate Change Canada?

• individuals and retriever dog training clubs who exceed their possession limit for the purpose of training dogs as retrievers
• if the number of carcasses possessed does not exceed the individual possession limits as are set out in Schedule 3 of the MBR, 2022, there is no need to register

Registration with Environment and Climate Change Canada

• download and fill in the Retriever Dog Training Registration Form
• when completed, return the Retriever Dog Training Registration Form to NotificationDresseur-TrainerNotification@ec.gc.ca

When to register?

• every year before beginning retriever dog training
• the registration is valid for the entire open season. It expires on July 31 following the date of registration

What information to provide upon registration?

• full name and contact information
• for compliance purposes, the geographic location (street address or GPS coordinates) of the place where birds are kept when they are not used for training. The birds cannot be kept in more than one location
• when birds are used for retriever dog training, they can be moved to the location where the training will take place

Requirement to maintain a logbook — at home or at the training facility

Individuals and retriever dog trainers must record information about the migratory game bird carcasses in their possession. Information must be kept for the duration of your registration, which expires every year on July 31. The information to record includes:

• the name of each species
• the number of birds belonging to each species
• the number of birds disposed
• the permit number under which each migratory game bird was taken
• the permit holder’s full name and contact information
• the name of the individual who gifted the bird under section 35 harvesting rights; and
• the geographic location (street and number, or GPS coordinates) where birds are kept

Enforcement officers may visit and ask to provide the information kept in your logbook.