pup training question

tommyboy6933 · 05-30-2005, 09:13 PM

just got a baby black lab on sat. she is 7 and 1/2 weeks old was wondering how i could start getting her into hunting training at a early age

thanks for the input!!!!!
hope to have some pics shortly :grin:

lastbugle · 05-31-2005, 02:58 PM

A book called water dog by Richard walters the book will get you started right. You can get it from the liberary or if they don't have it sportsmans warehouse has it.

BrotherWolf · 05-31-2005, 03:55 PM

Ditto!

here's my pup at 9 weeks 10 weeks now
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/50...1Web_Tank2.jpg
If ya need some duck wings let me know I could give ya a few

dlgobeavs · 06-01-2005, 10:25 PM

Another good book. Good Dogs Great Owners

tommyboy6933 · 06-02-2005, 12:06 AM

pm sent

PullShootExplode · 06-02-2005, 01:34 AM

Walters all the way!!!
You may also check his book Gun Dog.
I have a 19 month old daughter aka black lab.
I started shooting birds over her at 4 months with out a problem. Good luck and enjoy your buddy.

Blackjaw · 06-02-2005, 06:27 AM

Wolters books do contain alot of useful info. The only thing I would caution about is his use of timetables as to when your dog should be at a certain point in its training. Not all dogs are the same and yours may pick things up faster or slower than the timetables he presents in his book(s).

rimrock · 06-02-2005, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Wolters books do contain alot of useful info. The only thing I would caution about is his use of timetables as to when your dog should be at a certain point in its training. Not all dogs are the same and yours may pick things up faster or slower than the timetables he presents in his book(s).

Absolutely, I couldn�t agree more don�t worry over the timetables in regard to any dog training book for that matter. Just follow the material within the one you pick, be consistent, be direct yet patient, and have fun. A dog is not a robot enjoy the time you spend training.

I don�t expect a dog to be worth much until its third season. After that third season I evaluate if the dog has the stuff or not; I although spend over 250 hrs in the field during the upland season with my dog(s).

onstep · 06-02-2005, 07:41 AM

I've done a ton of research and reading on pups in the last 6 months. We get our little guy in a couple of weeks. Most of the pros and expieranced trainers I have spent time with are recommending other materials than Wolters. I've read the book and it is good however, it is outdated. Many of the concepts he recommends are still being used only modified. I would read the book, it's entertaining. Order yourself the DVD Sound Beginnings with Jackie Merten. Your pup is still young enough that the info will be well worth it. Then I would get a copy of The 10 minute retriever by John and Amy Dahl. This is an excellent book that covers what you need to create a quality hunting dog without a strict time frame. If you want to go to the next level in retriever training read Smartwork by Evan Graham. It is the most detailed resource for drills and training I have seen. The beauty of the 10 Minute Retriever is you can choose to go with or without electronics. Electronics can be very harmful so please consult an expieranced trainer before using it on your dog. Smartwork will require the use of Electronics and so does the Lardy series. Good Luck!

baltz526 · 06-02-2005, 09:37 PM

just be patient with the pup, most waterfowl dogs already know most of their job when they are born. most of the training they need is how to act around people and other dogs. after a couple of seasons of hunting the dog will learn what you want it to do and how to act.

dodgeboy252000 · 06-03-2005, 10:14 AM

[quote]
Ditto!

If ya need some duck wings let me know I could give ya a few

brother wolf I also have a new pup I need some duck wings i am willing to buy them or if you can tell me where to get some this is my first attempt to train a dog to hunt and I would like to get some training aids.

BrotherWolf · 06-03-2005, 07:27 PM

pm om there way!

BrotherWolf · 06-03-2005, 07:29 PM

:tongue: :tongue:

this would be a good thing for ya to go watch!

Tilla posted this

Sunday at 8:30 AM there is a Salem Retriever Trial Club practice test for retrievers of all ages. Pheasants...there will be training birds. Cost about $10-15.
It is at St Louis Ponds near Gervais(Woodburn)

Jimmy Carl Black · 06-07-2005, 09:37 PM

baltz526 is dead-on here. I'm a novice at this myself. However, I just got a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever in February and it's like this guy is hard wired. I've only done rudimentary training. I have followed the reccommendations to do short sessions 1-2 times daily and it seems to be paying off. Here's my 'Scout' retrieving a Goose wing (Thanks Waterfowlin' 101) in Eagle Creek (Columbia) about 5 weeks ago.

...and he's ready for another one.
He's coming along just fine as far as I can tell and it's been nothing but fun.

You'll read about certain drills and obedience bits and want to make him get it right every timebut I feel that you have to let them be a pup and pups will be distracted and excitable. About 1-2 time's a day I'll make him stay when I toss him a ball/wing/frisbee and he'll do it if not too distracted.
Take the middle path my friend and he'll do fine I think.

Another good tip is to use feeding time as a training op. I make him stay until the food is down. Then move on to making him stay until you give the release command and so forth.

Tilla · 06-07-2005, 09:53 PM

Tollers are cool!

BloodNtheboat · 06-07-2005, 10:50 PM

I have a black lab as well, and most labs allready know what they are for, before you even train them as stated. I suggest really working on basic commands and obidience before you do much hunting training, this way they allready know whos boss when you are trying to get the wing/bird from them.
Also, aside from instinct and a training, I atribute alot of my dogs hunting skills to Waterfowlin101's yellow lab kato, dogs will learn from other good dogs, and mine is a good example of this. I took my dog belle on a hunt with WF101 and Kato at 4 months with no expectations except to get her used to the hunting enviroment, we got some birds down and kato retreived them, this happned a few times, and soon enough, Belle was doing the same after watching kato do it. (the next year, kato got smart, and let belle do all the work, kato is old and wise!)I highly recomend bringing your dog along on a hunt with another well trained bird dog, you will be amazed on what they pick up from other dogs.
Brian

crawdad · 06-08-2005, 04:01 PM

One thing to keep in mind when asking for advice is to let people know what your goals are for the dog. Do you want a hunting dog, a hunting dog that also competes for fun on occasion, or are you serious about training for competition?

You will train your dog differently depending on your goals, and some books/advice will be better suited to one goal than another.

Best all around advice for a dog that age is to keep it fun, make sure the pup understands what it is you want from it, and if you feel like your gonna lose your temper call it quits and try again tomorrow. Its just a pup, and will be a pup for some time. (8 years and counting in my lab's case

)

Joss · 06-09-2005, 07:41 PM

tommyboy, I might have missed it and maybe someone said it. Socialize your pup after he has all his shots. Take him to Petsmart and walk him on a lesh, get him use to all kinds of sounds so something knew does not spook him, hold him on his back in your arms like baby. It sounds goofy but this will stimulate him when you rub his feet or belly. He/she will learn to be comfortable with you when you touch him/her. Makes giving them a bath easier, do marks and make sure the obedience is set or you could screw yourself in the long run, and have fun.. good luck. my pup had his JH at two... it was fun. He is a hunting fool. later

win2run · 06-11-2005, 07:30 PM

Start her on puppy walks for 20 mins. in the field over stumps,logs,thru briars,tall grass,etc.If you go thru them she will follow and not be afraid when the time comes for her to rout out birds in heavy cover.Take her home,kennel for a nap, and then spend quality time with her,NO retrieving of anything at this stage.

gottafish · 06-12-2005, 09:07 AM

ABC's of retrever training vidio, www.gundogsupply.com great assortment of vidios, reading sucks, vidio good! lol

baltz526 · 06-12-2005, 02:09 PM

right now i'm working with my 18mo old black lab on multipal retreives, i have 3 or 4 tennis balls and the grass in the 1/4acre backyard is tall, i throw all the balls and will not do it again until he brings all of them back.when he brings one back i'll step on it and tell him find it, he then go's looking fo another, ect.

Lured In · 06-14-2005, 06:07 PM

Tommyboy....you have a ton of good info from above. I just went through this with my first lab about 3 years ago and it is still fresh in my mind. First educate yourself (preferably before you get a dog) and then educate the dog.

Best of luck and don't be afraid to ask questions! No two dogs are alike, so don't get hung up on timetables. You don't teach a kid multiplication before addition, so make sure you pup has mastered one skill before moving to the next. DON'T RUSH!

One last piece of advice that our own "Tilla" gave me back when I was in your shoes.

"A 'retrive'(with delivery to hand) is nothing more than the following commands...

1. "Heel" (from formal obedience training)
2. "Fetch" (from force fetch training)
3. "Here" or "Come" (from formal obedience training)
4. "Heel" (from formal obedience training)
5. "Give" or "Drop" (from force fetch training)

Some folks will disagree with the above, but as was stated in an earlier post, the dog already wants to get what you've thrown, all you have to do is teach the dog HOW you want it done.

Just remember if the dog doesn't do what you want it to it's YOUR fault.

(I always hated that, as it was easier to blame 'the stupid dog' instead of 'the stupid trainer'!)

Tilla · 06-14-2005, 10:49 PM

Lured In is Correctamundo!!!

Basics Basics Basics

If you don't have the Basics your headed towards retardamundo!

Now, I'll bet you all know better...get a bunch of birds and throw 'em all over the place.....retardamundo!

STRUTTIN-1 · 06-16-2005, 02:16 PM

MY DOG TURNED 1 THIS MONTH.FIRST HUNTING GOT 23 BIRDS.
SECOND WEEK END GOT 56 TOTAL.EVRY DOG LEARNS AT DIFFRENT
LEVALS.MAKE SURE HE IS NOT GUN SHY.AT THAT AGE MY DOG WAS
NOT READY FOR THE WHOLE HUNT.I WORK WITH MINE 15-20 MIN.
THEN FUN TIME.DONT SCREAM OR HIT.THE DOG WILL LOOSE RESPECT.THEY WANT TO PLEASE YOU.TO TRAIN A DOG YOU MUST
THINK LIKE A DOG.AT 1 YEAR MINE IS WHISTLE TRAINED AND
IS IN ADVANCED HAND SIGNAL TRAINING.REPUTITION,PATIENCE
WILL GET YOU AND YOURS RESULTS. GOOD LUCK.

wdlfbio · 06-17-2005, 01:49 PM

First off, try as best you can to determine the proficiency level you want the dawg to obtain. How obedient will you require the dawg to be. Can it break when you shot or wait patiently to be sent for bird if you drop one (steady). If hunting out of a boat, the later is very important. If you're wanting a very obedient dawg, STAY isn't needed. SIT means SIT until you tell it something else or release it. Down means down until you say otherwise, etc.
How well do you want it to mark? Singles, Doubles, or Triples? What about handling to a dead bird the dawg didn't see fall (blind retrieve)? 50 yards, 100 yards, 150 yards away?

If you're not sure, definetely check out a HUNT TEST, not a Field Trial. Or, check out some local hunting retriever clubs. Folks there will be very forthcoming with info.

Knowing what level the dawg is expected to preform toin 2-3 years will GREATLY dictate your training regime. There are lots of things an "average" dawg is allowed to do that really decrease training effort. But, if you're looking for a well-behaved dawg that can do 100-150 yard blind retrieves, a properly formed training protocol is critical (for both of you).

There are hard ways and easy ways to train a retriever. Find a club and you will get as much help as you would want.

Don't shy away from Force-Fetch (FF) because you heard terrible things about. It's a very uncommon retriever that is a pleasure to hunt with that hasn't gone through all or part of FF.

Dobbs' Trained Retrieve is go for FF

Evan's stuff is good if you have a strong understanding also. Not the easiest to follow for a complete rookie.

You can do well following some of Wolter's, but definetely stay away from EVER thinking your dawg should already be doing XYZ by a given time. Ability depends on how well and how much time you've spent training the dawg and how it responds to that time.

For now, lay off any obedience (sit, come, stay, heel, etc) for a few more weeks and let the pup discover the world. Lots of walks in hunting-type places. Leash dragging and no leash. Let the pup build its confidence.

Always remember this... You can not train her too slowly, but you can really screw her up for a very long time in only a few minutes!!!