Mind of his own..

[Jordyn Kaufer]

Our 14 week old black lab was really really good when we first got him when he was 10 weeks but now he is starting to get a mind of his own and starting to ignore us a little bit now. He loved to play fetch and get the bumper for atleast like 15min until he started to even show signs of being uninterested... Now you throw it like 5 times and then he starts to just run pick it up, drop and then go sniffin around. What should I do so he starts listening more? We started with the check cord and then took it off but now he is too comfortable and listens sometimes but then doesnt after a while. so #1 what should I try to do to get him back interested into fetching and #2 what should I try to do to get him back on track with listening? (by the way if wwe're inside and he sees me get a treat he instantly listens)

[Rick]

First off just let him be a puppy. If it wants to play let him play. Join in and just watch him start hunting...you want that too

Teach him commands when you KNOW he will do it. Make it easy for him to listen...as a trainer that's your job to make your puppy always right.

For example say COME when you have food. Say his name (releasing him) when you know he will start to go after the dummie.

The sooner you say the commands to when he starts doing it the better.

Fetch should be done in very short amounts. You should always end it while they still want to play. If that's one toss, so be it. Eventually he will want more. It's a feel thing you just know when you watch your puppy. Never overdo it with a puppy.

A puppy will generally want to retrieve more when it's freedom has been reistricted. You can start leash training along with heel, sit and come at this age. Walk your puppy with a leash and teach it to walk at your side and say heel whenever you give a correction to get it at your side again. Sit is accomplished by saying sit and pushing the rear down immediately until it gets the idea.

Make it stay sitting (hup) and back up with your hand in the stop position then say come hopefully before it breaks to come. If you say come and the dog comes there is always a reward at the puppy stage. A pat on the head will do food can be even better.

Then toss the dummy a few times once you have the puppies attention. You don't need 15 minutes of dummy throwing. Fetch should be fun.

[machohorn]

i AGREE! Puppise get distracted fast, They are in a learning mode with all the sights and smells ( early hunting/exploring) use that for it's play time then introduce heel, sit, fetch in very short segments, too long and a pup will get bored = a confused pup when you reinforce your commands. keep it short 1 minue, 5 minutes but always end it b4 he wants to quit on a positive note, then reward. I think this also creates drive wanting more and more as they get older.