Went and got a lab pup

[tacklejunkie]

A co-worker who has more experience with labs helped me pick it out. So far, it has had a pigeon and a starter pistol and loves it. What age can I start obedience training? I picked up some books and stuff. It's 12 weeks old and a male.

Mostly it will be a fishing partner but I will use it quite a bit for grouse hunting next fall.

Any dos and don'ts will help, also

[reinhard1]

congradulations Tackle!!! i cant help you with all the training stuff but i can join you as also having a wonderfull pup lab as well as my fishing partner for years to come. good luck.

[LABS4ME]

Now.

The next 4 weeks are some of the most important for laying a foundation of obedience training down. The four commands you really need to teach and enforce are sit, stay, here, heel. All other training and hunting are only branches off of that training.

Good Luck!

Ken

[duckbuster]

Ken nailed it. However I would like to add this, simplify your commands. In other words lets drop one of the commands Ken mentions.

Lets drop the command stay. When you tell your new friend to SIT well, sit means sit.

Start the sit command every time you feed him/her. When you place

the feed bowl in front of your new friend, you softly say sit and push the butt down. At first you will hold it for a few seconds only, then lengthen the time. Soon after that you should be able to say sit and he will do so. You release him with OK.

Being from N. Duluth you should look up the Duluth retriever club. They do have a HSOforum. Each year their club does something called train the trainer for newbies. They do a fantastic job with that. Plus there is a wealth of knowledge in that club, one of them is a very good friend of mine who would be happy to help you out.

GOOD LUCK!!

[tacklejunkie]

Thanks guys for the tips.

Duckbuster...I'll look up that club and thanks.

RH1..yeah it's like having a baby again except no diapers. I have him in his crate now and he is carrying on like no tomorrow

[tacklejunkie]

My youngest just came back from hunting and had two grouse so we threw the bird for the pup and shot the gun from a safe distance.

No signs of gunshyness and very eager retriever. I'm gonna enjoy having a dog to grouse hunt with next fall and to fish with now that my kids are older and grown up

For those with more experience with dog training, what's your opinion on taking him to a shooting preserve for planted birds next spring? Will he be too young for pheasants in early May? He's 13 weeks now

[duckbuster]

Heavens no, get him out there and into birds. When you go to the Duluth retriever club search out one of the "fat guys from the range" who does train the trainer.

GOOD LUCK