new puppy is scared ...

[Dahitman44]

We have this great little 8-week old lab set to learn from our 7.5 year old but I just introduced a feather and he was really scared and ran away and did not approach.

Is this an early sign of a hunting problem?

Thanks

Hit

[Ufatz]

Good Grief no! When they are that age a great many things will scare them or at least startle them. I had a nice male who was terrified of a certain black stump near our place. Had another male, Sam, who was afraid of Jello all his life and ran and hid when the dishwasher kicked in. Mike had a thing about cows but was ready to take on a small pack of wolves one day in Yukon.

Bless 'em, they are all different with their own personalities. Don't worry about it.

[Dahitman44]

Well that is what I was thinking but you read about these little pups finding feathers at like 6 weeks and it makes you wonder a bit ...

[charliepete]

Don't worry about it. That is too little to get worried about much of anything.

[duckbuster]

Enlighten us somewhat on how the 7.5 YO is going teach the new one?

We have this great little 8-week old lab set to learn from our 7.5 year old but I just introduced a feather and he was really scared and ran away and did not approach.

Is this an early sign of a hunting problem?

Thanks

Hit

[Kyle]

duckbuster,

Dog's learn a lot from each other. How do you think wolves survive? There is a time and a place for everything, but a mature dog and well trained dog can be a huge asset when training a puppy...

[duckbuster]

Yeah, and they can also be a huge determent. It works both ways, also you have no control over corrections when relying on old gus to teach your baby. Be real careful when using the older dog.

duckbuster,

Dog's learn a lot from each other. How do you think wolves survive? There is a time and a place for everything, but a mature dog and well trained dog can be a huge asset when training a puppy...

[leechlake]

I wouldn't worry about it a bit. The pup could have been reacting to something new, some smell that was in the air, a motion in the background that had nothing to do with it. Put some peanut butter on the feather and have him lick it if you want to be at ease.

Just do the normal things of letting the pup experience all sorts of things in the world and next thing you know you'll be wondering why the dog is so bold. When he eats your shoes, a wall, the kitchen table leg in the next months you'll wish he was still afraid of things...

[fishnowworknever]

When the pup is eating, place that feather near his bowl, try not to let him see you place it there rather notice it on his own after he's started to eat...move it closer as the days go on. Before you know it he'll be eating the feather.

[Kyle]

duckbuster,

Hence, what I said about a mature well trained dog...

[Todd Caswell]

duckbuster,

Hence, what I said about a mature well trained dog...

What can a well trained mature dog teach a puppy, that I can't???

[Kyle]

Sometimes less is more. Sometimes dogs do great things that you can't teach, and didn't expect while training. Natural instinct is an awesome thing when it's fostered properly. For example: I think that anytime a puppy can learn by watching and or having to think about something, other than just being classically conditioned, that dog has a better chance at becoming a smarter hunter. Sure we can be drill instructors and train dogs to do what we want, but a dog that hunts smart I think is what we all hope for.