Stubborn new pup..........help! LOL

[bmc]

I've got a 3 month old fox colored female lab pup

"Lucy" and I also have a 10.5 year old female yellow lab "Maggie".

I used the Richard Wolters "Gun Dog" book to train Maggie and training went smoothly and I am using that method again.

1st off, Lucy has a TON, I mean a TON of energy. When I let her out of crate in the morning she is like the Tazmanian Devil, tearing around and jumping up in the air. I put her in her crate every night, using the command "Kennel Up", which she refuses to do. The last week or so, I've used a bit more force to put her in the kennel and still the same results.

2nd, when I'm walking Lucy on the leash, which I've done since day 1, she still fights the leash at times. When we go for our walks, I've been trying to get her to SIT and usually it takes me saying sit 3-4 times before she sits.

Am I expecting too much already or is she just being stubborn?

Per the book, now (12 wees old) is when the serious training blocks (Sit, Stay, Come, Whoa) should be laid, granted every dog is different and some dogs, maybe Lucy will need more time than Maggie did.

Prior to this we jut let her get acclimated to our house and Maggie.

The 2 dogs get along well and keep eachother entertained pretty well. When Maggie is laying on the floor, Lucy will straddle Maggie's muzzle. I'm assuming Lucy is trying to show Maggie that she (Lucy) is the boss?

Regardless, we are having fun and knock on wood, Lucy hasn't destroyed anything..........YET! LOL

Thanks!

Brian

[onthefly]

My dog was the same way. He did well on obedience for treats, but good luck unless treats were involved. At 6-7 months, we started to get serious with pressure on-pressure off training. He obviously resisted at first, but I firmly corrected. Slowly, he began to not require the same level of pressure. Takes more patience with a high-drive dog. But, it's tough to build the fire if it isn't there.

Mine now is fun to watch - he does everything at full-speed, even a heel command!

[Ufatz]

Am no dog training expert (there are some on here and they will help I'm sure) but I would not worry too much about a 3-month old Lab. It DOES sound like you need a bit firmer hand with her though. At this age she is not sure who the boss is-you gotta show her.

But don't panic. Be patient. One day things will start to click. For instance: After losing my wonderful Annie to cancer an old pal (??) showed up at my cabin with Abby. Abby was 7-weeks. For the next three-four months we had a helluva time with house breaking!! Don't ask me-it usally takes me a few weeks. Then one day BAM....she goes to sliding door, sits, looks at wife and whines! Got Cha! Next night I said "Abby, time for bed." She looked at me for a minute and then RAN to her kennel in the garage. Then it was heel and stay a couple weeks later. Then sit/stay and left, right hand signals.

She just turned one year. Responds to whistle instantly. Responds to most hand signals without whistle. Makes beautiful acrobatic 15-18 foot leaps off my dock and nails hidden pheasant wings every time while at a full run.

Three months? Heck, she is just waking up. Have fun.....it'll all be good.

[Todd Caswell]

No worries take your time and be patiant, there are certainly some good things in the book your following and I'm sure you can end up with a good dog BUT it is really outdated, techneqes and programs have changed a lot for the better, I highly recommend " Training a retriever puppy" by Bill Hillman and your puppy is exactly at the age where this DVD will do you and your puppy wonders, followed up by the "Fowl Dog " series. Both well worth the money.

Iv'e got a 16 week old that I'll try to post up a little video of a training session, following the Hillman stuff..

[charliepete]

First off, while Wolters has some good stuff to say, totally disregard his arbitrary time tables. All dogs are different and there is not a one size fit's all approach that will work.

Remember you are working with a baby. With a 3 month old pup keep in mind that it's like trying to teach discipline to a human toddler. You will get a lot further later on by making them love you now than you will be making them scared of you. Force is for dogs that are bonded with you and know what you are asking for. Don't lose your temper.

If you want that dog to crate up and like it, give her a reason to. Don't let the only time you put her in there be when you are putting her in over night. Call her over and have her kennel for just a few minutes at a crack and praise her like crazy when she goes in. Leave the door open and throw treats in there so she goes in on her own. Put the crate in the room you hang out in with a nice dog bed in it with the door open so she has a comfy place to lay down. Praise her when she goes in. I'm guessing the only time she is crated is overnight and when you leave the house and that is probably what she doesn't like not the crate itself.

You also say that you have to tell her 3 to 4 times to sit before she sits. With puppies I don't like to give commands where I can't instantly show them what I want. I don't say 'come' when they aren't on a check cord. I don't say 'sit' unless I have a hand on their collar and one on their rump. I don't repeat commands multiple time (within reason). I want the dog to learn to do things the first time I say it, and letting them get away with not doing what I say the first 3 times just teaches them to ignore me.

Probably none of this advice is necessary (but hey I'm bored). I think what are probably looking to hear is the same thing every guy wants to hear but has trouble believing, "You're pup is going to be fine.....quit worrying and comparing it to your old dog and enjoy her"

[kentuck_ike]

What is the fat to protein ratio in the food you are using?

[Todd Caswell]

This is Wrigley and he was 15 weeks at this time, typical training session, lots of praise, some fun bumpers, healing, sitting, ecollar being worn but not on yet, and introduction to hold, ( battery in camera went dead) this is all mixed together, the puppy is learning and doesn't even realize it at this point. I think this is a much better approach than teaching sit one week then Hear the next ect.

By the time the puppy is 6 monthes and ready to begin formal OB he should have a good training attitude but understands he has to sit as well..

[magicstix]

Todd thanks for sharing. Fun video to watch.