Puppy tips Anyone?

[Walleye Wegs]

Anyone have any little known puppy training tips they are willing to share to a first time lab owner. Thanks for any help.

WW
Lakes and Lures Guide Service
218 766 2933

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[Ruttin' Buck]

In short, patience, persistance, repetition, and consistency. Don't do too much all at once...it's confusing for the pup. Sit, stay, come commands should be honed to perfection with hand signals. Dogs watch your gestures more than they listen in my opinion. Consistency is key..don't use 'come' one day, and 'come on' or 'here' the next.

If you're going to hunt the pup, buy the book Game Dog. It's about a $25 book. It does a good job outlining what levels of training to perform at different age levels.

Good luck!

[setterguy]

I have some tips that are for any breed, some of the other guys here might be able to help you more with specific training with labs...

1) Keep it short and simple at first. When the pup is young, keep training sessions to no more than 15 minutes. Always follow that up with a little playtime. Always keep it fun, ecspecially with a young dog.

2) Make sure that the dog knows what you are trying to teach it before any negative reinforecement or corrections. Way too many guys get on that shock collar or pinch collar in the beginning stages of training. 99% of the time if a dog knows what is expected they will happily obey.

3) Once a dog does understand the commands that you have taught it, only give each command once then wait until they respond. I have waited for 20 minutes for a dog to respond to a command. This comes down to a battle of wills, and you can never let the dog win one. Only give the command once so the dog learns that they must respond on the first COME! Not on the third one when they are 1/2 mile away.

4) Keep it fun, keep it fun, keep it fun. A pupppy is just about the most pleasing animal on the planet. They will do anything if they think its what you want them to do. Keep the training sessions short and fun and you should have a well trained companion for years and years.

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Keep the tip up, ask permission and shoot straight. Setterguy

[Esoxmn]

One thing that is not stressed enough is proper socialzation.

[Beckman]

How's the pup doing Wegs?

[Walleye Wegs]

She is doing great. What a ball of energy. Always getting into something.

[duckbuster]

Don't be afraid to let her sleep with you and your wife. This seems to bring them closer to you in the long run. Besides in a year or 2 she will be listening to you better than your wife anyway!!!! Counting our yellow female we have 4 women in the house. I have often said, the only female in this house who listens to me is the dog.
She IS my best friend!!!!!!!
GOOD LUCK