I got my first lab, Jasmine (Jazz,) about 6 weeks ago. She is now right at 12 weeks old. Ive been working with her everyday, mostly just once. She picked up sit and come immediately, and she does those both to the whistle. She does them most every time on command. She won't do it when she's playing on her own sometimes. She is only 12 wks though so I don't know if thats a bad thing. I'm following the book, Water Dog as my general training guide and trying to pick up advice where I can. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm having trouble teaching heal. When we walk, she seems to have her nose on the ground smelling and not really listening. I don't know if this is age or what. Of course when I give her the sit whistle while we are walking, she normally does it.
I'm also having trouble with the down command. I have her sit, then I say down and pull her front feet from her so she lays. I've gone over this one a bunch and she either seems to not wanna do it or not understand.
She seems to be a smart dog, after picking up sit and come so well. So, it makes me think my techniques must be flawed.
Thanks for the help.

she is only 3 months old in my opinion it seems like you are trying too much too soon. Make sure that she is having fun while you are working with her. I wouldnt start any serious training until about 5-6 months. If you push her too much she is gonna get burnt out quick. I am not a professional trainer by no means but this is what I have done. You are still in the bonding stage with her so make sure yall are having fun. Also, the Water Dog is a good book but a little outdated. I would recommend getting the 10 minute Trainer book.

thanks. I will try to be careful not to push too hard. Who is The 10 Minute Trainer written by?

Grizz, I'm in the same boat as you. My yellow male lab is pretty good at listening to sit, stay and come here(even from kids and strangers). He is retrieving well. Except for the releasing part. I've even gotten him to sit when I throw the bumper and he stays till told to "Go Get It". I've been mostly playing/working with him on retrieving/swimming and not much else. One thing I noticed is that whomever thorws the bumper, that is who he'll bring it to. Not just me.
He is a strong swimmer. He jumps in the pool on his own, but seems to like taking a step off the ladder 1st, then jump. He won't jump off the deck.

Mine is staying in the house and except for a couple of times when we first got him, he is doing great. He'll stay inside from 9pm to 6am or so and stays in his bed and hasn't had any accidents in the last 2 weeks. The only ones he had were when we weren't paying attention to him when he wanted to go outside. Now when he wants to go out, he'll go and sit at the back door and whine a bit.

Just as I have been told here before Play with them and bond. That is all I have been doing and it seems to be working better than following a book.

I put Sadie into training at 6 mos & Aimee at 9 mos...

Aimee failed out of doggy boot camp she couldn't get past force fetch she has lock jaw and will not open and gets scared very easy. She sometimes picks up bumpers but not always she's a yellow lab and I've had more luck with black labs training wise... Saying that I've seen some bad arse yellows. Anyone want a glorified couch potato / shedding machine

On heal.


Try walking when you see her looking around or head down change directions and get a good tug on the leash. She will start watching you better. You need a choke chain for this. Make sure you have it on the right way so it will release when after yo give her a pull. Dont keep tension on the leash.

She is still young dont do this train but for about 10 min or so.


Chris

Also another good thing for healing when you are walking is to change pace. Walk for a little, then stop and get her to sit once she sits take a few steps forward and give her the heel command. If she doesnt heel just give a tug on the leash (with a choke collar). Changing up the pace will make her realize to stay at your side no matter where you are or how fast you walk. Also, make sure you pick a side for her to heel to and stick with this side. Like said before use a choke collar, it is not going to hurt her and it will work wonders with the heel and stay command. Just remeber to take it easy right now and dont push too hard. My lab just turned 1 year and I make sure to just fetch and play atleast once or twice a week without making him really work. You only need to spend 10-15 minutes a day because of their short attention spans.

Checkout this link for the 10 minute Retriever...sorry I posted the wrong title the first go around

http://www.amazon.com/10-Minute-Retriev ... 274&sr=8-1

Also, a choke chain works better when you keep it higher up on the neck. Don't just let it fall to the shoulders, keep it just against the jaws and back of the head.

Just don't apply too much pressure too soon. Learning at that stage in the pups life has to be somewhat fun. Be sure and work on the retrieving skills. Get someone other than yourself to throw bumpers, it teaches the pup to look out, and not get used to watching you.

I've always used heal for when I want her to slow down or come back and sit on my side...

"Here" bring hers straight to me no matter what. So if I have taken 2-3 steps in front of her while on lead I'll say here to have her come up to me. Heal if she starts walking to fast etc...

I try to tell everyone that SIT = STAY

Sadie will sit in one spot until I tell her to come here kids can be running past her dropping pizza and ice cream and she wouldn't budge an inch... Well maybe a little now but heck she's getting old , fat & lazy lol

Remember that the dog is still a puppy. Allow the dog to be a puppy at this time. Teaching sit and here isn't a bad thing at a young age. However try your best not to use pressure until they are at least 5-6 month old. Retrieving at this age should be nothing but fun. Only 5-8 retrieves. Leave the dog wanting more every time. Just don't get in a hurry. Remember making a great dog takes a long time. Dogs must be built from obedience up. Find a good book or DVD and follow it. Remember to get the 1st step as close to perfect as possible before going on to the next.

Good luck with the new puppy!

Get the book 10 Minute Retreiver, it is designed around people that don't have a whole lot of time in a day to spend with a dog, remeber that a labs attention span is most active in the first 10-15 minutes that you spend working with it. Hope this helps, and keep the questions coming and we'll keep the answers coming or try to anyway!

use British training methods, dont let your dog make more then four retrieves a week when you really get down to hardcore training at 6months age thru 9 months, labs know how to retrieve, work on the other aspects of a good hunting companion, like steadyness,delivery to your hand of game,tight heeling,whistle work, honoring other dogs etc.. in the long and short run it will be a much better dog and you wont burn them out like so many trainers and un trained uneducated duck hunters do. Avoid the temptation to use a shock collar as well. Proper training and effort will allow you to do not need one. Lastly again dont over retrieve your dog during its key three month training period, it knows how to retrieve as cool as it is watching your dog make 20 retrieves a day for you. Dont fall to the temptation, work on the things the dogs needs you to guide him along with, they can retreive fine all on their own. Also dont allow your dog to run free for 5 minutes before you start to train, let the dog know from the get go, right out of the kennel who is boss, control and be firm letting him know you are the master. Stick to the Britsh methods, after studying them closely they are truely make more sense and certainly will produce a better hunting companion easier and quicker.

Remember this " having a great retriever hunting companion opens a lot of doors on being invited to hunt with others, having a bad hunting companion will result in many solo hunts"

on heeling

train your dog walking along a solid fence or large side of a building, keeping the dog sandwiched in between you and the building, makes heeling training much easier especially at the beginning.

on steadyness

toss a few dummies out everyday, you walk and get them, keeping the dog in the sitting position, this will let the dog know that not every duck is his to get.



naming your pup is important as well, dont name your dog with a name with more then two sylabels. Confusing for the dog while training, keep the name simple, like Buck,Drake, etc....



training a pup if you got kids

envolve the kids when possible, let them know not to throw sticks or tennis balls or even worse play tug war with them over some dummy or throwin toy.


I will provide more insite for you as you ask more questions.

best thing you can do is get a shock collar, let it learn the "beep" and if it dont listen to the command ( that its already been taught) give it a zap. the dog never thinks that you are hurting it.

buy this video
http://www.wildrosetradingcompany.com/m ... y_Code=dvd

Mike, Milner of Duckhill Kennels and Eddie Carter of Caney Creek Kennels both use these methods and have the finest gun dogs made. Shock collar not needed.

have had all three major retrievers, labs goldens and chessies

thank you


AVOID SHOCK COLLARS- marketing scam !!!

Tell me if this wouldn't work

put a shock collar on my ole lady, when i teach her something and she mysteriously "FORGETS"
I give her a beep, if then she still dont remember, "BHAAAM" "SHIZZAM"
Now i gotz her mowin the lawn, firing up the grill, driving the boat, doing the chores around the house, etc...

So a week later i ask her to do something and now she "REMEMBERS"
and does all the forementioned. and if she may forget "BEEP" aaaaaahhhh, now she remembers!!!!

THAT SIMPLE. So, did i just walk around the house barking commands and zapping her, NO!

(if this would only not land me in jail) LOL

This world needs shockcollars , especially OBAMA

not married, and prolly never will be

I promise none of you guys could keep up with Corey!

THEN LETS HANGOUT..

are you askin me out on a date

lol, if you look anything like Earls Avatars...

i was talkin to keestan btw

oh my bad i didnt see his post.... and no i dont look like earls avatar