Hi

I have ordered the book waterdog by wolter.

in the meantime while i wait for it is there anything i should be doing?

It is my first dog .

Both parents are working dogs that work most of the year.

any suggestions will help.

Get several videos on training....specifically obedience training and then retreiving and hand signals....be mentally prepared for the task coming your way.

A properly trained Labrador (or any dog) is a delight.....a poorly trained dog is a simple pain in the ass at best and a pet at worst.

They become family regardless of what you do so it's far better if your new family member comes when you call him and stays when told to do so.

quote:

Originally posted by boerbokrib:
Hi

I have ordered the book waterdog by wolter.

in the meantime while i wait for it is there anything i should be doing?

It is my first dog .

Both parents are working dogs that work most of the year.

any suggestions will help.

Buy a Retrieve-R-Trainer, at least 12 dummies to hand toss, a whistle. I have used a 10ft stick of conduit with a leash snap on it as well to teach sitting at a distance

Start the whistle training immediately as Wolters says...MAKE IT FUN.

I have trained 4 retrievers of my own. I have used Richard Wolters book, Water Dog on all of them.

If you read and re-read the book SEVERAL TIMES, follow it like a religion, and refer to the sections that apply during your dog's training, you will have a wonderful dog!

I can't say enough about the book!

Looks like I should find that book (might be getting a half lab tomorrow), does it only teach training as a retriever? I don't know if I'll hunt bird, other than maybe doves. I'm thinking a companion with me in the mountains. My aussie isn't trained but is fun to take to the mountains.

can an older (6yo) non-hunting breed dog (australian) be taught anything or is too late?

I would suggest reading Evan Graham's "Smartworks" also, if you Mike Lardy's "Total Retriever Training" video's are very good.

Good luck and stick with it. There is nothing more enjoyable than having a dog you've loved and training since a pup to be an asset in the field!

Good Hunting!

JJ's sugestion to get Graham's or Lardy's program is good advice. Water dog was written over 50 years ago and needs to be updated. It has some real good puppy advice though.
Graham posts on Duckhunter.net and will answer your questions.
Graham program is easier for amateurs. Most pro's use Lardy's program.
I think the best advice is to find some one in your area that trains and hook up with him.
One of the biggest problems is finding a good place to train. If there is an HRC club in your area get with them. Never met an asshole in HRC. They all love dogs and are very free with the information.
Good luck. Nothing on this earth is more enjoyable than a Lab pup.

Hi

Just as an update. Got the waterdog by wolter and followed it.

What an amazing dog i have.

When i took it to puppy class he was so advanced that the puppy trainers used him as an example.

HE did his first retrive of a shot dove and it was flawless. picked the bird up. brought it to hand and then went to heal.

He will be 4 months on the 20th of this month.

He is also a lovley family dog and so full of fun and life.

Keen to get another dog now just to train it.

join a retriever club; buy some pigeons; train every day for 15-20 min and let the dog run also... bikes are good for that.

Just like everything else---Time and Energy. The more time you spend w/ your pup, the more you will get out of it. Just remember, inch by inch, life is a cinch. Yard by yard, it's very hard.
If you plan on having a totally trained dog, follow Mr. Mays advice. Look for a retriever club in your area. AKC and HRC are both good groups and have websites. You can find people to train with that care a/b their dogs as much as you. If you really want to get hooked, go to an AKC or HRC hunt test. Prepare to get addicted. I trained my first simply as a gun dog by Wolters teachings and I still have memories of his retrieves. With my next, I decided to run him in Hunt Test. I spent 18-20 weekends a year travelling all over the state and out to run events. Met some great folks and had great times, heartbreak and joy. My first little girl will start running Hunt Test this spring. I hope she's as good as my boy.

quote:

Originally posted by boerbokrib:
Hi

Just as an update. Got the waterdog by wolter and followed it.

What an amazing dog i have.

When i took it to puppy class he was so advanced that the puppy trainers used him as an example.

HE did his first retrive of a shot dove and it was flawless. picked the bird up. brought it to hand and then went to heal.

He will be 4 months on the 20th of this month.

He is also a lovley family dog and so full of fun and life.

Keen to get another dog now just to train it.

Of course he's a great dog, that's what labs are all about They didn't get to be so popular by accident.

Keep with it it gets better with time.

Thanks Guys advice noted.

Well

The time has come. This weekend is the first weekend i take my boy for his fist shoot.

I have competed Labs for the last 10 years, not professionally but on a amateur level and I can say that most of my problems occurred as a results on not knowing what to do and when. I would highly recommend that you get the pup registered in as many obedience schools as soon as possible. I say this since the dog will become socialized and everything hinges on obedience, it is the foundation that you will build on.
Find some local training group, check out this site,(http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/index.php) post an interest to join a training group in your area.
There are many great books but probably the bible would be any publication by Mike Lardy. If you have any questions please drop a line

Done the obedience school done the socialising thing

this is the big test.

done the dove introduction with stocking without stocking. blind retrieves. water work.

Obedience takes many months and it goes on for the entire life of the dog's training, I have 10 year old labs that I still put through obedience.

Obedience is the exact response at the exact time every time, and this can only be achieved through life long repetitions.
Have you transferred the obedience to the whistle training?

To me obedience is a every day thing.

It can be as simple as putting them on a down stay for a few min or making them wait a few seconds while looking at the food in their dish. To using a schock collar for something more serious

Hi

Yes he is on the whistle already.
also hand signals.

Well what an awesome experience.

My boy was as keen as anything and was rearing to go.......

and no birds. Got off few shots in the morning but the birds seemed to fly through the shot.(I.E. I missed them)

Then on the last day my fellow gun shot a duck.

My Boy was onto it and even though it was to big for his mounth still picked it up by the wing and brought it back.

For the saturday afternoon he slept through most of the shooting as I only managed 3 shots and 3 misses.

He has asked to send me for shooting lessons after my 6 shots and 6 misses.

But was so rewarding being in the wild with my dog.

Maybe next weekend pigeon shoot I will have better ammunition that is able to hit the birds. ;-)

I forgot to ask how old he was, the biggest mistake is to advance a dog to fast, it can result in balking and popping or no goes. I would suggest to get in with a training group or get a hold of one of the better training books and take there step by step training plans

can you suggest one of these books please.

Check out Mike Lardy' site, Mike is probably the top retriever trainer in the country, most top trainers will incorporate Mike's techniques Here is his web site and the first book I would recommend. Be careful not to use different people's ideas or technique as Mike's program is a multi step program that build on each other

http://www.totalretriever.com/...icle&id=98&Itemid=88

Just an update

So we go and there are rockies flying.

I get out the car setup and a flock comes in.

Hit a bird and puppups is in and retrives to hand.

I almost start crying but the birds are flying fast and thick.

9 birds down 9 retrieves and birds lost.

Next day 19 birds down 2 lost. Dog so tired he cant carry on.

next morning 4 from 4.

I am so proud i can bust a gut.

First water Retrieve

Well it was a great weekend. HAd dog had hide and had ducks.

It was late in the afternoon sun just gone behind the mountains.

Shot a duck. Put my dog on it Just 2 days after his 6 months.

was not quite sure of what i wanted as i had not thrown anything into the water. but took my commands and once he ssented the duck was in after it and got it and brought it back to hand.

I was so proud could have burst.

Then he tackled the spurwing i put down and brought it back.