Bodhi will be 6 months next week and he is the star of his Puppy 2 class. His attention on me for that age is AMAZING. My instructor says it looks like we could go far. But right now I think he may be too young for that kind of training.

One thing I've noticed- he does a pretty lazy sit stay- Does anyone think it could be lack of muscle control because of his age?

Besides that- he also seems to have some trouble sitting straight when we stop.

I doubt it's lack of muscle control. It's just a lazy puppy.
When you say your trainer says you could go far, what does she mean? What do you want to do?

If you just want a well trained dog or if you want to compete in obedience, training should be on-going. I wouldn't stop. I put Grace into obedience at 11 weeks and we have a private trainer and attend a puppy class. Even just a class gives them a sense of a job, and I swear it makes them better adjusted. Sometimes we are lazy with practicing, but we know for sure that one day a week the dogs will work.

If you like the trainer and can afford to continue classes, I wouldn't stop. If the classes top out and don't go on to advanced stuff, find a local breed club or Kennel Club or obedience club and they will surely have a more advanced class where you can hone the sitting and the heeling.

Jstar- I will definetly be interested in competing- his attention on me while heeling is so wonderful it makes me giddy.

And weekly school for both of my boys is a given. My local school is wonderful. Even if they aren't enrolled in a specific class- they offer weekly drop ins for a variety of levels and actviities.

I guess my question is- If Bodhi is showing so much promise in obiedence- at what age can I get into intense training towards going for our CD.

I started this so late with Maddy. She's 3 almost and we've been training about a year, but more because I am lazy and scared about the ring. But we are definately doing it this year. I am going to 3 matches in the next 2 months, and then when I can start showing Grace, I am going to enter Maddy into Novice.

So I don't know that age you can start the intense training. I would imagine you can do it now. I don't know why not. Have you seen what's involved in the CD? I think it's probably easier for the dog, and harder for a nervous person. You've got heeling, halts, right turns, about faces, left turns, fast heeling, slow heeling. There is a stand and a recall. I THINK that's it. The heeling is on leash and the stand and recall are off leash. It's al stuff you can work on now and start piecing together. I swear it's so much better to start as early as possible.

Grace was put into obedience at 11.5 weeks and I am able to walk her on a loose leash already. She stops when I stop. She's so far ahead of where the other dogs were at her age just because I know to start all this stuff now while she doesn't know any better.

I've gone thru all the training with Bailey. He is great with the whole run thru- when he's in the groove (first child syndrome). I know exactly what you mean about people mistakes versus dog mistakes. But then again- after learning a lot of what I've done wrong with Bailey- I know that I will handle everything better with Bodhi.

Is Grace sitting straight when you stop? Unless we are against a wall or fence- 9 times out of 10, Bodhi's butt swings out.

Bodhi started his "puppy manners" class at 11 weeks too- and taking into account all the training I've done with Bailey- Bodhi is like Grace and ahead of all the otehr pups.

Are you using treats to train? If yes, then that is why he is not sitting straight, when they sit on an angle towards you, they can see the treat. Try using it in your left hand.

As for the lazy sit, you need a new command, I use Fix it. When the dog is sitting lazy, tell him to stay, get behind him, get his butt between your feet, stick a treat on his nose and tell him FIX IT, lift the treat up and when he is sitting the way you want, treat him. Hard to explain, but now I never use Sit with my girl, she gets Fix.

If you are having fun, and Bodhi is having fun, dont stop. My first dog has first dog syndome too. He was a star in his day, then at 14 months he decided he didn't want any part of it any more. Don't train too hard, they burn out.

If you are interested in doing obedience trials or even agility trials then carry on with the obedience training now. Find a good trainer or club that teaches positive methods, ie, praise, food. Just don't make it all too intense, have fun!
When I got Sophie she went to Puppy classes at 3 months, and continued to go to obedience classes forever! We still go even though she is 9 1/2 yrs as she has finished her obedience titles and now we have discovered American Rally and are participating in those trials. And she loves the attention.
Even if you don't compete, it's fun to spend 1 on 1 time with Bodhi.

Bodhi will be six months next week. The instructor at my school said I may be able to enroll him in the "attention" class in the fall. It may be too intense for the attention span a pup may be capable of. But after the 8 week class, we can move into drop in classes. Having already gone thru the class with Bailey- I feel that Bodhi can handle it and I've learned enough to make it fun for him- despite the intenseness of it.

As for the sitting straight -when halting on a heel that is... we've been working on two leashes (which is a chore for me to get used to). I know I'm holding the treats right- we've also been practicing against a fence- so there's no room for his butt to kick out and I praise like crazy when he gets it right.

Next we are taking a 6 week fun class- called Come and Jump- which is a pre pre agility- I'm looking forward to the off leash work.

As the name implies, I'm guessing that your next fun class, the "Come and Jump" will be working on recalls and jumping? If jumping at Bodhi's age, you need to really watch out...most experts and orthopedic specialists agree that a labrador shouldn't jump until at least 2 years old. It can cause severe damage to the developing joints/bones with that high-impact activity, even just little jumps.

Sounds like you are going about things the right way, with lots of work and training! I would recommend that you get involved with your local competition obedience club or local labrador retriever club (usually there is an obedience chairperson you can contact) with regards to competing. You can attend fun matches, where you attempt to work (with training allowed) in a "show-type" environment. They are like schooling shows, and are a great step toward showing.

As far as age, this stuff shouldn't be too difficult depending on the puppy. Usually, they have to be 6 months old to compete (no problem there with Bodhi). It takes a lot of time and patience, and a good sense of humor for those days when your puppy breezes right past you and out of the ring during a recall, or stops and smells the ground during your off-leash heeling exercises (been there, done that! :D Still haven't been in an official "show ring" yet and have two matches coming up!)! It is fun stuff, but you have to keep the right attitude!

Good luck! Sounds like you are well on your way!!! :)

As the name implies, I'm guessing that your next fun class, the "Come and Jump" will be working on recalls and jumping? If jumping at Bodhi's age, you need to really watch out...most experts and orthopedic specialists agree that a labrador shouldn't jump until at least 2 years old. It can cause severe damage to the developing joints/bones with that high-impact activity, even just little jumps.

No worries here- this class is all about puppies. The tire "Jump" is on the floor. The dog walk in on the floor. No jumping more than a step height, It's more about building confidence and reliabilty.