I know it sounds nutty, but we have two 11mo labs and I picked up a book about training labs to hunt (you know, retieve while the person hunts), and I thought it might be interesting, esp for my son, who is not otherwise very involved with the dogs but is interested in hunting.

And then, too, if he ever had the opportunity, then he'd have the dogs too!

Also, I thought it might reduce their desire to chase our chickens, altho they have reduced that behaviour quite a bit.

Am I crazy? (esp considering I have *no* free time?)

Thanks!

Welcome to the board, 2labs !!!

I too, am a member of the no-time club... BUT, when it comes to training with members of the family (dogs :D ), there's always a way to make time.

I'd say use every resource you can (books, dog-friends, chatboard folks... ) and try for as many small lessons as you can fit into your days. Try to make a training regimine that fits your needs... start out with all of your obediance/manners then start working into gun-dog training.

Since you are home schooling, you could try to involve your kids in these "lessons"... More often than not, children need as much "training" as the dogs- when it comes to communicating in training. This way the pups will learn to respect the kid's commands, and the Kids will learn to be consistant in the way they communicate with the pups.

I think it's very do-able to have the basics trained into a dog for hunting, without actualy being in the field, but there will come a time when progress will come hand in hand with field experience. Have you considered getting any of the kid's involved with local lab/hunting clubs, or dog training 4-H clubs? There are some great resources for learning for you and your son... and can stretch your time a little further, as well.

The chickens are another story. It sounds like you may have had some insodents with bird-dog's misguided instincts... and chickens? That is something that also needs to be taught: these paticular birds are a "NO". Putting your pups on wild birds won't nesisarily do anything to solve interest in demesticated birds. BUT, not to worry... Lab's are smart animals- and they will know the difference if you TEACH them. :brow:

Anyhoo... I should stop rattleing on... just wanted you to know that we have a few experienced gun-dog folks on this board... and I'm sure that we'd all love to help you in any way possible... Feel free to ask all the questions you want :) . So, no... you're not Crazy :p: !

There are plenty of people who run their labs in retriever Field Trials and Hunt Tests that do not acutually hunt game. They do it for the love of the sport.

So the idea of doing is in no way "crazy"

Go for it, if you want to!

Ditto! Rhys and Ryan enjoy every moment of "Doing what they were bred to do". I actually consider it a sin to waste all of that inherited talent! Train 'em for what they were bred for, they'll be happier...or at least so exhausted that they can't complain!

:) :) I dont think its crazy at all ...I used to hunt and do hunt testing for various resons I stopped doing both but still had my dogs who still wanted to be active and deserved to be able to do so field training is a great way for you and your dogs to interact it gets both you and them out and doing and is especially good when they are driving you crazy for attention of something to do going out and doing bumpers with them and as they get older teaching them to handle on a whistle and other things is challenging for you as trainer and they as dogs and setting up different situations for them and watching them grow and improve is a real JOY..then comes the day that they totally surprise you and make you realize that you are really a team and after you recover from the shock all that6 patience and hard work is more than worth it!!! I say DO IT and enjoy! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) best wishes

I raise New Hampshire Bantam chickens ..my dogs have all the desire in the world to chase them but they dont because they know better..unfortunatly that just comes down to training them not too although field traning will tire them and take their minds off of it..:)

I raise New Hampshire Bantam chickens that I allow at times to run around on the lawn..my dogs have all the desire in the world to chase them but they dont because they know better..unfortunatly that just comes down to training them not too although field traning will tire them and take their minds off of it..:)