Hi everyone,

I have just recieved my first lab ever, woohoo!!!! She was actually given to me from a friendls unexpected litter. She is yellow and about 7 weeks old now. I was just wondering if you think it would be possible to train her to be duck dog. I don't know her pedigree or anything, just that the father(sire?) is pretty good in the blind, and the mother(dam?) is more of a house pet. When do the retriever instincts usually start kicking in? She seems to just chew chew chew..... I would like to work with her, but since she's my first, I'm pretty much lost. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Yes, you should be able to train your pup into a fine hunting retriever. Labs instinct should be present from birth. You can help to coax it along by introducing feathers and small whole birds like pidgeons as soon as possible.

Gaze through Water Dog by Wolters and Training your Retriever by James Free. If you can afford it or know some who has it, look over any material by Mike Lardy.

There are other books and authors out there, but ones I have offered have to most respect in the Retrieving world.

Check your area for a Retriever club and a pro trainer. The benefit of receive some pro training for 3-4 months can prove to invaluable. But it is pricey. You can look Working Retriever Central for links to pro trainers in your area.

So what can you do now to get on the right track?

1.) introduce birds, wings, feathers ASAP.
2.) if you play fetch, make it fun, and try to grab the object out of its mouth before it is dropped at your feet. If your dog learns to never drop it, then that will be one less thing to teach when it is time to get serious.
3.) If you are not already, crate train your lab.
4.) use the accepted obedience commands: Sit, Down, Here (not come), Heel, Off. Avoid using "stay". The dog should adhere to one command until it is asked to do something else.
5.) HAVE FUN!!!!!! BOND WITH YOUR LAB!!!!!!!!!!

Good Luck!!!

Duckbagger
Just wondering why here instead of come. Here and heal sound close to me does it not confuse the dog.

Just a question, Gibson is 15 weeks today (a fine looking yellow dawg I must say) and come is working ok, is there trouble down the road if I continue to use come.

Thanks