duck dog training

[duck slayer]

i have a 15 week old black lab and i was wondering about what age i should start her out with training? any information on dog training would be useful and greatly appreciated...

[migrator00]

I'm just sendin' my 11 mo old to the trainer in a couple weeks. I hear tht 6 mo's is about the right time. I believe once they lose their baby teeth is time to start w/ the force breaking. I"m no dog trainer but that's what i've heard. SPENCE!! Help me out brother!

[IowaMigr8tor]

Get the DVD Water Dog. It is a great training video.

[SGTSLTR]

Good thing your able to start out early. I'm hoping that I can get my yellow to start learning. She's 3yrs now. The wife had her when I met her. So now I get to start the training. She has brought back geese when we are working with her, but there is alot to do with her. I think she will be ok, she's smart, at least I have that going for me :wink:

[wooziegoose]

my friends and i have seen mike stewart from wildrose kennels a few times in person and he has tought us alot. he is the trainer of drake the du dog, and has won many dog trials here and abroad. the best thing i ever did was buy his training book. i basically followed it step by step and it has proven to be very succesfull. if you want a very steady dog than this book would be a great way to get it.

[Mark Spence]

Start the pup on obedience training...you know the normal sit, stay, heel and come. These four commands are essential for future training. Work these commands and work them some more....15 minutes a day, twice a day is good.

Jason was right....once the pup looses all it's puppy teeth you can start formal training - Force Fetch, Collar Conditioning, etc.

Your best bet is to either follow a strict program like SMARTWORK - Evan Graham or send your pup to a pro for some training. It takes a LOT of time, money, and effort - but it is worth it in the long run!!!!

[SDMF]

Training should start now. Play training is highly important right now. Especially if and when you introduce birds or bumpers to your pup.Get some books now. Books by Bill Tarrant, James Spencer,John and Amy Dahl are all good sources of info. fetchpup.com, northernflight.com and working-retriever.com should help you out as far as websites go . Give them all a look. Do you have a crate for your pup to sleep in at your house? They go a long way as far as helping out with the housebreaking as well. Do you have access to birds? Quail would be good to start with because they are small and easy for pup to get a handle on. Even better would be to start out with a wing of some kind when you get ready to start on feathers. Obedience should be an everyday issue that you can work on with treats and lots of praise. Take pup with you whenever you can , it will help create the bond you need to help make training easier.Good Luck

[drakekiller08]

i started mine at 9 weeks, and another thing to let you know, repitition, repition, repition.

[takem]

we start all training as soon as we bring the dog home, the last 3 we started at 5 to 6 weeks old

[IowaMigr8tor]

Yeah if you go out and buy WATER DOG it goes throught everything you want to know. When to start training, techniques, etc. and it shows you how to do everything.

[DukDog]

i agree, buy WATER DOG dvd. it is Richard Walters methods taught by Charles Jurney. another tip is stay with one trainers methods. don't confuse the dog by switching back and forth with different ideas from different trainers. i think WATER DOG is a great video.

[double b]

no time like the present to get started. The books and video's will all help but if you check the ukc web site and check for a hunting retreiver club close to your area. the people there I'm sure will be happy to help you out. if not feel free to email me . they're never too young good luck
john

[CJSDuck]

Is there a good place to buy the Water Dog DVD.

[hoosierhunter]

I had my dog trained by a professional, but knowing now what I didn't know then. It is important to introduce them to birds at a early age. Formal training begins with obedience, but as a puppy get them interested in birds, buy some doves or pidgeons, clip their wings and let the dog play around with them in a fenced yard, let them get birdie, or introduce some duck scent on a wing or rolled up rag. At a early age they can start to develop their sense of smell, and get interested in birds. They are too early until they loose their puppy teeth to start any forced fetch or formal retrieving training. And definitely develop a bond with the dog, and if possible around other dogs too, especially if you hunt with other guys and their dogs. If you are going to train yourself, Smartwork by Evan Graham is by far the best and easiest to follow, and his manuals come in spiral bound laminated pages so you can use it out in the field and won't get damaged in the mud or rain. You can google it online and find an online bookstore to order it from. Good luck! Having a good steady, and loving dog is way more fun to hunt with, you'll find yourself just wanting to run the dog and not so worried about if you shoot or not! :D .

[IowaMigr8tor]

Scheels, Sportsmans, Cabelas, Bass Pro, any book store prolly, and pet stores.

[HRK]

started my lab the second day i had him, got him in early march 8 wks old i used thawed out ducks and geese for the taste and he was retrieving downed birds at 9mo old