LAB QUESTIONS (Thrasher)

[l cooke]

Thrasher,

I have had several labs. Males, females, black, yellow, and choc. We used to run field trials in the 80's but have headed in a different direction now. I currently have two females of a different type breeding. We have gone with "bench and hunting test" type due to the temperament and calmer disposition. All labs are bred to retrieve but different "type" labs give various levels of performance. For the fast retrieve you better get in the field trail bloodlines. For the "1 dog in the family duck hunter" I prefer the looks of the bench breeding and the less hyper dispostion. My old hunt test dog would bounce of the wall while in the house. Not so with the bench breeding. I as well have seen some great females. The biggest difference is that a male will urinate on everything in sight, not so with a female. Finally, do you want puppies or not? Something to consider.

[shiloh]

Len,
I do want a puppy, but I have just had a hard time deciding where to go and what to get. There are a lot of puppies out there, and I really don't know enough to be comfortable chosing where and what to get. I think I am going to find a good bloodline and close my eyes and pick. Maybe even send it to a trainer. I kinda hate to do this, but I also question my dedication to the dog and also my knowledge of training. So to answer your question, yes I do want a puppy.

[get em]

thrasher... go with your instinct.. you will pick out the best one.. I know that the bloodlines are important.. But imho you don't have to pay a grand or so for a puppy to have a good puppy... I would make sure the papers are there and the puppy is registered, but I have seen peoples dogs that they have gotten out of the paper and they have been just as good as any $1,000 dog.... I think there is a guy in florence that will help you train your dog.. Meaning you can pay him and he will teach you how to teach your dog... You and your dog will have a much stronger bond... And I would also suggest female... Not as hard headed as some males I have seen... Good Luck

[go24]

I'd like to second the point cmlabs made about 5 minutes a day. It can be done! Although there will be steps that will require extended sessions.

Another thing I would add is that the Wolters book is the Standard and all you need unless you have a retarded dog. But, it must be followed to the "T". I've seen people think that it's so cute when the pup won't come "here" or won't let go of the dummy. BIG mistake. Get those things straight imediately! Don't go to another stage of training until every command is perfected.

[l cooke]

I was not saying that color was the most important. I will say this: I would not want to pay good money for a puppy, spend hundreds of hours training pup, and spend the next 13 years with a dog that I didn't like the color of. Each has a preference as to our favorite color lab so just get what you want. The important thing here is... A LAB, and training.

[goosebruce]

The wolters book is 40 years old, lots of new stuff out there since then. Will it train a dog, sure. But you wont train one with his unreal ass time table, and once you fall behind you throw the book away and wing it. Personally, I think the dobbs book is the easiest to follow thing going, lots of basics, lots of diagrams, lots of drills. Even if you choose not to take advantage of an ecollar, the dobbs have a good insite in how to think like a dog, and use dog nature to help you train.
Lots of good litters out there from off colors. His point was don't choose by color only, if you want a choc, go find the best choc litter you can afford, dont choose a dog cause its choc only. Good discussion here tho.
Hyper dogs and marking males are socialization problems, not genetics. A show pup that cares less about birds is genetics. Remeber to sort through the things dna cause, and don't! hehe. travis

[Bobby Williams]

goosebruse tell him when he get a pup to join a good retriever club and how all of you good hearted people will help him train his dog. Where are your manners?????? [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[goosebruce]

Oh, i did that last week! First thing I told him!
Might have added, if your REAL lucky, you might someday get to meet Bobby Williams. Nothing is 100% sure in dog training, except if you meet Bobby, you'll remember it! bwhaha. travis

[Junior P]

One of my favorite ways to pick a puppy is to turn out the whole litter take a duck wing and throw it for them. Some will go to get it and some won't. The one that plays with it the most is allert and takes that wing away from the others is the one I want. I have to agree with the previous post about field trial vs. bench dogs. We used to have field trial labs and then got out of it. My dog now comes out of a bench stock breeding. The reason I got one from bench is for the tempermant and slow pace. He won't hit the water balls to the wall but he will do anything I want him to and he has a great nose. Don't worry about the training it by yourself thing it isn't as hard as it seems. However, a lab can't learn in the kennel.

[l cooke]

Thrasher,
1. Find any litter that has the color puppy you want
2. Decide on male/female (both make good hunters and companions)
3. Make sure the parents are good hunting dogs or have some field trial blood close(which means although they may not be hunting dogs, they would be darn good one's)
4. Sit down with the litter at 5 1/2 to 6 weeks and see which of the puppies show some type of interest in: a ball, pine comb, stick, or feather, and YOU. Mark that puppy and get it at 6 1/2 to 7 weeks of age (exactly).
5. Go buy the book Water Dog, by Richard Wolters. Look at and read all of the pictures before you bring that dog home. Next read the whole thing. It's good. There are other good books out there but that is my favorite. Good pictures with explanations, great for a beginner.

If you have 5 minutes 2 times a day...Y O U can train this dog yourself. It will make the bond between the two of you strong. When it is 5 or 6 months old don't be afraid to call on a professional for a couple of months help. You can buy this puppy for $250.00 and up. Spending $1000.00 for 3 or 4 months of training to aid you is a small price to pay for a good companion.

Len

[shiloh]

Thanks for the info guys.....

[Meeka]

I gave $125.00 for Meeka. She is out of a blood trailer owned by a certified redneck!

She is in her 9th year now. I trained her myself. She has faults, but that bitch can hunt. I think she has esp. I can tell her to "get over there" and shine my light and she will crawl up on the appropriate log . . . 30-40 yards away.

I gave $500.00 for Zeus. He is the best looking dog you will ever lay eyes on. His grandfather was National Champion . .. show dog. He picked up a duck once . . . then threw it back down and pawed at it. When I whistled him in, he came but left the duck there so I sent Meeka.

[bear]

You are begging for trouble if you make your #1 choice color. I have seen that proved out over and over.
Your first choice should be breeding. I have hunt test dogs in the house as pets and they are very controled and simply want to be petted. The same dogs will pull their heads away from a pat while hunting. They are saying, "don't mess with me, I am busy" You would never believe they are the same dogs. If you get a good hunting dog with a good dispesition you will think it is beautiful no matter what color it is!

Study the blood line, look for cert. hips and eyes and you will maximize your chances of getting a new best friend who is alway glad to see you no matter what! [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[Bobby Williams]

Now is that supposed to be a compliment? Coming from you I am not too sure. [img]images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]

[goosebruce]

But of course Mr. Bobby. travis