Lab ?

[webbmaster]

I have a 5 month old black female.

She is doing quite well in terms of obeying, not chewing on things, being calm, etc.

She fetches fairly well, but like most puppies, the attention span is not all there.

When should she start developing an urge and strong desire to "hunt down" and "fetch" a dummy? Is there anything you can do to make her more anxious to retrieve?

Also, i am planning on getting her fixed. Does that influence the training for a period of time?

thanks!

[Big Lou]

I started both my dogs the day I brought them home. I tell anyone I am helping the same thing. If you have a hallway in your home use it. Close all the doors and get an old sock that you have worn. Ball it up and start throwing down the hall. The make a lot of noise to get them back after they get it. They have no choice but to come back with all the doors closed. Now with a five month old pup with very little drive I would ease oof the obedience drills and just amke it a game and make it fun. Let her break and do wehatever as long as she is bringing back the dummy with enthusiasm. One she attacking the dummya dn firing back then mix in your line manners. Good Luck!

[tigermania]

Webbmaster the best advice I can give and this is coming from personal experience, let her be a puppy!!!! You said she is only 5 months old and all she really needs is alot of fun and letting her know that the world is a fun place to be, don't get me wrong I start from day 1 with sit, no, here, and heal, but I don't expect alot as far as marking and retrieving, if the dogs goes and gets the bird and comes back great, if the dog goes and fools around coming back so be it, she is a puppy and you have all of her life to get it right. Bottom line keep it fun for the dog and everything else will come with time. As far as having the dog fixed, that is totally your choice, but I wouldn't recommend doing that until after she has had at least 1 heat cycle. I don't know the breeding of your dog, but if her pedigree is a good and she comes along and does well with say, hunt test or field trials, etc. you may want to breed her someday, just food for thought. I know Big Lou and I agree with his practice of using the hallway, I do that also and it does work and I believe he would agree with my suggestion also. Make everything as fun for the pup as you can.

Goooooooo TIGERS...........

[judge jb]

i know you are young and so is your pup... GROW OLD TOGEATHER and learn as you both go... it will pay one day for you both... don't be fooled by some high society, pedigree dog.... like a jig-saw puzzle. it will fall in place...


judge jb

been there and done that....

just ask Sam and Sissy, both in their teens....

[Meeka]

Be patient, it may just be a stage. It seems pups every so often will rebel, so to speak; not do anything you want them to do; or simply appear to have lost interest. It doesn't usually last too long. Don't worry about it if the pup has previously shown a lot of interest.

On the other hand, some dogs just don't have what it takes.

I agree with what Big Lou and Tigermania have said. The sock is the best starting point. she may be a little big for the hall now. The tennis ball may be fun for her.

Sounds like you are training her yourself. I did that and you learn a lot. My next time I will do a much better job at it. If you are working with her most every day, as you should, she could and should be, IMO, whistle trained and making 2x retrieves. That is not expecting too much. I've seen 5 month pups pass HRC started. At the same time, you musn't take the fun out of it for them. I think that is one of the keys to creating or keeping a strong desire.

I'm no dog trainer, but I think the cure for her might be a weekend getaway. A change of scenery. Go fishing. Tramp through the woods. Ride the ATV. While there, try whatever drills you have been doing. It will be good for both of you. My guess is if you do that, she will be back to normal next week.

Speaking of getaway, I'm gonna ride up to the camp. I hope it is not sitting in water.

[ May 17, 2002: Message edited by: Meeka ]

[webbmaster]

Thanks guys! I will say that I have taken her on the water and she loved it. I guess this is the most important thing. She wanted to get back in once she semi-figured out how to swim. Plus, she definitely wanted to go back in with the dummy being thrown.
I guess if I am not training her for competition, then water retrieves are what I am after anyways. If she loses interest with a dummy on land, it really shouldn't matter as long as she loves diving int eh water to get the dummy.

have a great weekend!

[goosebruce]

At 5 months, shes probably teething and picking things up probably hurts. Take this time to formalize your ob and minimize fetches until teeth get better. And find someone who can mentor you through force fetch if possible.

Your line, since Im not training for competetion will be an albatrose around your dogs neck. No matter what your end goals are, any excuse you make for substandard performance will come back to haunt you. Lots of good dogs don't do HT or FT's. Lots more dogs don't do anything. Nobody ever bought a dog with the ideal he'd be worthless, as Im sure that wasn't your intentions. Don't sell your hunting buddy short by making excuses... train, don't complain.

If the drive was there, and its not now, its probably teeth, or too many retreives. If the drive was never there, it might be a problem. Occasionaly, even from good breedings, some dogs just don't care for it. Lifes too short to spend it making dogs do things they don't want to. travis