what to do? i.e. puppy post

[gator]

man, folks, i need some experts to step in here.....and, i aint chittin ya a pound on this, but i got no clue what to do next.......

almost 13 wk old pup......

crate trained

decent "citizen" and understands NO

early vocal issues that were met w/ me ignoring.....lately, i've been correcting, and have received good results.....still vocal when needing to pee/poop

can't get him to figure out how to ask to go out to pee.....not an issue as i don't let him out w/out first using bathroom and then it's on a limited basis

hall marks are getting boring

hand thrown marks.......the desire to get it is there, i MEAN IT'S THERE, but the desire to come straight back ain't.......he's better than 60% tho.

he's been on a check cord from day 1....play time, on a check cord....walks, check cord.....etc. thing is, when i put it on and try to coax him back w/ it, he pulls against it..........NOT what i want. if i say HERE and run away, he comes running to me.....those are the times he is playing. like i said, alot of times he's right back to me.....

he sits to go out, he sits to come in.....he sits for his food, and he sits before kenneling (knows the kennel command)

he'll HERE/HEEL/SIT in sequence for treats.....and i've transitioned that lately to doing it w/out treats at times -- MEEKA saw it the other day.

he's been around the camp, met/played w/ other dogs, been on fresh killed ducks and retrieved them, been around gunfire from a distance of 20 yds. no whimpering or squirming, just ears perked, and i tossed a bumper for him to retrieve.........later on, while walking, the boys shooting skeet would hammer off and he wouldn't even look up, sorta like, "oh well, another gun."

he's been on a few scouting trips, learning the woods and playing while i walk........he's been in and played in the mud.........smelled the leaves, you name it and it's in a forest, he's been around it....

thing is, i've talked to folks that have pups same age and they're on flyers (pigeons), walking singles (50-60 yds), swimming, etc....

i'd like to get on some marks (other peeps throwing) but b/t work and hunting, that ain't happening........and i sure AIN'T throwing them outta a winger......

i'm so concerned w/ taking it slow and doing it right this time, i'm scared i ain't doing enough.......

i ain't sure where this was supposed to go, but if ya'll see anything i need to do or not do, SAY SOMETHING!!!!

the info out there is making my damn head swim.

gator

[bodeen]

Gator Ill tell you what most on this board have told me. Just take it slow and keep high standards.

Dixie at one point had me thinking she would never be anything but a house dog. But I stuck to it and she is coming around.

All those dogs doing all those things at such a young age is foriegn to me.

Just my two cents.

[skuna]

I ain't no pro but seems like you got a good start........and I would not worry about what other dogs are doing at a certain age. Dogs are as individual as people, one may pick up on a certain thing easier.......another may pick up on something else quicker.

My brown pup would retrieve as a pup but was NOT retrieve crazy like Ace was. I worried about it and at times tried too hard to get here interested in it. Finally, I dropped off completely with retrieves........I went on into formal OB and CC, FF and slowly started back throwing some retrieves......Now she is CRAZY about fetching.

Really, what does 50 and 60 yard retrieves at 3 months on get you in the long run?

[jsherwin]

trust your instinct, you've been around the game long enough. My problem was rushing, because she caught on so quick, i just couldn't wait to see what she would do next. I left HOLES. I knew what i was doing was wrong after i thought about it for alittle while. I could tell you everything that i did, and what you could do to correct it after i saw someone else run her (trainer for 2 months). Malli also played with the check cord, that just took time. My conclusion with you is, You no what to do, so go do it . Don't be scared to try different techniques. If you remember i was scared as hell when i got my pup, i called you how many times during the process. Now it is just an everyday routine.
Give it hell Gator.
If you need a puppy thrower one evening call me, I could probably use some help myself.
jonathan

[gator]

thanks for the responses......

i wanna make one thing clearer than i did in the beginning.....1) this dude ain't no gomer (me or the pup, shut up goosebruce), 2) i think those that have the help to do some walking singles like that do get a little further ahead a little quicker -- if done right, and they are.......it gives the dogs a chance at repetition and learning the various verbal cues early on....heck, i wish i could do it some.

this post was really just a series of ramblings on my part -- thinking out loud if you will.....sometimes it helps me to see things in print. PLUS, there's a wealth of knowledge here, once you get past my BS and someone might pick up on something.....

took lil dude out this evening, thru a few puppy marks and he came right back.....had the flavor of the month throw 2 (longest about 40 yds) and he smoked and brought it right back....

I MADE gauge the headcase he is -- no doubt......i rushed rushed rushed and was very unfair w/ punishment and did very little teaching early on...left holes that i'm having to patch right now, and i wizzes me off to know this could all have been avoided w/ a better plan...how he is the dog he is, well, it's beyond me.......BUT, he has faults (line issues) and i have to constantly stay on my own booty to keep from doing it again.....

i got no idea what trapper will be yet.....i have no idea which venue i'm gonna place my chips w/ him yet -- although i know what i'm gonna train FAR........but, in the end, i want a more complete/consistent animal more than a ribbon.

gator

[Marty N.]

Gator
Looks like you got it all covered, my only addition to your training so far would be to introduce going through light to moderate cover for a bumper or pigeon and maybe work on jumping over small logs or any obsticle that he can get over without any strain for a bumper as well. If he is as rambunctious as he sounds then maybe start working on here with your cord and a light jerk and release. Like you said he might pull back but couple it with praise when he starts coming to you he will get the idea.
Marty

[gator]

man, i'm watching this thread like a hawk i tell ya, and one of the folks i really wanted to respond did......thanks marty.

funny thing about what you wrote is that i actually started the here/sit on lead yesterday.......at first it was "weird" (lack of better word) for him but now, he just let's her ride......here - tug - and he's coming.......he got in a habit of wanting to run to my feet and sit tonight, so i started "here" - tug -walk backwards and if slow/stop, here - tug......pretty soon he just kept coming as long as i could walk backwards.....

the log/light cover stuff is a good call......we've been over them, around them, under them but never after a bumper.....gonna have to give it a go here shortly.....

thanks folks, and if you got something to add, do it and let's discuss.....gator

[H20K9]

hehe, dude you are askin the same questions I was about a year ago when I got my new pup. It had been 9 years since I had a young un around and I had forgotten what it was like.

You're doin everything right man, its all about exposure to various sights and sounds and smells and you've got that covered in spades. I wouldn't worry about the tuggin on the lead thing. When I started into formal obedience, Jessie pulled so bad that I had to get a dam ropin glove just to work on heel. I finally said fugg this and got me a damn pinch collar (AKA puppy power steering), It was kinda like usin treats, best dam thing I ever did, little chit heels backwards quicker than some dogs run forwards now hehe.

Marty was right though, I would definitely start throwin some puppy marks thru some cover, over logs, across fingers of runnin water (when its warm enough). Start introducin factors now during playtime and they aren't so overwhelming later on down the road when there is pressure involved.

I don't know if you're a 2 sided heeling advocate or not, but I really dig it, and now is the time to start on that too.....of course with treats Some folks say its gimmicky, but I've seen some FT's won by havin it and some meaty HT lost because you didn't have one more tool in the toolbox.

The 5 minutes I saw him, I liked what I saw for a 13 week old pup. He's responsive, inquisitive, and he has fire in his belly. That's what I want in a pup that age.

[jdbuckshot]

all this worry and he's only 13 weeks? just chill out a little, if he is worth anything, which i know he is if you have him, you'll turn him into a machine, dont doubt the confidence on your part! i have heard how great guage is! if the title doesnt say enough.


by the way great looking dogs!