Lab Training????

I have a buddy of mine who has the opportunity to have a lab given to him. The Lab is a female, 3 years old. It comes from VERY good blood lines. Papers, hunting, yadda yadda yadda. Anyway here is his question. This lab has not received much training…..actually very little I am told. How difficult would it be to train this dog. I know some dogs train easier than others but generally speaking. Is he in for a very hard battle with this 3 year old. My buddy isn’t a professional trainer. He trains his own dogs. The last lab he trained is a real pleasure to watch. He did a VERY good job of training it. Any ideas or thoughts??

Ducks

Like you said, it’s all going to depend on the dog. If the dog is receptive he shouldn’t have a huge problem.

Like you said, it’s all going to depend on the dog. If the dog is receptive he shouldn’t have a huge problem.

Scott I have had labs that needed little work and were great dogs. If they came from hunting stock they will have it in them. I have always felt papers weren’t worth crap. If the parents were good dogs the offspring should have a good chance.

–Whitey

Scott I have had labs that needed little work and were great dogs. If they came from hunting stock they will have it in them. I have always felt papers weren’t worth crap. If the parents were good dogs the offspring should have a good chance.

–Whitey

Since your buddy has trained dogs before, I don’t think it will be a big problem. I would go in with the attitude of letting the dogs natural instincts kick in. I would start off with basics of sit, heel, come. The dog may have those basics down, if not it usually does not take long. For the hunting portion of the training, I would want to find out how the dog reacts to guns. using a training pistol at meal time is a good starting point. Short training sessions with dummies to work on retrieves would be my next step. I would also get the dog birdy as soon as possible.

Since your buddy has trained dogs before, I don’t think it will be a big problem. I would go in with the attitude of letting the dogs natural instincts kick in. I would start off with basics of sit, heel, come. The dog may have those basics down, if not it usually does not take long. For the hunting portion of the training, I would want to find out how the dog reacts to guns. using a training pistol at meal time is a good starting point. Short training sessions with dummies to work on retrieves would be my next step. I would also get the dog birdy as soon as possible.

Kind of what I was thinking. Just didn’t know if at 3 years old that would pose a problem. It sounds like to me he needs to go check out this dog and do a few things to see how receptive it is to commands. You can usually tell if a dog will be willing to learn or if they don’t have any willingness to please by doing a few easy things.
Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate the insite!
Jason, How you been buddy? Been quite a while! Bustin’ any birds? I’m mean the ones that sit on the water. LOL!!!

Ducks

Kind of what I was thinking. Just didn’t know if at 3 years old that would pose a problem. It sounds like to me he needs to go check out this dog and do a few things to see how receptive it is to commands. You can usually tell if a dog will be willing to learn or if they don’t have any willingness to please by doing a few easy things.
Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate the insite!
Jason, How you been buddy? Been quite a while! Bustin’ any birds? I’m mean the ones that sit on the water. LOL!!!

Ducks

Don has some very good advice. I would start with the basics, and assess where the dog is at for hunting. For the gun shot, have a friend fire a shot a ways away and see how that goes first. If the dog is OK, then move closer. Keep the birds fun, and make the dog think they are a treat.

All dogs are different. My buddy picked up a free lab last year that would absolutely not retrieve. Unlike most puppies, it was very scared of birds also. My buddy trained hard all summer, and now the dog is retrieving everything. It still has issues, but it is a ton better. If your buddy has any issues, my buddy loves to take on project dogs like this.

Don has some very good advice. I would start with the basics, and assess where the dog is at for hunting. For the gun shot, have a friend fire a shot a ways away and see how that goes first. If the dog is OK, then move closer. Keep the birds fun, and make the dog think they are a treat.

All dogs are different. My buddy picked up a free lab last year that would absolutely not retrieve. Unlike most puppies, it was very scared of birds also. My buddy trained hard all summer, and now the dog is retrieving everything. It still has issues, but it is a ton better. If your buddy has any issues, my buddy loves to take on project dogs like this.

Very good advice guys. Stick to the basics to start with. The age is not a factor. I have a police k-9, and we just got a new k-9 and handler earlier this year. My K-9 is 7 years old, and I still change and train new things with him often. Keep it basic, short, and all fun to begin. Make the dog enjoy what he is doing, and all positve reward for doing a good job properly. Find what the dog likes best, some are prey driven and have a high toy (prey) drive, and less often but it occurs, they have a high food (treat) drive and they can be rewarded that way. Training dogs is not always rocket scientist techniques. Dogs respond to different things, just find what works best. We have trained dogs with techniques that have probably never been done before, but worked for a given dog. Good luck and keep it fun

Very good advice guys. Stick to the basics to start with. The age is not a factor. I have a police k-9, and we just got a new k-9 and handler earlier this year. My K-9 is 7 years old, and I still change and train new things with him often. Keep it basic, short, and all fun to begin. Make the dog enjoy what he is doing, and all positve reward for doing a good job properly. Find what the dog likes best, some are prey driven and have a high toy (prey) drive, and less often but it occurs, they have a high food (treat) drive and they can be rewarded that way. Training dogs is not always rocket scientist techniques. Dogs respond to different things, just find what works best. We have trained dogs with techniques that have probably never been done before, but worked for a given dog. Good luck and keep it fun

I would be curious to know why a 3 year old with great bloodlines hasn’t gotten any training and why it is being given away. Make sure this dog is well checked out for health and temperment. A free dog dould be the most expencive one you ever own.

I would be curious to know why a 3 year old with great bloodlines hasn’t gotten any training and why it is being given away. Make sure this dog is well checked out for health and temperment. A free dog dould be the most expencive one you ever own.

Thanks again guys I’m sure my buddy will find your advise MOST helpful.
All I can tell you is that the dog owner bought the dog for companionship and not for hunting. HE bought the dog with papers on advice from a friend. Now he has changed some things in his life and wants someone to have the dog who will treat it very well. He was talking about selling it but told my buddy that since they were such good friends that he would give him the dog if he wanted it. My buddy was just a little apprehensive because of the dogs age. He has only trained dogs from the puppy stage, not 3 years old.
It sounds like he should give it a go.

Ducks

Thanks again guys I’m sure my buddy will find your advise MOST helpful.
All I can tell you is that the dog owner bought the dog for companionship and not for hunting. HE bought the dog with papers on advice from a friend. Now he has changed some things in his life and wants someone to have the dog who will treat it very well. He was talking about selling it but told my buddy that since they were such good friends that he would give him the dog if he wanted it. My buddy was just a little apprehensive because of the dogs age. He has only trained dogs from the puppy stage, not 3 years old.
It sounds like he should give it a go.

Ducks

No Iowa birds yet Scott–but had a great trip to North Dakota!

–Whitey

No Iowa birds yet Scott–but had a great trip to North Dakota!

–Whitey

Quote:

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For the gun shot, have a friend fire a shot a ways away and see how that goes first. If the dog is OK, then move closer.

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GOOD ADVICE, A GOOD PLACE TO DO THIS IS AT A TRAP RANGE, GET DROPPED OFF A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY AND WALK CLOSER. WORKED FOR ME.

Quote:

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For the gun shot, have a friend fire a shot a ways away and see how that goes first. If the dog is OK, then move closer.

---

GOOD ADVICE, A GOOD PLACE TO DO THIS IS AT A TRAP RANGE, GET DROPPED OFF A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY AND WALK CLOSER. WORKED FOR ME.

I am kinda in the same situation. Last night I picked up a yellow lab that was found by some relatives and not claimed. He is only about 6-8 months old from all I can tell and this dog seems to have all the tools. Great build, very reponsive, he already sits, heels, fetches and comes and hasn’t once jumped up on anyone.
Now usually I am not one to just take on a dog I know nothing about, but this one seems like he is very smart and he is young enough that I’m sure he will take training.

Very excited.

I am kinda in the same situation. Last night I picked up a yellow lab that was found by some relatives and not claimed. He is only about 6-8 months old from all I can tell and this dog seems to have all the tools. Great build, very reponsive, he already sits, heels, fetches and comes and hasn’t once jumped up on anyone.
Now usually I am not one to just take on a dog I know nothing about, but this one seems like he is very smart and he is young enough that I’m sure he will take training.

Very excited.