My new Lab puppy!!!!!!!!

I have been asking/begging the Mrs. for a new Chocolate Lab for a little over a year now, and this weekend, christmas came early for me!!!! She is only 6 weeks old, (I didn’t think they could be taken from there mother that early). I normally take my dogs to a trainer, but I think I am going to try to train this one on my own. Having said that I have a couple of questions. I am sure that it is to early to start training at this age, so when is the right age to begin training? Do you start training with obedience, or bird? What are some techniques you have used, that may help me get started? Thanks in advance.

Congrats on your new best buddy.

I let my pup get adjusted for a week and started training a week after I brought him home (7 weeks/ 49 days). I started with obedience and simple things. Come, stay, sit, his name, kennel, etc. Just remember to keep your sessions short with a pup. I think mine started out like 5 minutes tops. If they get distracted, time to quit. Remember, reward/praise your pup when he/she does right.

Congrats on your new best buddy.

I let my pup get adjusted for a week and started training a week after I brought him home (7 weeks/ 49 days). I started with obedience and simple things. Come, stay, sit, his name, kennel, etc. Just remember to keep your sessions short with a pup. I think mine started out like 5 minutes tops. If they get distracted, time to quit. Remember, reward/praise your pup when he/she does right.

Go out and get yourself a book. Water Dog or Gun Dog by Wolers, I think that is his name. Those are both great books and have a ton of helpful tips for training. Now is not to early to start training. You can work on things like fetch,sit,come.

Go out and get yourself a book. Water Dog or Gun Dog by Wolers, I think that is his name. Those are both great books and have a ton of helpful tips for training. Now is not to early to start training. You can work on things like fetch,sit,come.

I agree with all you guys said..I too, used the book Gun Dog by Wolters…great book. CONGRATS on the puppy…

I agree with all you guys said..I too, used the book Gun Dog by Wolters…great book. CONGRATS on the puppy…

Congrats on the new puppy. You may lose a little sleep over the next few weeks but you will have a ball training it yourself. Here are A coupke things you may want to consider starting off with a new pup. Pick the pup up and hold it until it struggles to get away, when it is trying to get free, hold on a little longer. That will start giving the pup the idea who is top dog. Keep the pup confined to a small area, at the biggest, one room. Feed it in the same area every time. If you are crate training, feed in the crate. This will get the pup used to being in a kennel. Use the pups name when you offer the food. Start playing the retreiving game. Get the pup interested in a small stuff toy then toss it a short distance. When the pup gets the toy, clap snd call it back to you. Do this sittng on the floor so you are on the pups level. Like mentioned above keep everything short at this point. Quit the game on a successful note when the pup still wants to play. For obiedence, here is a good one to start with – Rub a tasty treat in the palm of your hand then put the treat in a pocket or hide it in your other hand. Hold your open palm out in front of the pup and say “touch” When the pup touches your palm, praise it and give it a treat. hold your palm close to the pups nose, you want it to succeed. This simple task kind of lays the ground work for the rest of obiedience training. One other thing, do not worry about introducing birds at this young age.

Congrats on the new puppy. You may lose a little sleep over the next few weeks but you will have a ball training it yourself. Here are A coupke things you may want to consider starting off with a new pup. Pick the pup up and hold it until it struggles to get away, when it is trying to get free, hold on a little longer. That will start giving the pup the idea who is top dog. Keep the pup confined to a small area, at the biggest, one room. Feed it in the same area every time. If you are crate training, feed in the crate. This will get the pup used to being in a kennel. Use the pups name when you offer the food. Start playing the retreiving game. Get the pup interested in a small stuff toy then toss it a short distance. When the pup gets the toy, clap snd call it back to you. Do this sittng on the floor so you are on the pups level. Like mentioned above keep everything short at this point. Quit the game on a successful note when the pup still wants to play. For obiedence, here is a good one to start with – Rub a tasty treat in the palm of your hand then put the treat in a pocket or hide it in your other hand. Hold your open palm out in front of the pup and say “touch” When the pup touches your palm, praise it and give it a treat. hold your palm close to the pups nose, you want it to succeed. This simple task kind of lays the ground work for the rest of obiedience training. One other thing, do not worry about introducing birds at this young age.

Let the dog adjust for a week or better. get yourself a good book and follow the whole program from start to finish. Take your time and be consistant. I like Speed Train Your Retriever By Larry Mueller or Evan Grahams Smartworks program which is more involved. Evan can be reached atThe Duck Hunters Refuge Gundog forum. One thingI have done with my dogs is to use a rolled up sock to play fetch with them in a closed hallway. No where to go except back to you. Your pup will be retrieving in no time! Good Luck and Have Fun!

Let the dog adjust for a week or better. get yourself a good book and follow the whole program from start to finish. Take your time and be consistant. I like Speed Train Your Retriever By Larry Mueller or Evan Grahams Smartworks program which is more involved. Evan can be reached atThe Duck Hunters Refuge Gundog forum. One thingI have done with my dogs is to use a rolled up sock to play fetch with them in a closed hallway. No where to go except back to you. Your pup will be retrieving in no time! Good Luck and Have Fun!

I agree with Lip…Ive always started pretty much right away..start with the easy sit,lay,come,etc….and keep it short when the pup is young so she/he looks forward to the training sessions…remember its a GAME for the dog and they look for the reward/praise from the head of the pack…YOU….good luck on the new addition…jay

I agree with Lip…Ive always started pretty much right away..start with the easy sit,lay,come,etc….and keep it short when the pup is young so she/he looks forward to the training sessions…remember its a GAME for the dog and they look for the reward/praise from the head of the pack…YOU….good luck on the new addition…jay

How can we believe you? I think we all need to see a picture to make sure you’re telling the truth about this puppy!

How can we believe you? I think we all need to see a picture to make sure you’re telling the truth about this puppy!

Thanks for all of the info guys! I will post a pic this evening.

Thanks for all of the info guys! I will post a pic this evening.

Hey Fishin’ congrats on the new pup…

Any drill you do right now which makes pup sit still and makes him mind his manners when you are around and have you’re hands on him is a great thing to do.

Remember – his attention span is about 5 seconds – so keep the drills really short, but you can’t do too many daily little 3- 5 minute sessions of sitting quitely.

Rick and Ronnie Smith have a good DVD on getting you’re puppy started out right. You can find that DVD at http://www.ricksmithkennels.com

Also Sharon Potter of Red Branch kennels has a puppy class focused on getting a hunting dog started in the right direction. You can find her info at http://www.redbranchkennels.com

Both of those two are having a training seminar this summer just up the road from you in Lonsdale MN, which is next door to Tom Dokken’s place.
http://www.rjsroosterranch.com/events.htm

Keep us posted on the progress!
Good Luck!

Hey Fishin’ congrats on the new pup…

Any drill you do right now which makes pup sit still and makes him mind his manners when you are around and have you’re hands on him is a great thing to do.

Remember – his attention span is about 5 seconds – so keep the drills really short, but you can’t do too many daily little 3- 5 minute sessions of sitting quitely.

Rick and Ronnie Smith have a good DVD on getting you’re puppy started out right. You can find that DVD at http://www.ricksmithkennels.com

Also Sharon Potter of Red Branch kennels has a puppy class focused on getting a hunting dog started in the right direction. You can find her info at http://www.redbranchkennels.com

Both of those two are having a training seminar this summer just up the road from you in Lonsdale MN, which is next door to Tom Dokken’s place.
http://www.rjsroosterranch.com/events.htm

Keep us posted on the progress!
Good Luck!

Picture as promised.

Picture as promised.

Beautiful pup.

Here’s to a great hunting partner and a better friend.

Ron

Beautiful pup.

Here’s to a great hunting partner and a better friend.

Ron

Awesome! Cute little bugger! Many years of enjoyment you have there!

Awesome! Cute little bugger! Many years of enjoyment you have there!