adi1210 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 my choc lab is 11 weeks old and i dont no if i should of started training yet, i dont want to do too much too early. he sits well and brings toys back to hand, what else do i need to be teaching him to be a gun dog. He walks nice on and off a lead. what do i need to do? How often? what to look for in his training? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bode.boden Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 hi mate firstley i am no dog trainer but i asked the same qustion a bit back and was given loads of good advice of fellow pw members 1st you will be told to bond with your dog dont push it like you say still a pup [get a good training book ]also if you go to dog training site you will see a obediance trainig course print it off i did and use it hope this is a little bit helpfull :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fielddweller Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 For the first 6 months play play play,introduce noise weekly starting gently and build up.(rattle dinner bowl to start and eventually drop it.hope its steel)Teach your dog to sit before feeding increasing the time as you progres.Sit your dog and move back a SHORT way and recall him,a bit of lead work.These plus many more little games done with lots of praise and enthusiasm will get off to a good start. Enjoy Fielddweller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Play and socialisation, many say proper socialisation has a 12 week golden window. I carry them around in a gamebag at this age so they meet with lots of people and situations (being too young to be clear on jabs). Personally i think your rushing things a little all pups follow off lead and come when encouraged at this age so capitalise on not getting spooked by stuff as previously mentioned- but don't do anything dumb like fire a shotgun near it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miserableolgit Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 He is still a baby and everything is and should be still a game to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW80 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 I have a springer roughly the same age and she seems to have a brain on her so am doing a bit of fun training with her, like retrieving my old socks and hupping (sit), she is a clever dog but my other dogs were different and i never done any training with meg til she was near a year!! She has turned into a smasher but my advice is don't go by age of the dog but judge its ability and temperment!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 (edited) My springer pup is now 14 weeks, she does similar to your lab sit, retrieves dummies and comes on a recall whistle but that is all i am doing with her till she is about 6 months old but will carry on increasing the time she sits for and distance of the retrives. The main thing is not too rush anything and make sure they do what they are told exactly when you tell them with the commands she already knows. We play all the time with her and she loves going out on walks but i always make sure i am more interesting than anything out on the field so i know she will always recall. Socialisation is soo important take if you got a local club or something just take her to the puppy class, thats what i did but said to the trainer i dont want to do any of the silly games or tricks which they sometimes teach. I also have a collie who is now a year old and cause he was so switched on and because of my inexperience really rushed his training but didnt perfect it as we went so now i have a constant battle which i am slowly winning getting him to react when told and to do things properly. Also i let him off the lead to early before he would recall when told now we sometimes have days were he does not come back until he is ready. I made a point of not doing this with the springer. Edited February 8, 2012 by ferguson_tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adi1210 Posted February 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Cheers guys.. so do i need to keep him on the lead all the time when im out walking? ive had him off the lead quite alot,is this a bad idea? do i make him sit while still on the lead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted February 9, 2012 Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 Sorry didnt explain how i did the off lead thing wrong with the collie. My springer has been allowed off lead since i got her but did a few things different. The main thing is when starting to do recalls always make sure you are in a position to correct them if they dont come back, only call them once if they ignore you dont carry on calling their name, make sure she is not doing something interesting when you call her so you are definitely the most interesting thing in the field. and when they come back loads of praise and i gave loads of food as well. Some people suggest not to use food with training but i used it loads to start off with and then feed less and less till she only gets a bit of food 1 every 4 or 5 recalls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
955i Posted February 9, 2012 Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 Apparently you need to start training as soon as possible as you need to get the basics in there before the synapses in the brain join and cause the fear reaction to guns etc Not sure of the process but I was told this by my other half who is an animal behaviour therapist so she knows her stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vixen. Posted February 9, 2012 Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 At 11 weeks he is too young to be doing anything serious. As has been said just get him enjoying being with you, everything fun should start and end with you. When he scampers off recall him back for loads of fuss then let him go again. You could do some play retrieves with a rolled up sock or tennis ball, let him get used to carrying things and always encourage him back to you with whatever in his mouth. Sitting before his dinner etc is an easy way to get him used to sitting up for a reward (which will be a retrieve once you start training proper). Some dogs are ready for some more serious training before they're 6 month, some not til they're 18 month! So don't take ages suggested as gospel just play it by ear you always want the dog to remain interested in what your doing. If you're getting him to sit never walk away then recall him from the sit - always ALWAYS return to the dog otherwise later on when you actually want the ****** to sit where he's told he'll anticipate the recall, just asking for unsteadiness and avoidable problems in my opinion although I'm sure others will disagree. Good luck anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One man and his lab Posted February 18, 2012 Report Share Posted February 18, 2012 At 11 weeks he is too young to be doing anything serious. As has been said just get him enjoying being with you, everything fun should start and end with you. When he scampers off recall him back for loads of fuss then let him go again. You could do some play retrieves with a rolled up sock or tennis ball, let him get used to carrying things and always encourage him back to you with whatever in his mouth. Sitting before his dinner etc is an easy way to get him used to sitting up for a reward (which will be a retrieve once you start training proper). Some dogs are ready for some more serious training before they're 6 month, some not til they're 18 month! So don't take ages suggested as gospel just play it by ear you always want the dog to remain interested in what your doing. If you're getting him to sit never walk away then recall him from the sit - always ALWAYS return to the dog otherwise later on when you actually want the ****** to sit where he's told he'll anticipate the recall, just asking for unsteadiness and avoidable problems in my opinion although I'm sure others will disagree. Good luck anyway Totally agree with this especially the last highlighted part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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