00jacksonp Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 A friend of mine has a 6 month old lab. Any views on a wise age to start working it on commercial shoot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 A friend of mine has a 6 month old lab. Any views on a wise age to start working it on commercial shoot? When its ready that may be 18 months it may be 30 monts but I cannot see one being ready at 6 months ! Each dog is different so it will be impossible to give a answer , other than do not rush things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboro shot Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 If its been introduced to gun fire and is fairly steady/ok around other dogs a days beating would be a good start , or a night lamping but its really hard to say without seeing /running the dog I have 4 labs all at different stages 2 brother who are just turned a year one is already out and about happy to use him whenever needed but wouldnt expect him to sit on a peg just yet but other would happily sit all day but not quite as good at picking up ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
00jacksonp Posted January 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 Cheers guys . Makes total sense , I thought 6 months was way to early but wanted confirmation. Would you say a little bit of pigeon shooting would be a good introduction for the noise of shooting and reward? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbietherimmer Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 maybees but pigeons can put a young dog backwards with retrieves as they can end up with a mouthful of annoying feathers...... personally I think intro it to gunshot and get it socialised and the rest will fall into place when its ready - not the owner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 Not really , the dog needs to be introduced to gunshot from a distance at first working closer to the dog , taking a 6 month old dog pigeon shooting is likely to cause more problems than it solves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 Sounds like your pal could do with a bit of help, it's so easy to ruin a young dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 Plus it's far from fully developed over exercise at that age is just going to cause joint problems. Start gradually and personally I wouldn't under a year and that would be a special dog. Listen to the "experts" and many wouldn't do much under 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) Plus it's far from fully developed over exercise at that age is just going to cause joint problems. Finally. Edited January 16, 2015 by WGD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboro shot Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 Deffo not if its not even been introduced to fire seems a silly question if its not partially trained a little working for a 6 month old defo wont do any damage no different to then running around like idiots at play time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveo26 Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 My chessa is 6 months old and we are just starting with basic stuff. He's so immature he's just not ready, it would just cause havoc taking him out shooting now. As above your mate shouldn't rush the pup needs to be next season before he's doing anything if the pups ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 I have seen all sorts of dogs at various stupidly young ages. Seen a couple of 5ish month old spaniels out that hardly knew there name, 1 was beating on grouse poor wee thing Its ears will not have fully developed at 6 months so u could damage the ears if shooting close, Even the exercise side generally folk say 5 mins per month so really that dog should only be walking 30ish min. Plus if it gets tired mid beat while its on a lead u can't wait while it recovers, would he carry it? or more likely shout and drag it (seen it done before) Really can't see any positives from taking a dog that young to a shoot, and there is so many things that could go wrong Taking it pigeon shooting is probably the worst thing u could do with it I have a 1 yr old lab pup thats coming on nicely and i have no intention of taking it shooting till next season, and even then he will be intro'd gently if he's ready (althou he really should be) Best advice would be to join some sort of group training club soit can get used to other dogs excitement etc throu the summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboro shot Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 At 6 months i introduce a bit of working for the right dog there is no set rule but as all things in moderation but light work wont hurt but a driven day not worth talking about. the rule of 10 mins of training is more down to the attension span of the dog just take it easy simple as that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Apart from sit, stay heel and the like I have never started training under nine months. Want to ruin the dog then use it. Want to train it into a good working dog then patience is the main requirement. It is just a very young child by human standards. Like the man above says - 10 minutes of training is the most a dog of that age can absorb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee-kinsman Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 I suppose you have to decide what you want out of your dog. If you want an excellent retriever that is trained well enough to be welcomed on any shoot then 6months is far to young for any dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Working dog at that age and just above is a NO, NO.. The Dogs Muscles have not fully grown, and will limp after a very short period.. It has been discussed before and was given a big thumbs Down .. 2 years to get it to working condition, then enjoy your labours.. you will shorten the dogs working life doing it early. Get Other priorities right first ,heel,sit.stay, sound of shot, water work etc.. Then you will have a dog to be proud of.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shalfordninja33 Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 A guy I shoot with worked his lab at 10 months. It started limping the had to have operations on both front legs. It's now 3 and had to have nearly a year off after the ops. I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboro shot Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 I think when you hear work people think about days picking up at a 200+ bird day not the case, letting a younger steady dog help with the odd bit of dogging in or picking the odd rabbit when lamping when there about a year this is no harder on there body as the training they recieve. Just be sensible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveo26 Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 A guy I shoot with worked his lab at 10 months. It started limping the had to have operations on both front legs. It's now 3 and had to have nearly a year off after the ops. I There must have been something wrong with the dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 Must admit in 12 months time the dog will be 18month old and may not be ready for the field, it all depends on where it is with training. At the moment i would severly doubt it is even pyhsically capable of doing very much withou risking injury etc, I cannot see anything to be gained by working/or even taking a dog that young to a shoot, and a lot of potential disasters, any possible gains could be achieved better and more controlled environment in a group training session, either organised or just a few mates together More dogs are ruined by working them to early even if u think there ready. I have ruined my 5 yr old lab by working it too early, was 18 months old when i first took it, but we needed extra dogs on the grouse and despite trying to be careful with it it has picked up a few bad habitits. Its ok now but should off been a lot better, but 100% my fault entirely due to working it too young Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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