New to Labradors !

[EHK-312]

Hello All, 

 

I've finally taken the decision to increase numbers in my "kennels" from my one Springer to adding a Labrador (I was sold on a HWV but my shooting path has led me towards a Labrador). The bitch is due to be covered in the coming weeks so all being well we are looking at having the pup home June-July time.

As I mentioned I have a Springer already and this leads me on to my reason for posting, my springer was my first working dog  and when it come to training I worked from the David Lisett springer training box set and in all honesty is was a great help for me being a novice and the dog has also ended up at a very good standard. 

Based on this I was wondering would anyone have any recommendations for a similar DVD/series for training a working labrador ? Or any advice in general for helping me out with my next working dog chapter ?

 

Thanks everyone !

[old'un]

Just apply the same training to the Lab as you did for the Springer but you leave out the parts that are more relevant to Springers.

[Dave at kelton]

7 minutes ago, old'un said:

Just apply the same training to the Lab as you did for the Springer but you leave out the parts that are more relevant to Springers.

+1 I pickup at Buccleugh and often out with Dave. His general basic training techniques won’t change. You have to just decide what you want out of your lab rather than your springer and adapt accordingly.

Good luck

[EHK-312]

Thank you both and I can imagine that's quite a treat working your dogs alongside his.

I'll happily work from the same techniques as I did for the Springer as I say I'm pretty knew to the working dogs and to be honest wasn't sure if it was a complete chalk & cheese approach between the two breeds.

Would you think that is best for me to do then ? Just leave the parts out that really only apply to a spaniel but my only worry is would I be missing certain things that would apply to labs ?

[old'un]

As Dave at kelton said (adapt accordingly) apply the training that is required to achieve the results that you require from the Lab, think what a Lab is used for and work the training around that, if you hit any problems during the training you can always come back for advice.

[Dave at kelton]

3 hours ago, EHK-312 said:

Thank you both and I can imagine that's quite a treat working your dogs alongside his.

I'll happily work from the same techniques as I did for the Springer as I say I'm pretty knew to the working dogs and to be honest wasn't sure if it was a complete chalk & cheese approach between the two breeds.

Would you think that is best for me to do then ? Just leave the parts out that really only apply to a spaniel but my only worry is would I be missing certain things that would apply to labs ?

My dogs are essentially trained as retrievers, picking up or wildfowling. So all the basics are the same , sit stay heel come, but they aren’t taught to hunt up game as a springer is. I concentrate on steadiness and patience. So I expect them to lie down for the length of a drive and just wait. On the shore they are taught to be patient and wait for a couple of hours on occasion. After that it is really just the longer range retrieving that is added. All sounds simple but isn’t.

And yes any time spent with Davey is a pleasure. More likely to tell you of all his mishaps and problems than gloat about his achievements. A nicer and more modest man you could not possibly meet.

Edited January 29, 2021 by Dave at kelton
Typos

[ninjaferret]

I've just put my name on another lab pup.

[Lloyd90]

3 hours ago, EHK-312 said:

Hello All, 

 

I've finally taken the decision to increase numbers in my "kennels" from my one Springer to adding a Labrador (I was sold on a HWV but my shooting path has led me towards a Labrador). The bitch is due to be covered in the coming weeks so all being well we are looking at having the pup home June-July time.

As I mentioned I have a Springer already and this leads me on to my reason for posting, my springer was my first working dog  and when it come to training I worked from the David Lisett springer training box set and in all honesty is was a great help for me being a novice and the dog has also ended up at a very good standard. 

Based on this I was wondering would anyone have any recommendations for a similar DVD/series for training a working labrador ? Or any advice in general for helping me out with my next working dog chapter ?

 

Thanks everyone !

The Drakeshead Way DVD’s are supposed to be very good 👍🏻

[EHK-312]

5 hours ago, Dave at kelton said:

My dogs are essentially trained as retrievers, picking up or wildfowling. So all the basics are the same , sit stay heel come, but they aren’t taught to hunt up game as a springer is. I concentrate on steadiness and patience. So I expect them to lie down for the length of a drive and just wait. On the shore they are taught to be patient and wait for a couple of hours on occasion. After that it is really just the longer range retrieving that is added. All sounds simple but isn’t.

And yes any time spent with Davey is a pleasure. More likely to tell you of all his mishaps and problems than gloat about his achievements. A nicer and more modest man you could not possibly meet.

Thanks for this mate, my whole reasoning behind going down the lab route is my shooting has turned towards inland goose shooting and wildfowling out on the marsh and I believe you'd be hard pressed to beat a lab for either of these, as I've heard numerous times you want the right tool for the right job.

I'll keep this all in mind when the time rolls round to bring the dog home and look to put it in to practice, thanks again for the advice.

3 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

The Drakeshead Way DVD’s are supposed to be very good 👍🏻

Thank you for the heads up I'll keep my eyes peeled for them !

[Agriv8]

26 minutes ago, EHK-312 said:

Thanks for this mate, my whole reasoning behind going down the lab route is my shooting has turned towards inland goose shooting and wildfowling out on the marsh and I believe you'd be hard pressed to beat a lab for either of these, as I've heard numerous times you want the right tool for the right job.

I'll keep this all in mind when the time rolls round to bring the dog home and look to put it in to practice, thanks again for the advice.

Thank you for the heads up I'll keep my eyes peeled for them !

I have a the drakes head way dvd s will dig em out - I have sat my sprocker down and made her watch them three times and she still won’t behave like a lab - so they must not work. 😂😂🙄

drop us a U2u and will get something sorted ,

ATB Agriv8 

[Dave at kelton]

11 hours ago, EHK-312 said:

Thanks for this mate, my whole reasoning behind going down the lab route is my shooting has turned towards inland goose shooting and wildfowling out on the marsh and I believe you'd be hard pressed to beat a lab for either of these, as I've heard numerous times you want the right tool for the right job.

I'll keep this all in mind when the time rolls round to bring the dog home and look to put it in to practice, thanks again for the advice.

Thank you for the heads up I'll keep my eyes peeled for them !

That’s when I moved from springers to labs. I was doing more wildfowling and a little driven so it was an obvious choice. Always happy to help in the future. Good luck.