cab09 Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Hi everyone, Sorry if Im repeating old news but just recently got a lab pup who is coming up to nine weeks and would like to ask some more experienced dog trainers a few simple (possibly silly) questions. He's my first dog and worried in case I spoil him or do something wrong! BACKGROUND INFO The first couple of days we got him he settled into his crate and does his business on newspaper outside, or if we dont get to him in time, on newspaper in the kitchen (then put outside). He totters off to his cage when he wants a nap or time to himself. So, quite pleased as seems to have settled through the night also. Any pines or whines we ignored when he was in cage. He has also starting bringing back his toys, releasing them in my hand and sitting for me to throw them again (just a few times though as dont want to push him/ make it too intense 'play'). QUESTIONS 1. TOYS - He has got squeeky toys at the moment but confused as some people say not to give them to a lab pup. Should I or not? Is the reason being when he starts picking up he may become hard mouthed as he bit his toys to make them squeek when he was younger? 2. LEADS - He will be due outside in the next few weeks for short walks. Do I introduce him to his working/ adult field lead straight away i.e. the rope slip lead with stopper? 3. WHISTLE - Should I intoroduce the whistle to him at this early age during his basic obedience trainaing or shall I wait until he is more mature when his 'field' training begins? Should I concetrate only on voice commands first? He does at the moment come back to me when I come down to floor level, make a fuss and do a 'double clap' - should the double clap be replaced with a double whistle toot?? If the whistle is to be used at this age, what other commands should I incorporate it into, apart from returning? Or is this taking the fun out of his puppy years? 4. BOOK ETC - anyone know of a good book for me to read up on? Ideally, I would llike to train him as a bit of an allrounder lab. I piegeon shoot from a hide, roost shoot and rabbit shoot on land I have. I also have a beaters day game shooting and do a couple of walked up shoots through the season. I help out at a shoot where at the moment I beat and also possibly later have the opportunity to pick up. Do you think I am being too ambitious in attempting to train an all rounder lab as my first dog and whats peoples thoughts on the beating line (a good dogs graveyard?) Many thanks for all your help, much appreciated (sorry the thread was so long!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Hi everyone, Sorry if Im repeating old news but just recently got a lab pup who is coming up to nine weeks and would like to ask some more experienced dog trainers a few simple (possibly silly) questions. He's my first dog and worried in case I spoil him or do something wrong! BACKGROUND INFO The first couple of days we got him he settled into his crate and does his business on newspaper outside, or if we dont get to him in time, on newspaper in the kitchen (then put outside). He totters off to his cage when he wants a nap or time to himself. So, quite pleased as seems to have settled through the night also. Any pines or whines we ignored when he was in cage. He has also starting bringing back his toys, releasing them in my hand and sitting for me to throw them again (just a few times though as dont want to push him/ make it too intense 'play'). QUESTIONS 1. TOYS - He has got squeeky toys at the moment but confused as some people say not to give them to a lab pup. Should I or not? Is the reason being when he starts picking up he may become hard mouthed as he bit his toys to make them squeek when he was younger? That is the general reaoning behind squeekies. I usually take all squeaky toys out around 12 to 14 weeks of age so that they have nyla bones, knoted socks, and raw hides left as toys from then on. 2. LEADS - He will be due outside in the next few weeks for short walks. Do I introduce him to his working/ adult field lead straight away i.e. the rope slip lead with stopper? Use a lead that fits the dog...nothing too heavy, and for a puppy I perfer a buckled flat collar for training. 3. WHISTLE - Should I intoroduce the whistle to him at this early age during his basic obedience trainaing or shall I wait until he is more mature when his 'field' training begins? Should I concetrate only on voice commands first? He does at the moment come back to me when I come down to floor level, make a fuss and do a 'double clap' - should the double clap be replaced with a double whistle toot?? If the whistle is to be used at this age, what other commands should I incorporate it into, apart from returning? Or is this taking the fun out of his puppy years? I would have him trained to voice commands to sit, heel, recall before I started chaining the whistle to the commands. 4. BOOK ETC - anyone know of a good book for me to read up on? Ideally, I would llike to train him as a bit of an allrounder lab. I piegeon shoot from a hide, roost shoot and rabbit shoot on land I have. I also have a beaters day game shooting and do a couple of walked up shoots through the season. I help out at a shoot where at the moment I beat and also possibly later have the opportunity to pick up. Do you think I am being too ambitious in attempting to train an all rounder lab as my first dog and whats peoples thoughts on the beating line (a good dogs graveyard?) There is no reason you can not train a good all round lab for your type of shooting and past times. Remember to take it slow and keep it fun. As for a starting training program I would suggest the one pinned in this section. Many thanks for all your help, much appreciated (sorry the thread was so long!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cab09 Posted April 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Thanks for the advice new to the flock. I have printed off the obedience trainer tagged on this forum, it looks ideal. Just another question....at what age do you think it would be safe/ comfortable to kennel a pup outside? The dog is to eventually live outside in a kennel with a run around 14 to 16 ft in length. Is 6 months around the norm (coming into winter from now)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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