Training books,videos, tricks and tools

[Birdguy]

Since there has been a lot of new puppies brought home lately and mine is scheduled to arrive in a couple months I was wondering if people who are or have trained dogs could give some insight into what training aids they have used or are using other might find helpful. What books or videos do you like or not like? Is there a particular series that is better then others? I just ordered Gun Dog I and II. Do you have a trick that helped you out while training that the rest of us could benefit from? It seems there is a lot of labs (so is mine) but anymore labs are not just retrievers. Please share pointing and retrieving info as well as helpful tricks. Is there a new or better tool on the market new owners should know about.
I think Bone mentioned on another thread the other night that he was having a great time with his new pup not going to the bathroom when he took it out, yet had no issue peeing as soon as they came in. Our last dog was trained as a pup to go to the bathroom on command (potty). It was a great thing when traveling  or when the weather was really cold or really wet as you could let the dog out give it the command and the opportunity and be on the road or back in the warm house quickly. It takes a little work but well worth it.

[jeepasaurusrex]

My dad used to train Labs for retrieving and field trials. He swore by the books from Richard A. Wolters, Gun dog and water dog.

[browndog]

I was in the field trial and hunt test games for many years and the best advice i can give you is to find a successful competition minded amature training group in your area.  just go to a field trial or hunt test and talk to some people there are lots of them out there.  These groups are always looking for people to throw birds for them.  If you help them they will teach you way more than you could ever learn from  a book or video even if you are not looking to compete .  books and videos are great to read and watch but most dont offer solutions if things dont go the way the book says they should just my .  you can check out training your retriever part 2 by outlaw retrievers if you can still find it i only say this because me and one of my dogs are in it Where are you located If your close i could show you a few things.

[Birdguy]

Thanks browndog. I live on the kitsap peninsula and I think there is a retriever club in Seabeck area that I will look into. I am also planning on going to some of the trials at the Burlington Ranch in Chewelah this year. I was trying to make it last year but the weather got hot when I could go and they cancelled the trails to protect the dogs. I figured that if I could find the right group I would have no trouble finding folks to train with and learn from. Raising my own gamebirds should be a pretty good incentive for someone to want to help me out, I could trade knowledge for birds. I am thinking I may trial my pup a bit to see how we do, it just looks like fun. Working, raising birds and kids will be a tough balancing job so we will see.

[Elliott]

My dad used to train Labs for retrieving and field trials. He swore by the books from Richard A. Wolters, Gun dog and water dog.

[browndog]

IF you want to trial your pup make sure you get with a group when the dog is still a puppy.  she will need to go through a good force program you may want to send the dog to a pro for this.  Dont get down on the dog or yourself if at some point you decide she wont make a competition dog, alot of them cant handle the pressure it takes for advanced training concepts. That doesnt mean you still cant hunt and enjoy your dog. 

I you want a competition dog or a truely finished retriever i would stay away from the wolters books.  if you want a dog that is going to hunt a little and be a good family dog then they may be fine.  thats just my opinion and take it for the  it worth.  I do have alot experience with training and competing dogs with some success if you have any questions dont hesitate to ask.

[Birdguy]

Thanks for the info browndog. Any dog I own will be a PET first hunter second. Any dog I own as long as I  have to work for a living will certainly spend a lot more time as a pet then a hunter (perhaps I should check those lotto tickets I got for Christmas  ). I lack the funds and time to truly trial a dog but would perhaps like to get him into some field tests or something. I am a born and raised Washington sportsman and I started late at that, so I really am just looking to make a dog my kids can hunt over and have a good time. Anything above that is just a bonus. For ME it is just about a good time, I even had many good days at the local release sites, just taking my pet labs out for a hunt. Seeing dogs that are bred for hunting and not pets work is fascinating. When you understand the difference and make the effort it can really be fun, and that is what I want in this dog FUN. Fun for him, my family and myself. I just can not get him here fast enough. He should be born in less then a week now .

[Wayne1]

I ran my lab in some AKC test at Burlington Ranch in Chewelah, also ran quite afew Bird Dog Challange's there...   Mark has some awesome grounds there. During the off season, I train there every week. Let me know if you decide to make the trip...  be nice to meet you.

Just  Richard A. Wolters, Gun dog and water dog, were a great training tool in it's day, but now there is much better training info out there

[Shannon]

Try the "Smart Fetch" series by Evan Graham.

[Birdguy]

Wayne, I will certainly be over there this year several times. I have a friend that just moved the Chewelah and I will be in that area turkey hunting this spring. My friend is a recreational taxidermist so we are planning on mounting the bird I got last spring this February if the snow allows access  .  I have been watching the site for a year but just joined as the weather sucks and I have a few minutes most evenings. I am pretty sure I read just about all your postings last summer with you dogs pics and ribbons and such I was really hoping to meet you as well.

[RPM]

the walters stuff is still good if you're not going to be too hardcore. the tritronics book is by jim and phylis dobbs is good. thier website dobbsdogs is good. anything from mike lardy is awsome. go to a huntest or trial is a good place to start. find someone else with a pup of similar age is good, some stuff is hard by you're self. i have a couple of friends that i do that with. you got a head start having birds. birds birds and more birds make a dog. patience is a good tool and i don't always have enough of that. have fun  )

[Schmalzfam]

I like this as a source of training tools and references:

http://www.dobbsdogs.com/library/index.html