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Author Topic: Dog training  (Read 2769 times)

Offline Nimrod

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Dog training
« on: December 08, 2010, 03:52:11 PM »
How old would u recommend starting training a water fowl dog

Offline Goldeneye

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Re: Dog training
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2010, 04:00:40 PM »
This is the basis for training all the dogs I have hunted through my life.  Richard Wolters knew his stuff when it came to water dogs.

  http://www.amazon.com/Water-Dog-Revolutionary-Training-Method/dp/0525247343

It's an old book, but the methods are solid.  I start the process as soon as the dog is home at 7 or 8 weeks.  Granted it's basic at that time, but get's drilled into their heads.  More hardcore stuff comes later.  


Offline BuckeyeMan

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Re: Dog training
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2010, 02:23:26 PM »
I'm not certain about waterfowl training per se, but training starts immediately.  However, training needs to be fun and rewarding for pup.  I think that the best thing that I did was socialize, socialize, socialize.  get your pup in as many different situations as possible, and set them up to be successful. I went to a place that did "puppy agility", it was great since it got my little girl confident in very strange situations such as tunnels and super high balance beams (like a foot high).

Wolters really hits the nail on the head when he claims that the first step of this is "teaching a dog to learn"  If they know how to learn early, they can be old and learn a new trick.  I've also read that when you get a new pup, the pack leader job is open.  Do you want to lead or follow?

Socialization to me means different situations.  if you can safely take your dog somewhere, do so as often as possible.  just make sure that every where they go they have fun.  Find other older dogs that are well behaved, and introduce.  Pups need to be slapped down a bit by other dogs, teaches them manners.  Just be sure of the older dog, if you don't know that dog, probably not the best idea.

Offline mjbskwim

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Re: Dog training
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2010, 03:15:12 PM »
Couple of the simplest things I have heard

Tell them once make em do it the second time

Don't let a puppy do anything you don't want him to do as an adult dog.

Use a clothes line to make them come.Call them once and then reel them in.Using the clothes line or light cord makes it forget it's tethered

Control/dominate the dog.The worst dogs I have seen are the ones that the owner did not dominate.I had to dominate a couple here and there,and they listened to me more than their owners.
Just roll it on it's back and rub the belly.Especially zee Germans.(hard headed mummssfumms).When they get older,they want to test the "boss" thing out,too

Puppies are easily distracted and bored.So if you have the pup sit and stay,for instance.when you see it start to raise it's butt,release the sit/stay.He did start it,but he will relate it to your releasing him,and the training continues.

Be noisy around him for a while as to ease the pup into shooting and guns.Seems like it's the easiest to mess up for a first time handler.
And slow on the water,unless he loves it already.

Remember classes are more for the human than the dog.The dogs are bread to retrieve and swim.We are the ones who need training.
This stuff can be real easy if you are real consistent.Really :chuckle:

Good luck and have a blast

Oh if you are getting frustrated,lessons are over. :bash:

Offline PointNLab

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Re: Dog training
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2010, 07:33:19 PM »
http://rattlingridgelabs.com/week7.html

We start them on birds at 7 weeks and training starts from there on
Doug

Offline PointNLab

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Re: Dog training
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2010, 07:27:35 AM »
13 weeks is fine.  just get birds and.or wings and build a lot of retrieve into it at this age.  House hold obedience is key and establish the alpha role.  Keep retrieving fun and after 4-6 retrieves stop.  Stop before they do keep them wanting it.  Jakie Mertins has a video "sound Beginings"  that is highly recommended.  i would also buy the Danny Farmer video on beggining.  Danny is a field trial trainer but these methods are great for the gun dog as well.  Bill Hillman has a good video but its $$$ so if you can borrow it his approach introduces sit and hold in a user friendly way.  Good luck!  There are training groups all over WA that can help as well.
Doug

Offline PointNLab

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Re: Dog training
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2010, 06:01:59 PM »
Can't piture Dick but knoe Bytch well and several in Butch's training group.  All great folks!
Doug

Offline seth30

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Re: Dog training
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2010, 06:13:20 PM »
This is my labs first waterfowl season, and there doing great.  They are both 2 years old, and were orginally trained for upland.  The hardest thing to get them to do was stay still.  Everytime a snipe or coot came up to the blind they would bolt after the bird.
Rather be dead than cool.
Kurt Cobain

 


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