need some input

[dannysdaddy]

I am going to be getting another lab next year.  what i need is somewhere i can get a papered guaranteed dog.  i have heard of places that will train your dog and train you to properly use the dog and you will have a finished dog at the end.  anyone know anything about this???

[elkonastick]

get a lab training book and read it, when you get a lab pup and from day 1 your his only master and you properly train him yourself you can get more than just a hunting dog out it. i didnt properly train my lab untill he was past one and after putting in the time and effort i was rewarded with a great dog thats main goal is to please me. i cant say for sure because i've never got a ready to hunt out of the box dog but i doubt you'd have that special bond that grows when you train your pup to hunt. my lab is not papered and i got him for free but he is one of the best behaved labs i have ever seen because i give him the attention and training that a lab needs, which is alot. my advice is if you dont have the time to train a lab then you dont have time to own a lab, wait till you do.

[buglebuster]

get a lab training book and read it, when you get a lab pup and from day 1 your his only master and you properly train him yourself you can get more than just a hunting dog out it. i didnt properly train my lab untill he was past one and after putting in the time and effort i was rewarded with a great dog thats main goal is to please me. i cant say for sure because i've never got a ready to hunt out of the box dog but i doubt you'd have that special bond that grows when you train your pup to hunt. my lab is not papered and i got him for free but he is one of the best behaved labs i have ever seen because i give him the attention and training that a lab needs, which is alot. my advice is if you dont have the time to train a lab then you dont have time to own a lab, wait till you do.

What book or books did you use? My lab is a great dog and I have trained him somewhat but he is now 15 months old and I feel like he needs more before its to late.

[dannysdaddy]

i live in oak harbor.  i dont really know how to properly train a hunting dog.  i can read all i want but it aint the same as knowing what your doing and i dont know anyone who knows what they are doing.  thants why id like to find a trainer to help not only with the dog but with me as well.  I do know that people who think they know what they are doing will ruin a dog real quik.  dont want that to happen...

[cryfowl]

I paid $2,000 for my papered out the rear Yellow Lab.  He has bloodlines galore........and he won't swim unless you throw him in.  Will retrieve on land, but will only go chest deep in water.....ARG!  My other Lab I rescued from a local drug house.  Purebreed but no papers.  He is a hunting fool and rivals any of my other papered Labs.  Put the time into them and you will be rewarded.

[D-Rock425]

Papers don't make the dog hunt any better.   My dad said the best hunting dog he ever had was a lab mix he brought home from the pound.   
I just got myself a 10 month old yellow lab for free and will be spending the year training and getting here ready for next season.   I might look into some professional training myself if I can come up with the cash.

[dannysdaddy]

I paid $2,000 for my papered out the rear Yellow Lab.  He has bloodlines galore........and he won't swim unless you throw him in.  Will retrieve on land, but will only go chest deep in water.....ARG!  My other Lab I rescued from a local drug house.  Purebreed but no papers.  He is a hunting fool and rivals any of my other papered Labs.  Put the time into them and you will be rewarded.

i have heard that is a common thing with some labs. they will try to stay on land.  thats why i want someone who trains them every da.  and i know papers arent always a guarantee but they do guarantee hips, eyes, etc.  owned too many mutts that are no good.

[SnowDog]

This post should go into the Bird Dogs forum.....

I was in your situation three years ago and decided to train my first hunting dog myself. It was a great experience, but as people have said, it took a ton  of dedication and time every day. I started by reading "The Labrador Shooting Dog" by Mike Gould, then for the actual retriever training I used Evan Grahm's "Smartworks System". Finally, I hired a pro trainer a couple times to spend an hour with me giving me some coaching. After more than two years of hard work, I have a great family and hunting companion. I could not ask for a better "mans best friend"

In regards to "papered" or "non-papered", I believe strongly the GENETICS and bloodlines are important. It does not guarantee your dog will be a hunter out of the box, but it does strongly increase the chances your dog will have "what it takes".

Get yourself a copy of "The Labrador Shooting Dog" and read it before you buy a dog. It will give you a good idea of what you are getting into. Amazon sells them.

[Heartsblood]

Man that place looks familiar... I coulda sworn I saw that dog the other day. Happy lookin' pard for sure!

[elkonastick]

get a lab training book and read it, when you get a lab pup and from day 1 your his only master and you properly train him yourself you can get more than just a hunting dog out it. i didnt properly train my lab untill he was past one and after putting in the time and effort i was rewarded with a great dog thats main goal is to please me. i cant say for sure because i've never got a ready to hunt out of the box dog but i doubt you'd have that special bond that grows when you train your pup to hunt. my lab is not papered and i got him for free but he is one of the best behaved labs i have ever seen because i give him the attention and training that a lab needs, which is alot. my advice is if you dont have the time to train a lab then you dont have time to own a lab, wait till you do.

What book or books did you use? My lab is a great dog and I have trained him somewhat but he is now 15 months old and I feel like he needs more before its to late.

i have retriever training for the duck hunter by robert milner its pretty good but new ones were expensive so i would look for a used one. my dog listened and fetched like crazy since he was a pup, he didnt wanna touch a duck though he would just run over sniff it and run back and sit at my feet like you go get it. if your dog acts up or wont fetch then help from a trainer would be a big help but you still gotta stay at it every single day

[SnowDog]

Not willing to retrieve a bird is a pretty big problem for a retriever. Going through a solid force fetch program would probably help with that issue, but pure bird drive is genetic imho.

An end to end retriever training program like Evan Grahm's Smartworks is worth it's weight in gold. It might seem expensive at first, but the savings in time and frustration in the field is priceless.