Training a Pup

[Emptyhanded]

Hey guys, I'm picking up my new lab pup in about 3 weeks. I've been reading Gun Dog books and everything else trying to learn how to train the little guy. This will be my first attempt and house training a pup, as well as, training him hunt (hopefully). I hope to get him to hunt both upland and waterfowl, and I was hoping you guys with experience could just post some tips on training. Anything helps, I'm just trying to learn myself before I pick him up. So any tips for house training or hunting/retrieving? Thanks for the help!

[rtspring]

I have trained three dogs, no way shape or form am I a pro.
Remember this, it takes time and lots and lots of rewarding. Don't get frustrated with the dog. Over time it will learn anything you want to teach it. I try to spend one hour a day with my lab, just me and him.

And don't try to work two dogs at the same time. It don't work....

good luck

[Special T]

I can fully recomend getting Wolter's "Water dog" NOW! or get the traineing DVD before you get your pup. I would say that it is more important to spend 15-30 min of training daily than  3hrs each weekend. When you send your dog out to a trainer you are likely only getting 2 hrs a day training (maybe) Its repitition that gets a dog going... Where are you located? Make sure you get some bird wings from a fellow hunters to play with the pup. Phesant & duck wings keepem in the freezer in a zip lock bag. 

[Shannon]

2 hours a day from a trainer is definately not the norm. 15 minutes a day is with about an hour of exercise 1-2 times a week is more like it. Short training sessions multiple times a day is where the owner can train there dog better IMO than a pro trainer can if the owner has the desire to train, knowledge, and patience. Repetition is the key to dog training with patience being the second most important thing.

[Stilly bay]

I can fully recomend getting Wolter's "Water dog" NOW! or get the traineing DVD before you get your pup. I:

I am gonna get flamed for this, but I think there are better training programs than Wolter's available now........thats not to say it wasn't a great training program for its time, because it surely was. so was the browning A5, but better updated alternatives are now available.

I would pick up the "Fowl dogs" dvd series and stick to it. they don't touch alot on upland game hunting but enough to get you going.
another good idea is find a training partner, or group. having help throwing marks will really take your training along way.

[Happy Gilmore]

Start here:
http://www.gundogsupply.com/dahl-books.html

and here:
http://www.hawkeyemedia.net/


Their methods are worth a few hundred bucks if you want a really good hunting dog by your side for a long time. Also, think about training with a pro a couple times a month. You might spend $50 bucks a day but, it is well worth it in the long run. It's a fun way to meet new people and advance your pup really quickly. Some guys wait three years of hunting and their dogs are outstanding after all that experience. Some guys train up their dogs and hunt over them at the same level at 10 months old. Just depends on what you want and how much free time you have outside of hunting season.

[Special T]

Nothing bad about those systems Stilly, matter of fact if you are going to use an e collar they might be superior.  all that my point was is you need to start NOW and not wait until you get a 6week pup. 

[BlueDevilBrew]

Retrievertraining.net is a great resource for training a lab, mine is now 11 months old and doing great.  Like it was said above, Wolters info is outdated, although it can be helpful. A lot of people watch training DVDs now like Evan Graham's Smartworks program or Mike Lardys program.

[ghosthunter]

I am not a pro. I have trained one lab. My first. And it was a rewarding experence. I followed the Game Dog program closely. But about a year. I had a very hot dog. She was like a teenager. Hooked up with a all female lab group and ran Hunt Test drills with them. We trained as a group with a Pro twice a month.
My best advice. Keep training short 10 minutes couple times a day at first than extend time up to half hour as dog matures. Always end on a positive note. Always use same commands each time. And enforce obedience from the start till the day the dog dies. Sit ,Stay, Here. If you have those three in stone you will have a excellent hunting partner.
Every year on public land I here guys in the dark cussing and screaming at their dogs. Training never stops its every day for life. If you can make the dog enjoy the training than you can teach it new things in very short time.
My dog is 12 now and not hunting much. No hard water retreives anymore. But her mind still says yes even when her body says no.
You will save a bundle in health bills if you keep your dog weight managed and muscels toned.
My 

[gasman]

Here is my 

Let a puppy be a puppy and keep training fun untill atleast 6 months. They are still pups.
15 min. a day is plenty.
Keep it fun and interesting for the pup/dog, not you.
Find a local Pro, and see if you can get them to train you to train your dog.
The dog will always tray to please you, and thats what they want, to please you.
Keep it fun for atleast the first 6 months and remember, there still pups.
Use wings as training/play toy. Don't just throw them a wing and let them chew it up. Give it to them then take it away and use it as a play toy/desired Item.

I, by no means am a pro, but have worked with one and talked with quite a few, and I feel my dog is my bud and he will do all he can to please me. What I have done has worked great for me and my bud.

[st8uppointers]

    i would skip on wolters stuff!

[Emptyhanded]

Thanks for the help guys! I'll try to get some pics up when I get him home.