2 year old lab still teachable?

[vandeman17]

I have a black lab that will be two years old in April. I bought her to be a hunter as well as a family dog. I don't need a dog that will win trials but just one that will retrieve my birds and spend time with me in the field. I sent her up this summer to my uncle's place, Conway Kennels, for some training with my cousin. She was there about two months and he said she did ok but not great. I continued to work with her as much as I could until duck season. Early in the season she didn't do too bad and retrieved some birds so I was happy. As the season wore on, she got worse and worse and go to the point that I would shoot a bird, she would see it fall but didn't want anything to do with getting it. She would actually run from me when I tried to get her close to the water. My question is for you experienced guys out there, what do you think about her prospects? I am going to talk to my cousin and see if he thinks more work this summer would be beneficial or what. I really hope she can improve but I am a little worried too. 

[wraithen]

Sounds like the trainer needs to learn some new tricks. Dogs can learn just as well throughout their lives, the past experiences they have just makes it a different way to do it. Kind of like my neighbor that complains his dog doesn't listen anymore when he tells it to come. He started chasing it and hitting it with the leash the same time he yelled "come!" Wonder why his dog won't listen? 

[Happy Gilmore]

I had problems with my female when she was pushing two. I'm having problems with my 2 year old boy right now. Keep working and don't give up. My female is 5 now and there aren't many dogs which I care to hunt over more than her. Some dogs don't grow up and mature as quickly. Hunting is different than training. Training gives them the skills needed for the hunt. Hunting and convincing them that what you've taught them training is what they need to do is two different things. It would probably benefit you and the dog to go stay with Brooke / Bucko and work with him and your dog for a week or a bunch of weekends through the summer and fall. Your uncle has made more top performing dogs than probably 80% of the pro trainers in the Northwest. You'll be more likely to have the best dog you and your friends have ever hunted over.

A month or two of training isn't enough. It takes the dog nearly a month to get used to new people, surroundings and get into the "groove" of training. Most of the time(and this is true with me too) the handler needs to be trained on how to react when the dog isn't doing what it is trained to do. It sounds like you don't exactly know the proper way to react to her not going. I know she knows what she's supposed to do. It sounds a little bit like the dog learned how to work around you so she doesn't have to do what she is supposed to do. Something happened in her little head which let her think that she can do and go when she feels like it when she's hunting with you.

They don't always want to go for various reasons. This is where you as a handler need to know the proper response. Letting her "not" go is a problem.

Don't worry. She'll be just fine.

[vandeman17]

Thanks Happy. I was hoping that you would respond as I respect your knowledge on the subject! Wraithen, I agree that we might just have to try something different with her. She has a great nose and isn't afraid to go through the thick stuff and all that, she just acted like she didn't want to when she was supposed to.

[DoubleJ]

A 2 year old dog is essentially a teenager.  no wonder you're having issues

[Happy Gilmore]

Thanks Happy. I was hoping that you would respond as I respect your knowledge on the subject! Wraithen, I agree that we might just have to try something different with her. She has a great nose and isn't afraid to go through the thick stuff and all that, she just acted like she didn't want to when she was supposed to.

that is most likely a result of you not fully understanding how to react to her and she's now just taking advantage of you because she's learned she can get away with it.

[PNWsportsman]

A two year old dog is completely trainable.  I would suggest finding a way to make it fun for the dog while communicating to the dog exactly what you want her to do. 

I would also suggest working with the dog yourself and not sending her away.

[rtspring]

Had my 5 year old Yellow Lab out htis morning for the 6th time in his life... He is getting the game down now after overcoming some gun shyness.....  work work work work........

good luck