Training schedules....

[krism83]

So I just brought home my new lab pup on saturday. He is a little older than most home ready dogs, he is already 6 months old. The breeder I got him from says he is a huntable dog and has hunting in his blood lines. My question is, should I get him started on general obedience first and then move into hunting or try and do a little mix of both at the same time? This will be my first real hunting dog and I am at a loss of where to start. If I just wanted him to be a good companion dog there wouldnt really be an issue, but with wanting him to retrieve and flush for me as well I don't know if I should let him get some more basic commands first or not.

[flinger]

bonding and obediance first,with some playful fetch type training,then when your comfortable with progress get a book or video and train for work.

[jechicdr]

I have a German Wirehaired Pointer.

Both these books were good reads.  The Versatile Hunting Dog had rough plans for a training table for teaching "Whoa"  (probably the most important command to teach).  You can get the rough plans off the web so you don't really need the book for that, but it had some other tidbits.  I added a 2 x 4 frame under the main platform and 2 foot 4 x 4 posts for the legs.  I'll probably add some extensions with a cable running across to attach a short leash for some of the training that I need to go back to (the "hold" until I take it from you).  The gun dog was pretty comprehensive, and considered by some to be the training Bible.  The youtube videos from willowcreekkennels covers just about everything from puppy on up and seemed a lot nicer than the books (yet still effective).  They use a vibrating collar (DT 1820 H2O) for some of their training which is usually enough to negatively reinforce once the dog knows the commands to get better and quicker response, without hurting the dog.  The training booklet that came with the collar was helpful in teaching the basics that become the building blocks for the rest of the training.  My training is a little bit of a mish mash, but my 6 month old pup seems to be coming along pretty nicely.  He had a natural fetch, so I have not had to do much with that yet.  Saw a youtube video with some guy teaching hand directional signals with kind of an imaginary baseball diamond, once you have taught the dog sit and stay or whoa.  Stay or whoa your dog where the pitcher's mound would be and throw the bumper or ball to 1st base.  He would walk back to home plate, put his right hand out and command fetch.  During second training session, he would do 3rd base and command with his left hand, then 2nd base you would make the throwing motion.  Suspect the next logical step would be to then mix it up a bit, then to place the items to retrieve out of his sight and have him just follow the hand signals.  The Gun Dog book discussed how to teach them to hunt the zigzag into the wind to cover the field.

Gun Dog by Richard A. Wolters

Versatile Hunting Dog by Sigbot Winterhelt and Edward D. Baily

http://www.youtube.com/user/willowcreekkennels?feature=watch

Accidentally taught dog sit before I taught it whoa...but just required a little work to get him back on track.  For a duck dog, probably would not be that big a deal, but if you want to do upland, would teach the whoa first, and then teach sit only after he is doing whoa very well.

[Stilly bay]

bonding and obediance first,with some playful fetch type training,then when your comfortable with progress get a book or video and train for work.

 

[krism83]

The first thing I have to do is to quit getting these guys to wrestle with each other every time they are in the same room and not crated. It's almost getting out of control...the first day or two I can see that finding the boundries and what not, now its just to be a menace.

[huntnfmly]

Definitely obedience first along with bonding. If he has any hunt in him the fetching and drive is already there the hard part is the handling get him to sit come and heel to where he is consitintly doing those then you can start adding the other stuff. I have been working with. My Springer for awhile and adding hand signals now. The other suggestions are all great also it is alot of fun don't hessitate to ask if you ha any more questions

[huntnfmly]

Onother thing don't go too fast and always end on a good note

[krism83]

well after a week or so we have sit down, and we are working on lay down. He is doing really well i think, but out of curiousity how long did it take you guys to get your dogs house broken. I know a week is really fast to think he should be done since he is so young but he is good in the crate although getting him in it can be a hassle at times. Just some days he has no accidents and some days he has 4 or 5

[ghosthunter]

Pick up a copy of Game Dog, used or check one out. Yeah someone will say there are better stuff out there. But it will give you a good foundation and some idea as to what he should be doing a every age. Than read anything else you can find.

[kenzmad]

well after a week or so we have sit down, and we are working on lay down. He is doing really well i think, but out of curiousity how long did it take you guys to get your dogs house broken. I know a week is really fast to think he should be done since he is so young but he is good in the crate although getting him in it can be a hassle at times. Just some days he has no accidents and some days he has 4 or 5

the way I learned how to deal with the accidents is, roll up a newspaper real tight, when the dog has an accident, take the paper and rap yourself on the head a couple of time while repeating"bad owner, bad owner" take the dog out way more than you think is necessary and let them go potty. accidents are the humans fault not the dogs

[ghosthunter]

well after a week or so we have sit down, and we are working on lay down. He is doing really well i think, but out of curiousity how long did it take you guys to get your dogs house broken. I know a week is really fast to think he should be done since he is so young but he is good in the crate although getting him in it can be a hassle at times. Just some days he has no accidents and some days he has 4 or 5

He shouldnt be going in the crate if he is you need to get him out more. Young dogs go a lot. Cut back on water hour so before bed time. And do not over feed . Labs need very little. Feed than pick it up dont let him just eat when ever. They really are like babies. Many the same rules apply. I got up every three hous with my pup until she was old enough to be out in kennel.
Get up and peek if he is sleeping back to bed you go if awake out the door.

[krism83]

He sleeps through the night with no problems, we are feeding him a cup in the morning and two cups at night like the vet suggested. I know it is my fault when he goes in the house and we try to keep a good eye on him but at the most random times that aren't part of his scheduled times he will just stop and start going.