I'm picking up my pup in about a month and was thinking I should get a head start on training myself. I own Richard Wolter's books but was also thinking about getting some of Rick Stawski's DVD's. Anyone have any experience with these ? Other recommendations? I'd like to use this lab for waterfowl and some upland next season (if everything goes well).
Advice on training material for my retriever
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Wolters book is old news and not even useful in training a real water dog to today's standards. I have it. I've read it.
You need to follow a real training program like Evan Graham's or Mike Lardys. There is also a fowl dogs program. Pick one and stick to it. I myself loved Evan graham's program and used a bit of Mike Lardys stuff especially for force fetch training.
Get yourself a good E collar. I use a tritronics G2. You want something simple with momentary and continuous levels.
Force fetch is tedious but it's 100% worth every minute you spend doing it.
Don't be afraid of the E collar or a heeling stick. They are needed.
You need to follow a real training program like Evan Graham's or Mike Lardys. There is also a fowl dogs program. Pick one and stick to it. I myself loved Evan graham's program and used a bit of Mike Lardys stuff especially for force fetch training.
Get yourself a good E collar. I use a tritronics G2. You want something simple with momentary and continuous levels.
Force fetch is tedious but it's 100% worth every minute you spend doing it.
Don't be afraid of the E collar or a heeling stick. They are needed.
Oh and if you're planning on upland training you need a source for pigeons, lots of them. Dead, frozen and live birds (clip wings). You can teach them to quarter half ass using hand signals like I did with my dog. Works half decent but he's not thorough like a good upland trained dog who quarters naturally.
Oh and don't give up its hard work. Life got in the way of me really training my dog much past a junior/ senior level. He can do doubles and shorter blinds.
Heeling and delivering to hand is very nice to teach. Thus the force fetch.
Buy real training dummies. At least 6 big ones in white, only need 1 puppy size bumper. Get 3 large orange bumpers for blind training. I also use dokken trainers too they are nice to toss around.
Introduce the whistle and leash the first day you bring him or her home. Obedience work starts day one and don't let up or give in.
When introducing the gun do it sequentially. I had my dog from. 209 starter pistol to 20g over a day with no issues. Move from 20g at a distance when they are busy chasing a bumper to eventually having someone throw bumpers and shooting the 12g over his head when healed at your side.
Oh and don't give up its hard work. Life got in the way of me really training my dog much past a junior/ senior level. He can do doubles and shorter blinds.
Heeling and delivering to hand is very nice to teach. Thus the force fetch.
Buy real training dummies. At least 6 big ones in white, only need 1 puppy size bumper. Get 3 large orange bumpers for blind training. I also use dokken trainers too they are nice to toss around.
Introduce the whistle and leash the first day you bring him or her home. Obedience work starts day one and don't let up or give in.
When introducing the gun do it sequentially. I had my dog from. 209 starter pistol to 20g over a day with no issues. Move from 20g at a distance when they are busy chasing a bumper to eventually having someone throw bumpers and shooting the 12g over his head when healed at your side.
Evan Graham's smart work is excellent. "Obedience" and "Basic handling" DVDs will get you going for a good while
I had the Mike Lardy series and just preferred the way the Graham material is presented.
You can also learn a lot from books like the Walters book you already have but I found the video material essential as I trained my first retriever alone.
If you like reading, The Labarador Shooting Dog by Mike Gould and Blind Retrieves by James Spencer are also good.
I had the Mike Lardy series and just preferred the way the Graham material is presented.
You can also learn a lot from books like the Walters book you already have but I found the video material essential as I trained my first retriever alone.
If you like reading, The Labarador Shooting Dog by Mike Gould and Blind Retrieves by James Spencer are also good.
Congrats on the new pup!
The guys above have given you lots of good info.
One thing you will find is that hunting dog owners can get very....passionate (let's use that word
) about how you should train your dog. There are many different schools of thought and "systems".
Listen to everyone and then choose what you think will work.
First and foremost is obedience. Everything is built on that.
Be consistent and firm. My limited experience was that dogs can sometime seem to catch on to some things quickly but then hit a wall and it gets frustrating. It's easier to stay with it now and get over the hump than to try and break a bad habit later.
Praise goes a lot further than punishment.
I found spending just 10 or 15 minutes EVERYDAY was better than longer sessions days apart.
Consider joining a local club. Just understand the differences of the different types of clubs ie. field trials vs hunt test
I had a local chapter of Hunting Retriever Club, so I joined them. They were very helpful. Just be prepared for the different....personalities (let's use that word)
Good luck and have FUN...both you and pup!!!!
The guys above have given you lots of good info.
One thing you will find is that hunting dog owners can get very....passionate (let's use that word
) about how you should train your dog. There are many different schools of thought and "systems". Listen to everyone and then choose what you think will work.
First and foremost is obedience. Everything is built on that.
Be consistent and firm. My limited experience was that dogs can sometime seem to catch on to some things quickly but then hit a wall and it gets frustrating. It's easier to stay with it now and get over the hump than to try and break a bad habit later.
Praise goes a lot further than punishment.
I found spending just 10 or 15 minutes EVERYDAY was better than longer sessions days apart.
Consider joining a local club. Just understand the differences of the different types of clubs ie. field trials vs hunt test
I had a local chapter of Hunting Retriever Club, so I joined them. They were very helpful. Just be prepared for the different....personalities (let's use that word
)Good luck and have FUN...both you and pup!!!!
Thanks for all the info guys; I think I'll give Lardy's system a shot. I was thinking about joining Manitoba Gun Dog Association, anyone worked with this organization?
Winchested, I have a supplier for pheasants, can I plant those on crown land and train/hunt all year?
Nice looking dog Brad!
Winchested, I have a supplier for pheasants, can I plant those on crown land and train/hunt all year?
Nice looking dog Brad!
cant_rope_the_wind01
CGN Regular
- Location
- West central Alberta
Advice on training material for my retriever
Check out your local Dog Club. They are the experts that make competition class dogs. While you may not want to compete, the training is still the same.
20 years ago I had Springers for pushing up pheasants. Everything valuable came from the advice of the local club members and I was welcome to come out view/participate in the training exercises. I never had interest to compete but Hot Damned did I have some good hunting dogs.
Check out your local Dog Club. They are the experts that make competition class dogs. While you may not want to compete, the training is still the same.
20 years ago I had Springers for pushing up pheasants. Everything valuable came from the advice of the local club members and I was welcome to come out view/participate in the training exercises. I never had interest to compete but Hot Damned did I have some good hunting dogs.
That's an understatement!I had a local chapter of Hunting Retriever Club, so I joined them. They were very helpful. Just be prepared for the different....personalities (let's use that word
Rick Stawski put out a 3 DVD set called Fowl Dawgs (Only the first 2 DVD's are necessary to finish a good meat dog). This is a great program for any skill level of handler (novice to pro), the DVD's really lay out everything in an easy to follow format/program. Smartwork by Evan Graham is another good one but like Lardy is too much for most people (simply too much material for $$$).
Listen to everyone and then choose what you think will work.
Praise goes a lot further than punishment.
I found spending just 10 or 15 minutes EVERYDAY was better than longer sessions days apart.
Pulled the above quotes from TonyMo's post because they are right on the money regardless of what system you choose. Take the edge off with a exercise before beginning your training session. Always end on a positive note. Whatever the pup is good at that is your final move. Nothing is more rewarding than having your pup perform something you taught them. Good luck.
Praise goes a lot further than punishment.
I found spending just 10 or 15 minutes EVERYDAY was better than longer sessions days apart.
Pulled the above quotes from TonyMo's post because they are right on the money regardless of what system you choose. Take the edge off with a exercise before beginning your training session. Always end on a positive note. Whatever the pup is good at that is your final move. Nothing is more rewarding than having your pup perform something you taught them. Good luck.
If you can download the "Meateater" Podcast number #6 they have dog experts on and its a good listen on the way to work or whatever, lots of helpful info.
I dont hunt with dogs nor are my Cane Corso or English bulldog "hunting" dogs but I do make them work mainly so they are more obedient and less bored. I have one of those Doken dummies with the pheasant juice that you pump into it, and ill hide it in the yard (1/2 acre) and make them work on finding it...They've gotten pretty good at it, and both of them love it. again i dont hunt with them its just a little exercise to keep them sharp and entertained.
I dont hunt with dogs nor are my Cane Corso or English bulldog "hunting" dogs but I do make them work mainly so they are more obedient and less bored. I have one of those Doken dummies with the pheasant juice that you pump into it, and ill hide it in the yard (1/2 acre) and make them work on finding it...They've gotten pretty good at it, and both of them love it. again i dont hunt with them its just a little exercise to keep them sharp and entertained.
madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Steep Rock Lake NWO
Find a copy of "Training your Retriever" by James Lamb Free. This book has been around since 1949. I used it for all of my labs (3 to date) with excellent results. No sticks or e collars needed. It does help to have a lab with British blood lines, seem easier to train.
Darryl
Darryl
