Finally found a pup. She's 5 weeks and will stay with the Dame for another 3 weeks
Any recommended books or online article to train a Labrador for hunting/retrieving game birds (Grouse/Pheasants), and perhaps ducks?
Thanks
LH
Recommend a book for Lab training
- Thread starter Lionhill
- Start date
Finally found a pup. She's 5 weeks and will stay with the Dame for another 3 weeks
Any recommended books or online article to train a Labrador for hunting/retrieving game birds (Grouse/Pheasants), and perhaps ducks?
Thanks
LH
Beautiful looking pup LH.
Looking forward to seeing some posts here on the subject, as I'm picking up my new Choc Lab\ Gwhp cross tomorrow morning, from a fellow CGN member.
I'm Going to train for gun awareness as soon as I think he's ready, and see how things unfold for pointing\ retrieving\ tracking, and watching the young dog perform and react to various introductions.
It's going to be a lot of fun for the pup and I, and cant wait to have my little bud.
Wishing you all the best with you're new puppy!.
Looking forward to seeing some posts here on the subject, as I'm picking up my new Choc Lab\ Gwhp cross tomorrow morning, from a fellow CGN member.
I'm Going to train for gun awareness as soon as I think he's ready, and see how things unfold for pointing\ retrieving\ tracking, and watching the young dog perform and react to various introductions.
It's going to be a lot of fun for the pup and I, and cant wait to have my little bud.
Wishing you all the best with you're new puppy!.
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My GF used "The Dog Listener" by Jan Fennell to train our lab. It doesn't have anything about retrieving specifically but as a general training book I have nothing but good things to say. By 6 months old we had a perfectly trained happy dog. I've trained a few dogs but none responded like this.
Cheers
Cheers
A referral to good local boy:
Renown author and dog training expert, Dr Stanley Coren. UBC professor.
h ttp://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Stanley%20Coren
Have you looked at the Monks of New Skete?
Art of Raising a Puppy, and How to raise your Best Friend?
For fun: Watch the Dog Whisperer on Nat Geo to see all of the things NOT TO DO with your dog. I dont mean Ceasar, but all the people who have crazy dogs!
Renown author and dog training expert, Dr Stanley Coren. UBC professor.
h ttp://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Stanley%20Coren
Have you looked at the Monks of New Skete?
Art of Raising a Puppy, and How to raise your Best Friend?
For fun: Watch the Dog Whisperer on Nat Geo to see all of the things NOT TO DO with your dog. I dont mean Ceasar, but all the people who have crazy dogs!
Also not about retrieving, but a must read for ALL dog owners who want that special dog status - Kohler Book of Dog Training. Teaches you to teach the dog. Dog whisperer has read this book, IMO. This is the dod trainer's bible.
Gun Dog and Water Dog by Richard Walters (?), are both excellent books. I used to have a few good ones but lent them out and they never got returned. There is a very fine line between having a great gun dog or a great pet that will retrieve. Most dog trainers that I have met do not "socialize" their dogs. They are a fine piece of equipment the same as a nice Purdy. Great hunting dogs but definately not house dogs. Me, I like to have a hunting companion, the dog will be spoiled and have it's faults but it's not a robot. A lot of books are written for kennel dogs, but the info is still helpful. " how to train your retriever" by Grinnell is also a good book.
10 Minute Retriever or Mike Lardy's video series are excellent. 3 volumes step by step from start to finish. One of the most popular training methods out there right now.
And I even have a set of the videos for sale in the EE.
And I even have a set of the videos for sale in the EE.
- Location
- Saskatoon, SK
Good reads but a little dated. You are close, it's Wolters
Another great book for any dog owner on raising a puppy right and getting them ready to learn and be good citizens. Highly recommended.
Another one I really like is How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With by Clarice Rutherford/David H. Neil
As for training a gun dog, my biggest advice, don't rush it and be very disciplined. My dogs are both machines in the field and great house pets.
IMO there are only two serious programs worth mentioning.
Mark Lardy's Total Retriever Training and Evan Graham's Smartwork System. Pick either one and stick with it. Both GREAT products.
as for good books that I really enjoyed
The Labrador Shooting Dog by Mike Gould. I loved this book and think that most people are after this kind of dog.
Good luck and enjoy the little guy.
be very disciplined +1
And make sure you are clear on the definition of that word! To many people make mistakes by confusing it's meaning with being firm, punishment, "hard".
Simply, make sure you are clear about the behaviours you want, the commands for them, and the responses you will give immediately when you do, or do not receive the required behaviour.
Discipline means not to punish, but to be consistent.
And make sure you are clear on the definition of that word! To many people make mistakes by confusing it's meaning with being firm, punishment, "hard".
Simply, make sure you are clear about the behaviours you want, the commands for them, and the responses you will give immediately when you do, or do not receive the required behaviour.
Discipline means not to punish, but to be consistent.
- Location
- Saskatoon, SK
Absolutely. ^^^
and this might be controversial on this sight, I don't know, but start getting your mind wrapped around using an electric collar. Not as a learning device, but as an off leash, reach out at touch you, correction tool.
and don't buy into the "nick" or "tap" or "slight discomfort" that some people claim e collars to give. They burn. They hurt. Respect that and learn how to use the tool properly. Your dog will thank you for it later.
and this might be controversial on this sight, I don't know, but start getting your mind wrapped around using an electric collar. Not as a learning device, but as an off leash, reach out at touch you, correction tool.
and don't buy into the "nick" or "tap" or "slight discomfort" that some people claim e collars to give. They burn. They hurt. Respect that and learn how to use the tool properly. Your dog will thank you for it later.
Mike Lardy is great, although you definitely need a good working knowledge of the language he uses first, IMO. Can be a little daunting for someone just starting out.
A good author that I recommend to novices is James B Spencer, Training Retrievers for the Marshes and Meadows
http://www.amazon.com/Training-Retrievers-Marshes-Meadows-Spencer/dp/1577790073
Also has another series of books:
http://www.amazon.com/Retriever-Training-Drills-Marking-Spencer/dp/1577790324/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c
and,
http://www.amazon.com/Retriever-Training-Drills-Blind-Retrieves/dp/1577790332/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
He puts everything in a straight forward language that beginners can understand, and has a great training regiment that you just follow in the book.
He obviously took a lot of info from Wolters, and James Lamb Free, and put it into a format that almost anyone could follow. Once someone gets through that, starts getting a working knowledge of the language used, then move on tho Lardy. Just my opinion, for someone starting out without assistance from a Club or a Mentor. Can screw a good Retriever up real fast, and permanent if you are not careful.
A good author that I recommend to novices is James B Spencer, Training Retrievers for the Marshes and Meadows
http://www.amazon.com/Training-Retrievers-Marshes-Meadows-Spencer/dp/1577790073
Also has another series of books:
http://www.amazon.com/Retriever-Training-Drills-Marking-Spencer/dp/1577790324/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c
and,
http://www.amazon.com/Retriever-Training-Drills-Blind-Retrieves/dp/1577790332/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
He puts everything in a straight forward language that beginners can understand, and has a great training regiment that you just follow in the book.
He obviously took a lot of info from Wolters, and James Lamb Free, and put it into a format that almost anyone could follow. Once someone gets through that, starts getting a working knowledge of the language used, then move on tho Lardy. Just my opinion, for someone starting out without assistance from a Club or a Mentor. Can screw a good Retriever up real fast, and permanent if you are not careful.
Using an e-collar really depends on what you want out of your dog. If all you want from your dog is to retrieve the odd duck or flush the odd chicken then there really isn't much reason to invest the time and money in an e-collar. However, if you want a top shelf meat dog, field trial/hunt test dog then an e-collar is a wise investment.
Admittedly the first generation of e-collars were quite brutal (20 years ago) and did hurt/burn a lot of dogs. However, the current generation of e-collars offers an incredible amount of flexibility when applying pressure/electricity ranging from zero discomfort to severe discomfort. But just like most things, an e-collar can be used or abused. Ultimately when used properly, after months of training, the dog controls of how much if any pressure/electricity he/she receives.
Lardy, Graham and Stawski (Fowl Dawgs) are all great comprehensive programs which outline the proper use of e-collars when training retrievers. Another option is to join the local retriever club. In fact the Saskatoon Retriever club is just starting it's annual puppy class for anyone interested.
- Location
- Saskatoon, SK
I agree, but with the prices of collars coming down, and the dependability and reliability of them, I think it is a wise choice for all hunting dogs, even if you never intend on using them in a field trial or hunt test (I don't play either of those games)
My point with the burn comment was that lots of people try to use cuddly words to hide the fact that you are using an e-collar. And you are right, my first collar had 6 settings, starting at "that hurt" to "your trying to kill me" and not a whole lot in between. My current unit has almost unlimited levels, controls both dogs and a range that is incredible.
Saskatoon has one of the best dog clubs in the country. The grounds are top notch. Do you run dogs out there?
My point with the burn comment was that lots of people try to use cuddly words to hide the fact that you are using an e-collar. And you are right, my first collar had 6 settings, starting at "that hurt" to "your trying to kill me" and not a whole lot in between. My current unit has almost unlimited levels, controls both dogs and a range that is incredible.
Saskatoon has one of the best dog clubs in the country. The grounds are top notch. Do you run dogs out there?
First, thank you for all of your suggestions.
My last dogs were a 1) German Shepherd, from the Rhein valley that I got near the end of my CF tour. The most recent was a 2) Chesapeak that lived for over 15 years. I still get comments from people about this dog being the most obedient and disciplined dog they'd met. I have an understanding of dog training. I am, as always, open to learning from others.
Is there is a training product that combines an E-collar for both training and an invisible fence? We will have a proper kennel, but with a large rural property, so designated control areas is a must.
Hijacking my own thread. That's a first.
LH
I have 3 TriTronicsPro 500 G2 EXP models and a Sport. Fabulous tools.
A acetylene welder is also a tool, and like the e-collar, should not be toyed around with if you don't know what you are doing.
The Electric collar should NOT be used to teach a command or concept. It should be used to reinforce a command that the dog already knows. If you are not familiar with using an Electric Collar, seek a professional to help you.
- Location
- Saskatoon, SK
again, great advice ^^^^
I love my tritronics 500 EXP.
As for a unit that combines both containment and training, I don't think you will find one. Although they work on the same principle, I think you might get very bad results using it as a training tool after it has been used in a containment system??? Not sure on that one.
oh and since we are posting pictures (sorry for the hijack) :
I love my tritronics 500 EXP.
As for a unit that combines both containment and training, I don't think you will find one. Although they work on the same principle, I think you might get very bad results using it as a training tool after it has been used in a containment system??? Not sure on that one.
oh and since we are posting pictures (sorry for the hijack) :
