Dog Training

We recently got a puppy, 4 month old rescue, black lab mostly. In New Orleans LA any trainers that people have gone to, we're doing the pet smart course but I did expect more then what's been taught so far.

 

Dogs are intelligent, but getting the young one's attention is your challenge.
Make lessons short and fun, but repetitive.
They are born to please you.
Once they figure out what makes you happy, well you have a win!

 

A lot of trainers, for hunting dogs at least, won't start a dog until they are around a year old. I started working with mine around 6 months or so, but she was finally starting to pay attention and focus more then. I agree with @Mulepadre though, keep training sessions short and interesting and when the dog starts to wonder, pack up, its over. One thing I don't agree with either is rewarding with treats, a couple "good dogs" and some loving should suffice.

If you're going to train to hunt, 4 months is a good age to start clapping while they eat, followed shortly after by a cap gun, and then some .22 blanks. Nothing worse than a fully trained retriever that's gun shy because you waited to late

 

cgrhyne
Thats a lot of doves.
Are you using a 20ga. to save the meat? (and... err... for the challenge)
How is she for multiple retrieves?

 

That's 2 guys worth from a few years ago in a sunflower field. Best hunt I've ever been a part of. She does ok on multiples, she marks her spots really good so when you cut her on the first one, she's money. The second one she sometimes needs some help, she marks it good, just messes up on the distance. Her real worth is hunting taller fields with established vegetation, that nose turns on and she's on it.

I shoot a Benelli SBE2 12ga. It gets duck and dove duty.

 

Not getting notifications when people reply, shes not going to be a hunting dog

 

Same principles apply, you just don't have to worry about her being gun shy

 

I used this guys videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGZwydOtPx0 I have a GSD and after she got used to the basic's she was easy to train. For the others that are watching this thread, she is a great pheasant dog. We train constantly. The only problem I have with her is she has problems working a field with other dogs, she likes to try and play with them. I'll she needs to hear from me is "dead bird" or "huntem up" and she is good to go. I love when she gets all birdy with her big tail up and her ear's pointing forward, she flushes and retrieves but will not last as long on a hot day. She is at the range with me all the time and has no problem with any gun.

 

For any new pet owner who wants to take the time to train their dog for hunting or just to potty train and play fetch just go to youtube and search for puppy training. You can add your dogs breed, age or type of training and you should find tons of helpful videos. I have trained many dogs for home over the years but with a new puppy it is nice to see what new methods are being used.

Having an older dog to help train your puppy can be good or bad. It will learn from it. Today our older Cocker Spaniel used her stairs to get up to our bed. Our 8 week old Golden lab puppy said challenge accepted.

 

This book is pretty good

Training the Best Dog Ever: A 5-Week Program Using the Power of Positive Reinforcement

$11 Training the Best Dog Ever: A 5-Week Program Using the Power of Positive Reinforcement

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0761168850/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7s0oAbDJ93H35

 

I think treats are fine. My pup is only 8 weeks old today. Today I started his training using very small pieces of tuna. It is more to keep his attention. Within 20 minutes he is very attentive to the SIT command. He is now doing it without food in hand. I do it in 5 minute increments. Start by putting him in the position while saying SIT. Then rewarding him while sitting. Then give it a 20 minute break. Next 5 minutes it's a 50/50 of directing him and him doing it on his self. By the third session he started doing it on his own. the fourth session I started the command with only praises. He is young so it isn't 100% the first command but he knows what it means and will sit most of the time.

I have always started my dogs early with basic commands and then work on the more difficult ones as they age and get a longer attention span.

I consider the harder commands like "Police Dog" pace beside you, "Stay" and keep it when you are out of site, "Easy" walk cautiously on wet/slippery pavement, "hold" hold a biscuit on their snout until the OK is given and "Backup" some dogs are better than this than others.

The biggest thing is to never scold your dog for not doing it right. Weather potty training or any other a negative response will not help make a dog willing to learn. Have patience and you will be rewarded in the long run when he/she understands and follows your command.

 

Baloo is doing great with the sit command so I used his own enthusiasm to teach him the "speak" command today. I was cutting up chicken into 2mm cubes. He smelled it and started barking to get attention. I used that as a way to train him. As he barked for the food I gave the SPEAK command. I held the food away from him until he did bark. It did not take long for him to realize that barking gave him a piece of chicken. I also randomly gave him the SIT command to make sure he was paying attention. So far so good.