Author Topic: Getting Retriever Pup...HELP!!! (Read 820 times)

Catfish369 · « **on:** February 12, 2003, 05:17:46 AM »

Hi everyone

....I'm getting a 7 week old Retriever pup in a couple of weeks and am womdering what type of "schedule" I shold start on...I mean like best time/age to start different stages of training. The pup's Mom is 1/2 Gloden Ret and 1/2 Yellow Lab while the Dad is a registered Black Lab....pup looks like a Golden. I'm wanting to get a waterfowl and possibly dove field retriever out of the pup. Any help will be greatly appreciated...Thanks! :-)

freddogs · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2003, 01:13:20 PM »

:grin: If you have a local AKC club nearby sometimes they have puppy classes. They teach you how to play train your dog simple stuff. The pups get exposure to other dogs and people. It helps socialize them. They can tell you what age it's for. It's easy enough to get them play retrieving at 10 to 12 weeks . Serious training can wait till they are several months old.

Mr. 16 gauge · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2003, 05:30:44 PM »

Check out the book GAME DOG, by Richard Wolters. It is very step by step on how to bring along a dog for upland and waterfowl hunting, is easy to read, and has lots of good photos. While I will agree with Freddogs that training can wait till later, it doesn't have to, and I prefer to introduce my pups to training situations as soon as they are able to handle it. I will say this, however: don't get caught up in the mind set of "by the 14th week you pup should be doing X, Y, and Z". Dogs, like people, are individuals and move at thier own pace.....some faster, some slower. Start with the basics (sit, stay, come)....these are the building blocks; the foundation on which you start. Everything else is built on this foundation. Good luck.

harley · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2003, 09:17:50 AM »

Congrats Catfish!!

I just got a young lab myself, he'll be 8 weeks on the 22nd. Getting him house broke and the basic manners stuff, but making it fun, letting him romp. Put a collar on him, he didn't fuss. He's pointing kittys and having a good time.I figure I may start some fun retrieving 10-14 weeks and continue the basic obedience stuff, come ,sit, stay. Take your time and both you and the pup have fun, you'll be alright.