How Soon is Too Soon
 

Hey guys, I have a new yellow lab I've been training, September 1st she will be 3 months old, I have another yellow lab that is 3 years old that my new lab follows like a shadow. I was thinking about bringing the pup out sometime during the second split to watch my trained dog work and get her used to cold and cold water. Too soon? or would that be a good idea?

I would wait til he's at least a year and his drive is through the roof. Bringing a young pup on a cold day, with 12 gauges exploding all over could ruin a pups experience on hunting. There's plenty of people that brought their dogs hunting at a very early age (me included), but the old saying, "being smart and being lucky are 2 different things".

Get the dog to like water now while it is warmer, and do not bring the pup in the blind until after it has had formal obedience and ben gun conditioned. I think too many poeple RUSH into getting a dog into the blind. Cold water in the beginning can make a dog scared, you have to gradually work them into cooler waterl

Pm Raymond on here for exact directions .

He/she should be swimming by now. Get in the water and he will swim to you eventually, and then like most labs will love the water.

I would wait on bringing it to the blind especially if other people are hunting with you. Nothing and I mean nothing is worse than hunting with an untrained dog:)

oh she absolutly loves the water, can't let her near it without a leash or she'll be in it. I've had labs before that like the water but not like this one, if she sees a puddle or pond, she is in it, dives down underwater getting sticks and chasing fish, weirdest thing. If I leave the bathroom door open and I'm in the shower, she is in it too, rain, mud, anything, she loves it

Mine hates a bath!:rotfl: I have to drag his big azz to the water hose, he hunkers down and makes me pull him

X100

I have trained many dogs and all of them I have fully trained and hunting at 6 months old. Many trainers have different methods but I think if you introduce them to everything step by step prior to putting them in actual hunt. You should be fine. I wouldn't put ur dog in the blind at 3 months but no harm in doing it later in the season.

"fully trained at 6 months" really??

that's remarkable.

I would not recommend putting your dog in the blind at 3 months. I dont know what good could come from that.

"Fully trained" is in the eyes of the beholder.

Yes. Retrieving 16 teal for hunts during teal season. I don't use shock collars. The hand signals may need to be fine tuned but most of that is easy to finish up. If you spend lots of time with ur dog ( let them in the house with u, take them where u go, become their best friend). Combined with that and making it fun for the dog to retrieve. You will be surprised with the results.

Raymond in 3....2....1.....

Do you follow the milner methods?

Don't know what that is. I have trained 5 successful dogs. 2 for me and 3 for friends. Many trainers have different methods and mine have worked for the dogs I have worked with. But I have seen some dogs at 2 years old that still don't get. Don't know if it is the dog or how the owner trained them.

Last year I hunted my pup @ 4 months old...the first week he needed on the job training...lets just say it was a learning curve. After that he was balls to the wall with an occasional hiccup...Pretty impressive though.

Water dog book?

I have read it. Train much the same way.

Ought to look into Tom Quinn, and D. L. And Ann Walters books, they'll help with the "hand signals" otherwise known as casts. Hope this helps.