Dog question

[Brian Krebs]

I liked the training in the book "Charles Morgan on retrievers".  Of course; each type of dog is going to have different characteristics than others - and each have their own personalities.

 I trained field trial dogs BEFORE shock collars.
 They used to say you trained a chesapeake with a 2x4; a lab with your fist; and golden with a kleenex.
 But- when it came to retrievers - it seemed that 'force training' them is nessesary.
 Retrievers naturally retrieve; and we had to make that not only a fun thing; but a requirement. So we forced them to fetch; hold and drop.
  I have also trained rottweilers and collies; and now- I have 4 german wirehaired pointers.

 With bird dogs; the best thing you can do is have birds availible. The more birds the dog works with the better the chances are- it will be a good dog.

 With ALL breeds the most important thing you can teach them is to let go. Sounds silly perhaps; but if your dog grabs the neighbors parrot; or a child; you have to be able to make the dog let go. Not an option; not for fun; but a requirement.

 I use the word 'drop'; as my dogs are hunters; and I want them to let go of birds etc when they bring them in. But a better word might be 'NO'.

 If they have a toy or object in their mouth; you can say your command and if they refuse to let go; you blow fast& hard into the dogs nostrils; and they should let go.

 read the books on training; but take extra time to work on the dog immediately releasing. ANY dog can bite someone; or something; and not having a command word to let go is beyond foolish.

 Name the dog something you don't mind screaming out loud. I had a very light skinned black friend that named his doberman the 'N' word.
 The dog got loose; and my friend did not make it far.... before he realized the folly of the name.

 He did recover however. And changed the dogs name.

 But a good call name is important.

I can't believe a guide dog trainer named a black lab 'freckles'.     That is funny on so many levels.    

 Shock collars should ONLY be used to inforce commands the dog totally understands.

 When my breeding 6itch has pups; I start training them from day one; to my touch; and voice. By the time they are 5 weeks old I can call them and they will come running. I also get young birds; newly feathered quail are a good choice; and let the puppies follow the trails they leave; and get some early bird action. If you use an older tough bird; it can peck the puppy - or slap it with a wing -and you can end up with a dog that either won't hunt; but most likely.. will never retrieve a live bird.

congrats on the new pup!

[woodchucker]

Brian,

LOL!!!!! Now That's FUNNY!!!!!

Actualy I thought the same thing!!!!! However the litters are named according to the alphabet. This litter all pups are named with a name begining with the letter "A" the next litter they are named with a "B" then a "C" and so on.....Great care is taken not to "re-use" names if possible.....It was only a matter of time LOL!!!!! She is as solid black as black could ever be.....(and there's not a "freckle" on her LOL)

I have been walking her around,intruducing her to the neighbors.....I'm sure you can imagine the looks we get when we say "and this,Is Freckles"

[Tyler2045]

Well Hogdancer and I went out stump shooting today and i left him at the car because he was afraid of Hogdancers dog. But we came back after a little while and he was ready to face the world then. He follow us any where and i introduced him to the creek soon he was going threw it like a champ. Hogdancer gave me some deer blood so I am going to try and get him interested in it and see if cant get us a tracker. I am also going to see if he wont play ball with me a maybe develop his retrieving.

P.S. thanks for all the advice.       Ty