new here and need training advice with lab puppy

[mmoose]

thanks all for all the great advice and for jerking my chain a bit to get me to heal. i had been reading this book and was so caught up in it that i lost sight of reality for a bit. the book makes it sound like there should never be any problems and that a pup will easily get everything. i know now this isnt true and i will be more realistic.

[losthwy]

Your getting the big picture "Young Jedi". Wolters books will leave hanging out to dry when the dog has "issues". And ALL dogs have issues. You'll be standing out in the training field one hot sunny day scratching your head asking yourself how in the &%#* do I fix this? Mark this- good reference material/ good training group(s)/good trainer for advice.

[Cam Man]

I don't want to step on anyones' feet, but what you are being told is only partly correct. A good Lab puppy, even at 7 or 8 weeks, will show signs of wanting to retrieve. Retrieving is not a learned behavior, but rather a predatory instinct to chase prey. Please don't confuse this with developing a dog's retrieving abilities. We can teach them, but if the raw material is not there it doesn't make for a very enthusiastic adult. However, you said your pup will sometimes chase the sock & that is a good sign. Chasing is the instinct aspect of this that is needed: bringing it back can be coaxed & taught. Something you might try is this: back off for several days, remove all distractions, & toss the object a very short distance in front of your pup. Dogs are color blind, so try a black & white object. Be very happy with this, & talk to the pup in a very excited tone. I think this might help, but remember this, keep it short. You always want to stop when your puppy is at its most excited state. This way you build the dsire for more. One more thing, never, ever scold or punish while playing fetch. I hope this helps.

[Cam Man]

Also, you might try seperating your pup from everyone & everything by keeping him in a kennel. Dnn't do this for all day, but it is amazing what half a day in the kennel or crate will do for a youg dog's desire to play/work. It's worked for me in the past, maybe it will for you.

[j3k2c1]

I let my pup be a puppy until she was 6 months, and then started work. She bit immediately when we got her, playfully but it still hurt, so I just fixed that immediately.

[BLKLAB4097]

I was also in your shoes not so long ago! And now 1yr later I am very happy with the outcome! I will be very honest with you and this sounds silly but I went to Wal Mart looking for answers and found a video titled WATER DOG. It gave me a base to build on.
Since then I have purchased GUN DOG, TOP DOG,TOP DOG II these videos are all really FANTASTIC. Now I had to order from Cabela's to get Gun Dog ,Top Dog I&II and there are some similarities in them all but there are somethings I have picked up from each video that have helped!! Top Dog I&II are for E-Collar which you won't need right away and maybe never who knows! But Water Dog is for water retieving and starts from choosing a pup to a seasoned dog. Gun Dog is more of a Upland aspect retiever video.I would recommend these to any novice and even the experienced handler they are well put together and very informative!! GOOD LUCK
One last thing that I used and worked really good was to tie a short rope to a bumper then I could tease the pup a little and also help with the retrieve by pull the pup back towards me after she had picked it up and just stood there looking at me!