I just got a new lab puppy and was wondering when is the best time to start training them and what excercises do you do.

You need to follow a sequential training program. From your post, it sounds like you are a "first timer" trainer, so I'd suggest you get the book, the "10 Minute Retriever", by John and Amy Dahl. Then follow it page by page, chapter by chapter.


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i started at about 8 weeks... depends on what ur planning on hunting. introduce him to the scent to begin with. after he gets used to the scent if your going to be hunting upland birds get the wings and maybe some of the scent and drag it through the yard and start him off short and sweet. i started my lab by carrying another wing with me before i put him on the trail so he knew what it looked like and so he was more familiar with the scent.

Training should start as soon as you get a puppy. Doc has great advice if you are training a dog for the first time. My only suggestion is that typically before working a dog on hunting or retrieving training I would suggest accomplishing good ole obedience type training. When you can get your pup to completely understand and respond to "sit" "stay" "come" and especially "no", you will have at least the basics tostart a dogs education process. You can start this level of training as soon as thepup comes home.... just cut them a littleslack, they are after all just pups!

Puppies are easy, and fun...if you let it be. Depending on age, when a pup comes here whatever breed...I start out letting droag a cc, if a young one 3mo, or less drag nothing. I will always do my stuff for the dog to be successful, whether or not retrieving, or bird finding....what ever, you want the dog to be successful....I would not personally mess with the wing stuff, you will get more, and better progress on any breed with the real thing. You will need to possibly pull some wing feathers, so it cannot fly well....at first, then as the dog progresses, eliminate the catch, I would do it earlier on bird dogs. I will always use quail for starters, alot more excitment when they get up, pigeons seem to take longer to bold up on with the wings noise made while flapping. Some dogs will shy away from until they get a little older and even then will still do. Ob, depending on age is a possible not worry overly. Always make the "here" command a good thing, not used only when putting up!! Playing out in the yard whatever, kneel down to help elinate the dogs question on what to do, help it through whats being asked, they do not understand english, can always tighten up or correct firmly later. This Make sense?? You can always pm me. Be more than happy to help in any way!! Cya Jonesy

Fully agree training starts as oon as you get the puppy. Jackie Mertens' "Sound Beginnings" video is very good for puppy training.