Ok forget the dummies... Thats fine, I did that.... But here is another question...... My dog wont even play fetch with me and bring back a ball, stickor rope for me to throw it again. Like I said before, he would rather lay down and chew on it instead of me throwing it again..... Is my dog doomed to ever retreive? I'm a little worried since he wont even play fetch!!!!!!

Okey dokey,
Thats called prey-possessive, when he doesnt want to come to you immediately or wants to keep the item and chew on it... this is normal for young dogs, but you want to correct this as soon as possible.

Try throwing a ball and having a food treat in your other hand, when he gets the ball, call his attention toward the threat in your hand, your making a "trade" of his toy for another toy or food... See if this keeps his focus on the "game", not the toy. Meaning his treat for a good retrieve becomes another toss and another good retreive. Hope this helps.


EDIT: I wanted to add that you should really focus more on the OB, (obedience training) right now, and not on retrieveing so much. That will come with time. You need to have a solid OB to work from.

LOL thanks for the reply.... I think I need a bigger treat then, because he much rather have the ball than the treat. I want the fetch thing down so he has other exercise other than walking. I am working hard on the OB how you suggested to do it. He was doing really good with the sit and stay, then I had to go back to work (24 hour shift). I came home this morning and tried the sit / stay and its like he forgot every thing he did good on the day before.

I really never have seen a dog that doesnt know how to fetch the ball and then bring it back, its odd for me. But I will try to lure him back with a raw hide or something and see if that works.....

But yes I am focusing on OB, just want to give him some more exercise that would be fun for him / me.....

Again thanks for the advice!!!!!

Ok, change it up then. Keep the ball as a treat and throw another toy for him. Then make trades off of the ball...

I understand you want to try and find new ways to exercise him, thats great, really it is. BUT.... Fetch is something that you are going to have to teach him later on down the road, and you dont want him to develop bad habits such as hard mouth, or something like that before you have taught him the pre-requisites... have you introduced him to water? Walking a dog is great exercise, letting them run around freely and burn some energy is good for their attitudes. Get him in some water, let him swim around you while you stand waist deep. Let him be a puppy. Retrieveing will have its time and place believe me! Right now you want to keep it fun and intresting.

About the sit/ stay, he remembers, he just doesnt know that he has to do it everytime, he doesnt know thathe "works" for you, the boss. Right now he is going to do it for a treat, and not because he is trained to do it... thats where the repetition comes into play, you have to show him that your the "boss".

Not really been in water yet, dont really have anywhere to take him...... Well that I know of. I'm new to my area. I had him down at the river the other day and I let him go out about 6 feet with a lead on but their was a lot of current and huge rocks so I didnt want to take him off lead. The only lake I know of was really low this past summer and full of weeds and stuff near the shore.... If I do find a place, how cold is to cold to let a lab in the water? I know, silly question but I just want to be safe with him...

I see what your saying about bad habbits with fetch. If I do get him to fetch, how hard is it going to be for me to eventually make him wait for a command before he takes off to get the ball / dummy / bird?

Dont take a young dog in water any colder than 55-60 ish. Anywhere in the 70's or high 60's is ok. The warmer the easier, because then you can get in comfortably too...

Not hard. If he has good OB, (stay). When you are going through the "Fetch" training process, there isa point after you have taught "hold" that the "Fetch" command changes the command to just "hold" the bird, to "reaching" for it. This would be where you start to toss the dummies again, toss a bumper, have him steady by your side, and call out "FETCH!" Then the dog should release and go to the bumper and come straight back, where you would say, "Drop!" In which said dog, drops the bird IN YOUR HAND. NOt on the ground...

Wow that was a lot of input...... Have you written a book, if so I'll buy it..... Ok I'm just gonna work on sit and stay in different placesfor the next couple of weeks or months.... Is down stay a good thing to teach to? Should I get sit/stay down first beforeI attempt down/stay?

I was just out in the back yard and he did come back for another toy.... He dropped the one he disliked out of the 2 in front of me about 2 feet, but when I threw the one he liked he brought it back, circled me a couple times then laid down beside me. But its a start and a lot better than what was happening (not coming back).....

When the wife gets home with my camera thats in her truck,I will post a pic of the dog u r so nicley helping me with.......

One more question...... If I dont get him into water until next spring is that gonna screw him up, because the water is getting cold around here.....

No, no books. But about 40 years of experience with dogs. I've had lots of dogs, and trained a bunch over the years. Mostly Labs...

I teach "sit", "down" (which is laying down), "stay", "Heel", "Here", and "NO" During OB. A down/stay combo really isnt necessary. Just tell him "Down" and if you wanthim to stay, "Stay". SO that its 2 separate commands. Really wordy and complicated commands are a no no. Dogs are simple minded anddo best with short, firm commands.

That is good, that is progress in the right direction. Keep working on it. I assume you are a fireman... I'm sure you didnt learn all that you know today, in just one session. It takes time and repetition.

No, it wont screw him up at all. I always tell people, "Its never too late to teach a dog anything, but it can be too soon." The most important thing about intro to water is that you (the handler) are in the water with the dog. Let him know that he isnt going to sink, let him swim around your waist. If he starts to panic and huff and try to claw onto you, just put your hand under his belly and support his as you gently push him away. Make him use his back legs, or get him a floatation vest until he is comfortable swimming.

As promised here is his goofey self..... His name is Blaze....

Fine looking animal!

I'm confident in you both.
Hope he gives you many good memories.
Happy Thanksgiving To all.

Here's a picture of my oldest current lab, Scout. 6 yr old. He's my best trained dog that I have right now. I still work him several times a week! It never ends...