I have a 14 week old Black lab female. This is my first dog ever, and my patience is really being tested. She knows sit, stay, come just fine but I am questioning her retrieving desire. She will retrieve a dummy or a toy 3 or 4 times and then she is sick of it. She might chase it a little but finds something else to do on the way there. Should I be concerned, or for a lab this age, is it common for her to retrieve a little and then become distracted with other things. I have read so much about that I should get tired of throwing before she is tired of retrieving. Not the case with her. I move the dummy around in front of her until she looks real excited and then give it a toss and the first few times she will go get it, but then she stops or else she decides to just walk to get it instead. Am I expecting too much to early.
Also, when she doesnt bring it to hand, I tell her to sit and put it in her mouth and tell her "hold" she does this and then I can walk away and tell her to come and she will bring it to my hand, but after this has been done, she has no desire to retrieve at all. Its like after i made her hold it, she hates that dummy and wont touch it.
Well thanks for any advice, I'm kind of confused because I read books that say to start training immediately (wolters) and then I read others that say to wait until six months before you do any training besides sit, stay come...............which is better?
Thanks
MNpurple

[&:]Forget training her at 14 weeks!!!![&:] Let he be a puppy and bond first. She is way too young to start what you are trying to teach now. Just play games and give rewards and praise when she does good Simple obedience is okay, but forget the serious stuff (hold).

Exactly what training program (book - tape) are you following as your training guide?

you are training way to fast for the litte girl. the dogs only 14weeks, she should only be going through some minor Obedience, and some fun bumpers, which you should only be throwing 3 or 4 times a day. nothing serious until 5-6months. i suggest you get your hands on some real books and videos, and fully read and watch them. your mistakes now will only hurt the dog when it gets older, so slow down, and follow a good training program. good luck