Wish Me Luck...
 

I'm starting this 4 month old pup with the rifle test today. It should be fine, since I got him we've been using a starter pistol.

Wish us luck!

April

RE: Wish Me Luck...
 

good luck. i dont know anything about this dog training buisness but i got a dog and i ordered some books and video tapes for my little lab.she's 7 weeks yesterday. should the books and tapes tell me how and when to do things like "the rifle test" ? lamar

RE: Wish Me Luck...
 

Lamar,

It depends on the book. I would asume that the book "Gun Dog" by Richard Wolters would give you some tips. I'm ashamed to say that I haven't read it yet. Um...you might be able to find info by searching for "dog gun-proofing"(???)in a search engine. OR, you could email me and I can give you some help.

April

RE: Wish Me Luck...
 

I'm assuming by rifle test that hunting_labs means introduction to gunfire.

What you want to do with a young pup lamar is start to get her associating loud noises with positive things. When she is eating clap your hands really loud and see if you get a reaction. If you don't then the next day hit some pots and pans together. Gradually increase the noise you make so that she comes to associate loud noises with good things, ie eating.

Eventually you can move to a cap gun. Fire the cap gun in another room while she is eating, have someone else tell you if she reacted to it or not. Eventually you should be able to move into the same room with the cap gun and she will be fine with the noise.

Next step may be a training pistol in the field and then gradually introduce her to the shotgun. The key is always start far away and then move closer when you know she is not bothered by the sound. Remember that gun-shy dogs are man-made they are not born that way.

I've seen too many folks just simply take their pup out to a field, sit them down next to them, and then fire away and see what happens. Take your time with it and she will come to love the gun as much as you do.

As far as books go, it really depends on what you are training for. Gun Dog is okay..it is for training pointers. If you have a lab you might want to try Game Dog which is for both upland & waterfowl hunting. If you are just a duck hunter Water Dog is a good book.

There are also some great books by Bill Tarrant, and a relatively new book by John & Amy Dahl called the 10-minute Retriever. James Spenser has a great book called Training Retrievers for Meadows and Marshes.

Good luck and have fun.

RE: Wish Me Luck...
 

I have "Water Dog" by Richard Wolters which had helped me alot....I've also got "Gun Dog Training" by Bill Tarrant which I really recomend.....Wayne

Enjoy hunting, racing, and hope to be able to train my new lab pup

RE: Wish Me Luck...
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I'm starting this 4 month old pup with the rifle test today. It should be fine, since I got him we've been using a starter pistol.

Wish us luck!

April
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

Rifle Test...??? I have been training Labs since '65 and am a bit perplexed <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> Starter pistols are all I use until the time comes to train the dog w/pigeons. Then I &quot;gun&quot; the pigeon with a shotgun to simulate the &quot;real hunt&quot;. You may be saying you are introducing the dog to &quot;live report&quot; long-gun, gunfire maybe? Please fill me in on this...thx!

&quot;Lab-Man&quot; :)<img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Wish Me Luck...
 

LUCK; just don't get to close for a while.


I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.