no lab lover
 

borrowed a friends chocolate lab ...followed a trail ..got to the woods....fired a shot.....lab took off....called and searched for lab....for about an hour.. got back to truck .....LAB sitting in truck.....damned dog....damned friend.

Lab is about 4yrs old obviously not field trained....can this old dog be taught new tricks??????

RE: no lab lover
 

He sure can but you just made training much harder - the dog's now gunshy :).

RE: no lab lover
 

Why would anyone ask to borrow a dog from anyone? I would not loan a dog to anyone anymore than I would loan my wife. Obviously you had no knowledge of this dog and should have never borrowed it in the first place!!

RE: no lab lover
 

I have always used a situation like this to tag alone. You want my dog you take me with to work with him.:D

RE: no lab lover
 

Oh, it didn't register on me that you borrowed the lab. The dog could have been trained. But most one man dogs will search out its owner in the field. If your friend says the dog is trained, then you'll have to take your friend or the same thing is going to happen again no matter how much training he has had, the lab that is.

RE: no lab lover
 

My experience is that dogs are easier to train than dog trainers.

RE: no lab lover
 

The dog is trained. he knew the hunting wasn't any good there and he wanted to drive to a new location. I bet you took the keys didn't you.:D:D:D

RE: no lab lover
 

GEE fellas the dogs not dead!!!!!!! I fed him good...hes sorta trained im now told...also not ruined according to other dog experts . So Im not a BAD GUY....... Maybe the dog new it was a waste of time...who knew. Is it possible that some dogs have jobs that they enjoy no matter who is driving the truck.?? I know of a pheasant farm that has working dogs to let .But for all my critics ..I wont do it again...FORGIVE ME MY SINS....

when and how are dogs trained to not be afraid of gunshots...I seen a few dog types that are afraid of thunder...anybody know the secret training ??

Gee... DRgildy your pretty ruff like .....WOW!! PUMP THOSE BRAKES
Im not saying this for applause... Im just trying to tell you a story Your wife is probably a nice person why bring her into this??????? Im looking for answers not to be put down...damn your ruff!!

RE: no lab lover
 

My suggestion would be to let the owner train the dog. He knows the dog, the dog's temperment, habits, etc. and he should know what commands he wants to teach the dog. Plus, you should not even try to train him if you don't know what your doing. Too many things can go wrong, especially with introduction tothe gun. I have seen too many promising dogs ruined by owners who thought, "this might be a good idea."

Tell your friend to get a good retriever book or check one out at the library.

RE: no lab lover
 

Thanks MITE. Its not my dog...the owner halfassed trained him...Im looking for books on the subject, talking to guys I know who have great dogs.....Maybe in time ..Ill get a pup and see that heeze trained professionally so as not to upset the dog or some folk in this forum....thanks again

RE: no lab lover
 

Training is everything. You may want to start with Richard Wolters books/videos. He one of many references. The key is to start with the basics, stay withone program, be consistant and don't skip steps. You kinda put me off by your lab slamming title. As far as hunting training, labs are one of the easiest breeds to train (if you follow whatI said above). I'm sure after you have trained a good lab you will be heading your next messge- "LAB'S BEST DOGS EVER- HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO WRONG ABOUT THEM."

Kidding. Enjoy the training. Go slow and be patient.

-Mathewsconquest2

RE: no lab lover
 

You are going to have your hands full if you are planning on keeping the dog and training it. Most dogs do not need to be trained to hunt. You do need to train on obedience so you can control the dog. But it shouldn't have gone to the truck when you shot so I think you may have a gunshy dog. Good luck!

RE: no lab lover
 

I would never loan out my dog. My boss wanted to go pheasant hunting and wanted to take a group of "hunters" out into the field. He wanted my dog but didnt want to give me the day off.. I said if I dont go.. He isnt going.. The boss is the type that if the dog would have got shot.. oh well not his dog.. and wouldnt acknowledge it.. I wasnt going out with a bunch of rookies.. The trip never happened..

Now I select who I want hunting over my lab.. He is my buddy.. and anyone who hunts with me knows if they shoot my dog.. they will be shot.

RE: no lab lover
 

I suggest training him with his owner - maybe train them both. Some dogs cannot be trainined after living the civilian life for to long.

I suggest getting a book called GUN DOG. It is an excellent training guide for new dogs.

I would also test him - get some scents (pheaseant, qual, etc) and around a field, drag a decoy (don't let the dog see you) in and around the edge and plant under a log or some bushes with maybe a 500 or more yard run. Let the dog smell the decoy, ley him loose and see if he finds it. If he stays on it and at least has a good attempt to find it you may have a chance. Sounding from his first experience you may not have good luck with this one.