How Soon is Too Soon

[Woodduck Commander]

Hey guys, I have a new yellow lab I've been training, September 1st she will be 3 months old, I have another yellow lab that is 3 years old that my new lab follows like a shadow. I was thinking about bringing the pup out sometime during the second split to watch my trained dog work and get her used to cold and cold water. Too soon? or would that be a good idea?

[Spunt Drag]

I would wait til he's at least a year and his drive is through the roof. Bringing a young pup on a cold day, with 12 gauges exploding all over could ruin a pups experience on hunting. There's plenty of people that brought their dogs hunting at a very early age (me included), but the old saying, "being smart and being lucky are 2 different things".

[MaXXis85]

Get the dog to like water now while it is warmer, and do not bring the pup in the blind until after it has had formal obedience and ben gun conditioned. I think too many poeple RUSH into getting a dog into the blind. Cold water in the beginning can make a dog scared, you have to gradually work them into cooler waterl

[Kenner18]

Pm Raymond on here for exact directions .

[Duck Butter]

He/she should be swimming by now. Get in the water and he will swim to you eventually, and then like most labs will love the water.

I would wait on bringing it to the blind especially if other people are hunting with you. Nothing and I mean nothing is worse than hunting with an untrained dog

[Top Dawg]

Originally Posted by Duck Butter

He/she should be swimming by now. Get in the water and he will swim to you eventually, and then like most labs will love the water.

I would wait on bringing it to the blind especially if other people are hunting with you. Nothing and I mean nothing is worse than hunting with an untrained dog

X100

[Woodduck Commander]

oh she absolutly loves the water, can't let her near it without a leash or she'll be in it. I've had labs before that like the water but not like this one, if she sees a puddle or pond, she is in it, dives down underwater getting sticks and chasing fish, weirdest thing. If I leave the bathroom door open and I'm in the shower, she is in it too, rain, mud, anything, she loves it

[Duck Butter]

Originally Posted by Woodduck Commander

oh she absolutly loves the water, can't let her near it without a leash or she'll be in it. I've had labs before that like the water but not like this one, if she sees a puddle or pond, she is in it, dives down underwater getting sticks and chasing fish, weirdest thing. If I leave the bathroom door open and I'm in the shower, she is in it too, rain, mud, anything, she loves it

Mine hates a bath! I have to drag his big azz to the water hose, he hunkers down and makes me pull him

[Oops!]

I have trained many dogs and all of them I have fully trained and hunting at 6 months old. Many trainers have different methods but I think if you introduce them to everything step by step prior to putting them in actual hunt. You should be fine. I wouldn't put ur dog in the blind at 3 months but no harm in doing it later in the season.

[simplepeddler]

"fully trained at 6 months" really??

that's remarkable.

[Spunt Drag]

Originally Posted by simplepeddler

"fully trained at 6 months" really??

that's remarkable.

"Fully trained" is in the eyes of the beholder.

[Wag]

Originally Posted by simplepeddler

"fully trained at 6 months" really??

that's remarkable.

I've had bird dogs that where fully trained, (point, back & retrieve) and hunting at 6 months...and have seen labs that where pretty much finished dogs at 6 months and just needed to be hunted for them to become better....just depends on the dog.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Wag

I've had bird dogs that where fully trained, (point, back & retrieve) and hunting at 6 months...and have seen labs that where pretty much finished dogs at 6 months and just needed to be hunted for them to become better....just depends on the dog.

Please define Finished?

[Wag]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Please define Finished?

Knows all the commands, and on hand signals, if you train retrievers you know what finish is.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Wag

Knows all the commands, and on hand signals, if you train retrievers you know what finish is.

Put my hands on over a hundred and never have or will have a finished dog at 6 months. What y'all are calling hand signals is actually cast and it can't be solid until a dog is force fetched and that can't be done until a dog is atleast 6 months old. I'll wager a months pay your finished dogs are little more than backyard hounds that would have trouble with any Mark over 40 yds or blind past 25 yds. The next post will start out with,"I don't want no field trial dog or robot" but how many field trial dogs have you hunted with and how many field trials have you ever been to? Hunt test don't count since they aren't field trials. All competent dog trainers follow the same program that creates field trial dogs, cream rises. What people know and what people think they know separates those who can get the job done and succeed year after year and 5 dogs ain't gonna make you a trainer. Bring your dogs and sack of money any Saturday and we will find out how much training they have. PM me for address and time.

[1234567]

I would not recommend putting your dog in the blind at 3 months. I dont know what good could come from that.

[Oops!]

Yes. Retrieving 16 teal for hunts during teal season. I don't use shock collars. The hand signals may need to be fine tuned but most of that is easy to finish up. If you spend lots of time with ur dog ( let them in the house with u, take them where u go, become their best friend). Combined with that and making it fun for the dog to retrieve. You will be surprised with the results.

[Spunt Drag]

Originally Posted by Oops!

Yes. Retrieving 16 teal for hunts during teal season. I don't use shock collars. The hand signals may need to be fine tuned but most of that is easy to finish up. If you spend lots of time with ur dog ( let them in the house with u, take them where u go, become their best friend). Combined with that and making it fun for the dog to retrieve. You will be surprised with the results.

Do you follow the milner methods?

[Shawn Braquet]

Raymond in 3....2....1.....

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Shawn Braquet

Raymond in 3....2....1.....

Way too easy Shawn. Sometimes it's better to not call attention to ignorance.