Help with disinterested lab

[Sundance]

I've got a five month old lab that shows no interest in retrieving anything. I wasn't able to work with him while he was younger because of long work hours. He seems to have very little energy and would rather lay under the carport than play. What makes it worse is this is my first attempt at training a lab. Any suggestions on how to get started? (Obviously, we both lack experience at this!)

[D1]

Does he know the basic commands?...... sit, stay, come? ....... they have to learn those 1st. Has anyone scolded him for chewing on anything if so that might be part of his reason for disintrest or it could be the fact that he has never been MADE to do what he is expected or told to do.

[eastwoods]

What's his breeding?

[PAXDUCKS]

New to this site. Had the same problem with my Lab. Mine was worse though. I got him when he was eight months old. He had never retrieved anything before nor had he ever been in the water. I think I can help you with this. Start small. A tennis ball is perfect. make it fun for the dog. even if this means physically putting the ball in the dogs mouth, but don't get upset with him. constantly reward him when he does something right and encourge him. Never get mad at the dog just ignore him when he is not doing what you want. Soon the dog will catch on to the training and understand what he needs to do to get attention and praise from you. Always emphasize the basics sit, stay, heel. Obedience is a huge for the dog to respect you as his leader, and is a must while hunting. Praise and encouragement always work the best. My example is my dog. he went from not wanting anything to do with the water or retrieving to sitting with me in the blind and retrieving his first duck in only four months. Just spend 20 minutes a day with him. no more no less.

[Redhead]

My advise is to enjoy this dog as a PET! ( or give him/her to your bro in law, or Delta Duck) and get a dog out of a better breeding that has the retreiving desire that you are looking for. I had to go thru a couple before I finally found one that would cut it. Some things can be taught but it sounds like you are like most of us and don't have the time to get through such a problem. good luck!

If you want a good dog and plan on having one trained you would be better off purchasing a finished dog from a competent trainer.

[sig]

It may very well be true that this dog will never be a good retriever, but the dog isn't even half a year old...dogs are alot like children in that they are a product of their surroundings. Like someone said before spend a little time every day. Don't overdo it and try to use as much positive reinforcement as possible. I don't believe in disposing of a dog just because it isn't easy to train. Start with the basics....small steps.

[Hammer]

I'm with Red on this one...I would much rather have to tone a dog down, than amp one up...My experience has been that the #1 most important thing a good duck dog must have is a desire to retrieve...That desire can be seen in the kennel with mama at 6 or 7 weeks old if you have a good, fresh duck wing...The pups that play with the wing are keepers, those that arent interested need to take up golf or ballet...

Its a hard thing to let go of a dog but he is exactly right...Find somebody looking for a pet and give them the dog then go find one that has the "want to"...In general, you are better off not getting too emotionally close to a dog until a few years have gone by so you can remain objective- sometimes you just got to let them go...

$1000 or $1500 for a finished dog is cheap compared to the amount of time you put into training one yourself. Unless you are independently wealthy or so broke you cant pay attention such that your time basically means nothing to you, then it is not worth your time to mess with a dog that aint got much to start with.

HAMMER

[polar]

Yor dog may very well never work out genetics are very important, but if you are willing to try there are some things that might help the dog become interested. As was said earlier simple things such as a tennis ball or a pair of socks rolled up and make it a game. Also many dogs are more excited by birds than by other things. You can try using a live bird such as a pegion for this. Be sure to shackle him or clip his wing or in some other way make it so that he can't get away. Also watch pup carefully and make sure that the bird doesn't scare him. Hope this helps.
Polar

[judge jb]

give him some competition.....another dog or even better yet..... tie his ass up and throw a bumper and go get it yourself with repitition and praise yourself on each retrieve... ignore him and watch his interest rise..... it has worked for me in the past.......{ i give myself a cold drink after each retrieve} haha.....

judge jb

[goosebruce]

Hammer, you're not even close on price for a finished dog... Obviously everyone has different definetions of finished dog, but you can start at about 4500 for a dog steady with mulitple marks and blind retrieves... easily spend 6-10 grand for a young hunt test (grand or master quailty) prospect with health clearences and good bloodlines... and a field trial dog capable of all age work you'll spend 25 grand.... thats for a player, who MIGHT win, not one that has won! I've turned down the chance to sell rowdy for 10 grand before he was 2 years old, and duckdawgen did sell his 2 year old hr dog for 5 grand. Sounds like a lot of money, until you think about buying a pup, years of training bills (average 400 a month) or time spent doing it yourself, vets bills, and the chance you might end up with a dog with health problems, or simply not a player. Buying a turn key dog can be a real bargin, especially if your knowledgable enough to know WHAT your buying, and from WHOM. $1000 will normally buy you a puppy that didn't sell, someone spent 6 weeks on ff and obedience on... and they're losing money to sell it for that. If you can buy a dog with good instincts and breeding, that is ff and obedience trained and steady, year old with health prelims (eyes and hips) done for 2500 you got a solid dog to hunt with the first season, and contiune training from there.. you got a deal, take it. 6 months of training and hartworm medicine would cost you 2500.... its like getting the dog for free. Warning though... all that glitters is not gold... know what you're looking at, and if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Dog is young, hasn't been socialized, and doesn't retreive... well, socialize dog.. start taking him places, and doing things with him. I agree with judge, the first thing Id do to ramp him up some is let him see other dogs work. He barely knows his name... hows he supposed to know hes a dog that likes the fetch? Proper socialization is key for young dogs. Wont get into a 'shame on you' cause you didn't know... but make it up to pup now.

Disagree using birds to fire him up right now. If it takes a bird to fire his instincts up right now, you're gonna be hard pressed to ever get him fired up about bumpers. We use birds weekly... even then, birds are a pain, and nobody can train with birds everyday... bumpers are a ness evil. This dog needs to see other dogs going bumper nuts... and get him revved up. OB is important, Id never say it wasn't cause Im a control freak, but big rules and big issues with this dog right now will cause that glimmer of hope to fade away. Fire him up, time for control is later with this dog. travis

[eastwoods]

Sundance, I think your not getting much help because we don't know much about the dog besides age and interest.

That's why I asked about breeding. Let's assume it's good enough and the dog has the desire to retrieve, so don't give up.

(Now if the parents were biscuit eaters and didn't have the retrieving desire and the dog has a big blocky head and otter tail take him behind the barn.)

Next thing to think about, is what's going on day in and day out of the dog's life. Are the kids playing with him all day before you get home and toss the ball. He may be just tuckered out. He may be to fat. Lock him up all day and when you get him out if he worth much at all he'll be happy to see you and dancing around running and jumping. Then you throw some happy bumpers for him skipping across the ground. Hoop it up loud, get him excited, roll on the ground with him. He ought to be about ready to jump out of his skin everytime he hears your car drive up.

Like has been pointed out, let him watch other dog's doing it while he's in the box. Then get him in a race with another dog and let him win by holding the other back. Afetr he picks it up run backwards hooping it up and he'll follow. Grab bumper as your running backwards. Force fetch is after he is retrieving like a madman.

Work him in the morning and evening when it's cool. Lock him in a box all day except for bathroom breaks. Getting out of the box means retrieving.

Just for some perspective: I've trained and been around several pups from Field Trial and Hunt Test backgrounds and I have yet to see one that didn't retrieve at 8 weeks and at the age of your pup they were bustin' it to retrieve. The only times I've seen these dogs lose interest is when the trainer was to hard on them or they were just to tired.

You also have to have a dog with a lot of "go", "fire", "style" (whatever you want to call it) to train effectively, because training takes the wildness out like breaking a horse. What I'm getting at is if you don't have any go you can't train much.

I've been a little negative so I'll end on a good note. You probably have a steady dog that will not be a pain while birds are working and guns are shooting. Training, drills, yard work will slow the dog down. Retreiving or field work will speed him up. You need to do field work and stay away from training right now or you need to have a walk out behind the barn.

There are a lot of folks that know a lot about dogs on hear, but they need to know a few more details.

[mallardchaser]

I'm no dog pro, but I imagine hammer meant to say started dog. I had a buddy buy one 3 years ago for $2k, he was a great hunting dog ( he has since stopped taking the time to work him and he's soso now.) I think you can get 'em for $1500.

I saw John Kabbes of blue ribbon kennels today, he's got a few started for sale (at the wildlife show.) Might be a start.

[D1]

and the dog has a big blocky head and otter tail take him behind the barn.)

HOLD ON A MINUTE I KINDA RESEMBLE THAT REMARK!!!!!!!


Now seriously the dogs looks has nothing to do with it. You can take a SOONER and have him retrieving in no time if you do it right,of course the genetics bred into the dog helps tremendously, but looks dont matter.


In fact I THINK judge said one time the best retriever he had was a SOONER

[eastwoods]

I shouldn't be so "general" or "authoritarian" on here. I just give my opinion, idea, whatever. To each his own I say. I'm wrong a lot, but I still say you don't teach desire, God put's that in.

The only good retriever with a block head I ever saw in MS was Fred Riley's Son of Gun Pistol. Oh, I forgot!!!! Fred bred that Pistol to every bitch in MS. My bad.

[D1]

I agree you cant teach desire. DANG!!!!!!! We agree on something

And if he bred him to that many females then that must mean ther is a lot of block head pups somewhere........