I am trying to train my yellow female lab she sits on a whistle and we are working on stay. She is not gun shy and loves to retrieve . Any advice for a rookie will be helpfull.

Hey Monroe,
At 12 weeks old if you can just focus on sit, stay, and heel for the next few months thats great. You don't really want to put too much pressure until at least 9 months or so. Have fun, throw bumpers, and like I said sit, stay, and heel on a lead. That is plenty for a young pup, and will transfer into the more difficult stuff you'll want to take on between 9-12 months.

I'm no pro, but I did train with one, started my Nes out about the same age you're pup is. I got into HRC and Nes earned her started title before she was 2. Then I had real kids and didn't have as much time for hunt tests. A started HRC title dog should do anything any meat hunter should need. It just gets fancier, and more complex after that. (my shooting doesn't allow for many triple retrieves. LOL)

We work on sitting on the whistle every night for a bout 15 minutes . I also try to shoot around her at least once a week. I am reading the book water dog and I felt like she may be a little behinde . Thanks for the reassurance.

The biggest thing I have found out & read about pups is don't over do it.
Five minutes everyday is better then 30 minute once a week.
Their attention span is short, just like a kids.
Every dog is different. You just have to figure out what works best for your dog.
Read all you can about training. You will pick up different things from different sources.
I have had labs all my life. They are great dogs. :)

GOOD LUCK !

Your pup is not behind by any stretch... Keep it fun, and try not to flip out when she doesn't listen. Short sessions when she's up for it. Sometimes learning doesn't beat playing no matter how hard you want her to, so just play that session. You don't need to go past the easy retrieves and basics until at least 6 months. More like 9.

You plan on forcing her? That is a long way off though.

Bob we started the force fetch last week she has all her adult teeth . This is easily the hardest thing we have done. I can't seem to find a way to make this fun for her or me. I know this is a very important part of finishing the dog . If Icould just get my kids to listen as well as the dog it would be a perfect world.

You ear pinching? This should be the only retrieving she should be doing during FF. Pick up all the toys and balls.

2 weeks or so, and you'll be good to go. I understand the stress (on both of you). You'll be amazed at how quickly she'll pick up that bumper in another week. Anything to not get the pinch.

Unfortunately you can't pinch your kids w/o DCS coming for a visit. I bet an e-collar would "help" some unruly kids too. LOL

I will take that advice we have still been doing are daily stuff sometimes she will bring it back to hand and most of the time she drops it at my feet . I also have a 2 year old son so picking up all toys and balls not going to happen. I am training everyone in the house to try toget her to bring whatever to them and take it that way vs chaseing her and pullin it of her mouth. Oh and don't think for a second I haven't considerd putn that e collar on my kids my daughter is 10 goin on 20 she use to do what ever I did just to hang out fish hunt now she doesnt even want to be in the same room with me .

never trained hunters, but trained service ...sounds like she's on track for her age...consistentcy in the household is big part...having everyone use the same commands etc. I found that until at least six months they just didn't have the attention spans for very detailed training..but again that's for a service dog, not a hunter....

If I could teach her how to pull the truck up at the boat ramp that would be sweet .

Well, monroecoduckman....she probably could if you trained her to.
You have one hell of a dog, great bloodlines, parents with titles that go back to bejesus, and he has her spade. This is in memorium for Jazz's important parts.....may the dog lord be with you.....

Yeah, but she'd probably change the radio station on you too.

I bet you could train her to pull the boat..depending on it's size and hers...mine pull me in the seat walker or wheelchair when I have to use them...We trained the Rott to pull a cart as well. I'm hoping for buddy to eventually learn to pull the cart...he understands about the walker and the chair though! We did have one incident when we were training dolly to get things from the fridge...she lost her head and ran off with half a ham...

Gretchen I bet she knew exactly what she was doing ham is hard to beat.

Ham makes dog farts smell the worst...

only you would say that bob

only you would say that bob

Doubt I'm the only one who had their dog steal ham, or have gotten a ham bone... Just stating the facts...

Yea, our dog used to but one of our neighbors gave there dog the ham bone and part of it chipped off and got stuck in it's stomach and had to have surgery........that was a nice bill! lol....

The bad part was..Critter was showing her off to some of his buddy's..how smart and well trained she was etc...he sent her for a beer...she came back with the ham...LOL I told him that I didn't want him teaching her to fetch beer for him...she was supposed to help ME...but...boys will be boys...

Is dat you steve(Monroe)? Jim

dats me JPH you got to love this web site it should come with a warning label very addicting.