Labrador Training

[wabbit slayer 16]

I live in north humberside and im looking for some where to go with my lab to teach her and me how to work her properly. Shes about eight months old and very keen, I take her ferreting and shooting and as soon as the gun goes off shes off trying and find what i have shot. Shes not a big lab but she retrives rabbits and had a go at phesants .

Im not really sure if im doing things right so we could do with some lessons, im also trying to teach her and me to work to the whistle.

Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

[Tis1979 2]

Hi mate, I'm not a pro trainer but have trained my own from pup and he is 18months now and to a hi standard, so I have some friendly advice if you want it.

First off I would join a gun dog forum. http://www.gundogtrainingforum.co.uk

Mixed opinions on this site about it but I found it to be good source of advice when I was training mine.

Your bitch is only 8 months so really you should be working on basics & unless you are going to be mainly wild fowling you dont want your dog running in, so if I was you I would work on steadiness you don't really want the dog to move till you tell it, you probably know generally that it's three pips for come to me & one pip for stop and sit ( I use a short sharp pip to instill urgency ) this Is going to be important for your dog as it has a habit of running in, you will need to pip it every time it runs in trying to pre-emp it so it learns not to do it. When your teaching stop and sit with the whistle raise a hand in the air so your dog can see it so if it's to far to hear the whistle it can see your hand and knows to sit (more inportant when you get to long retrieves and you need to give direction). I'll stop here as I going on a bit but defo If i was you work on steadiness it will pay dividends in the future. And give the gundog forum a go.

 

Kind regards Tristram

[wabbit slayer 16]

Thanks for all your advice, yes my bitch does run in front all the time so working on steadiness is great advice. I wll also join the forum as you say, am also looking into some leasons for me and the bitch just to set us on the right track.

[Tis1979 2]

No worries good luck with her, it's great fun and rewarding when it works out.