Training Your Puppy

How And When To Start

So you’ve done your research (if not read my blog on picking a puppy) and you have picked the breed of dog you want and the breeder. Now you are sitting in your living room with your cute little bundle of joy who is chewing on your coffee table legs. It is time to start training that puppy! People ask me all the time “when do I start training my puppy?” I respond by saying, “the second you take it home.” So let’s assume you know how to work on all the basics such as potty training and crate training. What about the rest of the training??? Well I believe the two most important things you can teach any puppy, Labrador or other breed, is confidence and an EXCELLENT recall (coming when called)!!!

I believe that confidence is important because you can do pretty much anything with a confident dog. For example, going to the vet is easy because your dog is so well socialized with new things they don’t get scared. When your dog is older they have no problem staying at a boarding facility because they were there when they were young and are confident being away from you. (Visit my blog for more information on what to do to have your puppy ready for boarding.)

I shouldn’t have to explain why an EXCELLENT recall is important. A dog that comes when it is called will have a better life than a dog that does not. For example, if you know your dog will come when you call it you can let him off his leash at the beach to run freely. Also a great recall can save your dogs life! If your dog goes chasing after a cat towards the street and you call them they will stop and come to you and not end up in the street.

So how do you teach confidence and recall to your 12 week old puppy? Confidence is taught by socializing your puppy around a variety of different things:

1. Having your puppy around other dogs/puppies is very important. Until your puppy has ALL of their vaccines make sure they are only around good natured dogs that you know have their vaccines. After they are fully vaccinated have your puppy around as many other dogs and situations as possible. For example, have your puppy around children and other dogs. Taking a puppy class is strongly recommended for socialization and early puppy training. (Learn more about my puppy classes.)

2. Get your puppy in new situations. For example, take them to places like Petsmart and dog friendly restaurants.  Basically just get them out and away from home were they will encounter new things and people.

About Recall…when your puppy is little recall is all about FUN! For example call your puppy and run from them. When they get to you praise them with love and/or treats. Do this over and over again like a game. When they get older corrections will most likely be needed for a reliable recall. I would suggest coming in for a lesson.  (Find out more about lessons.)

For those of you with retriever puppies whether they are pets or going to be your hunting companions teach them to RETRIEVE! For the retrievers that are pets, retrieving can be a great way to get some quick exercise or a fun game to play with your kids and dog.  But if you don’t throw the ball (or whatever) for your puppy when they are young they most likely won’t care much about it when they are older. So teach them at a young age how much fun retrieving is! For the retrievers with goals of being hunting partners you can throw marks for them at a very young age! So start when you take them home. Obviously the age of your puppy will determine how hard the marks can be. At first you might just start with a friend throwing puppy bumpers in your backyard and then move to longer marks and cover (taller grass and things). If you need a little help with this I have two options, my Puppy Head Start  or lessons.

Summer Training Tip

Obedience! Obedience! Obedience! Whether you have a pet, a hunting dog, or a Hunt Test competitor, obedience training should be you and your dog’s best friend. Start with your puppy when they are very young. For example, when your puppy is only 8-12 weeks old you can start teaching them to sit and down at dinner time. Before giving them their dinner take a hand full of kibble out of the bowl and have them sit or down with each piece. For your older dogs that maybe already have issues such as line manners at a Hunt Test, again it all comes back to obedience. Make yourself some holding blinds or buy some and practice in your backyard. When your dog is PERFECT at heeling between blinds and to the “line” it is time to add distractions. At home add in hand thrown bumpers. If your dog heels well to the line they can have the bumpers thrown, if not start over. The better your dog gets at the process the more distractions you can add until you are working on it in a training group situation.

Monthly Photo Contest

Rogue Retrievers will be holding a monthly photo contest. The contest will run the 15th of the each month to the 15th of the following month. The winner's photo will win a $15.00 gift card to Petco were you can buy your "model" a special new toy. The winner's photo will also be posted on the homepage for all to see.

How To Enter

Email me your best photo of your dog! It can be any photo of your dog.  For example, a picture of your dog sitting quietly but cutely on the couch, or an action shot of your dog out hunting, or a beautiful photo of your dog with all their ribbons after titling.  For an example of photos visit my photo gallery.

Photos will be accepted from the 15th of the month to the 15th of the following month.  The winner will be informed the 16th of each month.  The first contest will be starting July 15th and entries will be taken until August 15th.

Visit my photo contest page to enter!

The Story Of Cha-Ching

All good stories have a happy ending and this one is no exception. Cha Ching came into the world after a long labor by my mom's dog Rosie. She was born at the my veterinarians office when she didn't come out in a timely manner naturally. I should have known then that this was a sign that in one way or another, I was going to be giving special attention to this adorable newborn puppy.

Read my blog "Cha Ching The Little Brown Thing" for the full heartwarming story and exciting new developments in her life.

Int CH Abe MH x Rosie Litter

Learn more about Abe and Rosie.

Together Abe and Rosie have made very well rounded chocolate lab puppies and will do so again. Their puppies will be healthy and beautiful with drive and desire. They will make excellent pets and/or bird hunting companions. Rosie's puppies were born July 4th. The puppies will have dew claws removed, be vaccinated and micro-chipped. The puppies will also be well socialized and exposed to birds. The puppies are selling for $900.00 and deposits are now being taken. Please call or email for more information.

If you are not interested in a puppy but still love to see puppy videos and pictures follow Rosie's puppies on facebook.