Need some advice on training my lab

I have the book but they didn’t use e collars back in that day and If im not mistaken he didn’t force fetch in that book either I could be wrong on that though. Other than that he’s I could go by that book

I’m no expert, but don’t try to collar condition on a command he isn’t 100% at. Take it slow. Keep practicing place, but don’t use the collar. Try to figure out a different way to make place fun for him.

Retrievertraining.net is a good resource also. I’d ask your question there for better advice. But be careful because it’s the internet, and plenty of people offer bad advice. There’s plenty of methods for training retrievers, and at a place like this, everyone is going to tell you what worked for them, which may not line up with Freddie’s methods.

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But be careful because it’s the internet, and plenty of people offer bad advice

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RTF has more dog training knowledge than any place on the net and is typically 100% spot on.
Wolters was not a trainer (he was an editor), his books were/are pretty useless IMO if you want a real dog.
OP should spend more time than he is training since it sounds like his dog is taking to training. There’s a fine line between too little and too much, learn to read your dog and adjust accordingly.
Not a fan of YouTube trainers but if it’s working keep doing it until it doesn’t.
Good Luck, enjoy the milestones.

Skip “place”, I cc’d hundreds and never taught during cc. CC to “here”, “sit”, and move on to “hold”. KISS method, clear and concise works better than a bunch of unneeded terminology.

I say here and give him a continuous shock until he gets to my side and heels. It gives him a sense of urgency to get to my side and get the pressure off of his neck. He thinks the faster I get there the faster this collar turns off kind of thing

He's probably still young enough to try a reward based approach instead of a consequence based approach.

It works better with females but try going over board on positive reinforcement and maybe a training treat when properly executing a command.

Some dogs work better when they know they are making you happy

This is also a better approach when your dog is a Pet/Hunting companion rather than a Travel Ball Lab that is only used as a tool

I like the “place” command but it’s not necessary with a firm understanding of sit. Sit means sit everywhere I want you and don’t move until I tell you to.

But with place, I can establish a place and he will go to that place when I want him to without me bringing him there.

I’ve always used place command to mean don’t leave that bed, or don’t leave that area you are on, like an elevated stand in flooded timber. He doesn’t have to sit on it, he just can’t leave it. Sit is sit, and I agree that he will remain sitting until told so.

How many bumpers are you throwing and refusing him to retrieve? I went through about a period, on and off, of denying my dog bumpers. Put him at sit, or put him at place, and throw 10 bumpers and walked and retrieved every one myself. That training would then be over and we would practice walking at heel, or whatever else you’re working on. Denying the bumper reward is a good way to reinforce commands and teach patience.

I never used an e-collar, but I’m not opposed to it, if done correctly. I also never force fetch trained my dog and she would retrieve anything, including squirrels.

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, do you want a family dog that can pick up your birds, or do you want a hardcore working dog? There is a stark difference between the two. Most hardcore working dogs that have been through rigorous training regimes, kept in a trainers kennel for months on end, and are worth thousands of dollars, do not make great pets. Just something to consider.

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The E collar is a reinforcing tool not a teaching tool

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Great point.

I used an e collar. Now I don’t need it. But I put it on him every time. When it goes on he knows it’s time to work. I tell him free at the end and take it off and he goes wild. Haha