re: Who here has trained their own dog?

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shock collar

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I've never used one because of initial cost but it's my understanding that you set the collar to where it's an uncomfortable sting but not too actually light them up like a hot wire fence would.

Yes. 3 different Labs. All females, each with VERY different dispositions. As a lot of people have said, spend a TON of time with your Lab. Most of what I found out about each of mine was their comfort level. If the pup feels comfortable in their surroundings, training comes easy. I used a book called "Train Your Water Dog". Can't remember the author, but this book still rules today. Very instructive and easy to follow.

My biggest screwup; not getting them fully adjusted to loud noises early on. I would do that over again, but, too late. Good luck, and most of all, have fun and show your pup a ton of love!

Haha. My lab thinks she's above my fiancé. When she gives the dog a command it'll turn and look at me like "really?"

LOL, mine does the same thing.

I did, but Richard Wolters helped me a bunch..

I've trained a few tracking dogs and been around one or two squirrel dog trainins.

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jaggedlp
Who here has trained their own dog?
Get training video by Danny Farmer. Go watch a local AKC trial and see what the dogs do. Then compare it to a Water dog trained dog. Not a lot more effort just smarter way of doing it. Much nicer not yelling at dog and able to actually hunt

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Agree but that aint for everyone....or a novice

When we gonna do some shooting at your place?

Talk to our buddy.

I'm ready

I read over a couple of books, including that one. What helped the best was getting basic commands set in stone, I mean, they listen 100%, 100% of the time to basic commands. A good foundation is where it starts. Ended up just winging it on my own. He will listen to my direction on retrieves half of the time, but I didn't teach him any of that.

I got him at 3 months, and started then. Shock collar literally scared the piss out of him, so I quit using it. He wouldn't do anything after i zapped him.


I can get him to hold off on chasing cats, release him, and stop him in his tracks when he is in full stride now.

Like I said, get the basics down to a T, and everything else will be easy. Do not try and jump ahead of yourself, or you will end up frustrated and disappointed at yourself and your dog.


Eta: You will learn the proper amounts of praise and punishment for the dog. After I whooped mine, I always made sure to make up with him 5 minutes later