[perry_rm]

I know this might seem like a silly questions but here it goes. Bare with me this is the first dog I have trainined. Should my 11 week old puppy be retreiving. I am using the Smartworks program and see that dogs are retreiving at 11 and 12 weeks old--even doing memory retreives. My puppy will retreive if i put her in a hall way inside the house. When we go outside she only chases the bumber and does not bring it back. At what age can I expect her to start bringing it back. Should I be worried that she is not interested in bringing the bumper back to me? Is this something that I should not expect until I force fetch?

Also, I have introduced her to quail feathers but all she does is chew them up. I hate to take them from her at such a young age. Should I just let her chew them? I'm afraid it will lead to her chewing up birds.

 

[freezeland]

Also, I have introduced her to quail feathers but all she does is chew them up. I hate to take them from her at such a young age. Should I just let her chew them? I'm afraid it will lead to her chewing up birds.

First to your concern about not retrieveing. She is a puppy, dont expect her to be anything but that. Just keep following your program.
Chewing up feathers is not good, especially if she is swallowing em. Sharp quils etc is not good on the GI tract.

 

[llauck]

She sounds like a normal 11 week old lab pup. Don't fret. Smartworks is a very good program, but right now, it is all about bonding, fun times retrieving and starting some basic obedience. It is VERY NORMAL for your pup to chase the bumper and not bring it back at this age. Why? You have not taught her to bring it back to you yet. How would she know otherwise. The key is that she runs to the bumper and grabs it. She probably then starts prancing around showing off. Call her name repeatedly and trot backwards and see if she comes to you. If she get close, grab the bumper and give LOTS of praise. Make it fun. Just a couple of times and the toss should be short. Follow Smartworks step by step, but your pup is doing great.

 

[Don Lietzau]

I know this might seem like a silly questions but here it goes. Bare with me this is the first dog I have trainined. Should my 11 week old puppy be retreiving. I am using the Smartworks program and see that dogs are retreiving at 11 and 12 weeks old--even doing memory retreives. My puppy will retreive if i put her in a hall way inside the house. When we go outside she only chases the bumber and does not bring it back. At what age can I expect her to start bringing it back. Should I be worried that she is not interested in bringing the bumper back to me? Is this something that I should not expect until I force fetch?

Also, I have introduced her to quail feathers but all she does is chew them up. I hate to take them from her at such a young age. Should I just let her chew them? I'm afraid it will lead to her chewing up birds.

I would not fret on the bumper thing. Play fun stuff for her, not for you. I would work on "outside potty" and getting her to under "Here".
Pups need to explore and run so get her out in a safe place and let her go. She won't go far as she will want to be close to you for the next few months. I have them drag a light weight, homemade, check cord so I can always catch the little buggers.
The quail thing. Where is the whole quail? I would put her on a live, wing clipped quail or pigeon and let her chase ( on a check cord) and worry that. Then get it away from her and make it disappear.
Above all, let her be a puppy and learn basics without the requirements of pressure to achieve.
Don

 

[perry_rm]

The quail thing. Where is the whole quail? I would put her on a live, wing clipped quail or pigeon and let her chase ( on a check cord) and worry that. Then get it away from her and make it disappear.
Above all, let her be a puppy and learn basics without the requirements of pressure to achieve.
Don[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the replys everyone. It makes me feel a lot better about what I am doing.

Don, I do not have the whole bird. I bought the wings from Bass Pro Shop. I have been looking on Craigs List for birds. Do you have any recommendations on where to get some birds. I'm in Macon, GA. I know the chance of you knowing a place around here is slim, so are there any good online places?

Thanks,

Ryan

 

[freezeland]

Ryan

A lot of folks on this site seem to be from or around your neck of the woods. I would post in the classifieds section of this site for birds wanted, or do a search on here in the search bar for frozen ducks. You might also google for retriever training clubs in your area.

 

[cocdawg]

Ryan-
Not sure if you frequent the GON forum or not but Gary Hadarits usually has plenty of pigeons for sale at a reasonable price. He's great to work with as well. He's also a member on this forum. If you're interested, and can't find his information, PM me and I'll send you his phone number. He works around Stone Mountain area.

 

[Bridget Bodine]

Ryan where are you located. I have frozen chukar and pigeon

 

[perry_rm]

Ryan where are you located. I have frozen chukar and pigeon

Im in macon, ga.

 

[DL]

Im in macon, ga.

I checked craigslist for Macon, Georgia. There is ad with pigeons for sale. I couldn't find them where I live until I tried the search feature on the left hand side of craigslist. I bought some 3 weeks ago where I live and they have already laid eggs. I've got a pretty nice pen for them and kinda like them and enjoy them at this point. I am a little supprised how mean they are to each other. One of my males keeps the other pair from eating.

 

[freezeland]

I checked craigslist for Macon, Georgia. There is ad with pigeons for sale. I couldn't find them where I live until I tried the search feature on the left hand side of craigslist. I bought some 3 weeks ago where I live and they have already laid eggs. I've got a pretty nice pen for them and kinda like them and enjoy them at this point. I am a little supprised how mean they are to each other. One of my males keeps the other pair from eating.

I take it you don't plan on using em for a shot live flyer

 

[DL]

I take it you don't plan on using em for a shot live flyer

I'm ok with shooting them. I need some dead ones too.

 

[perry_rm]

I checked craigslist for Macon, Georgia. There is ad with pigeons for sale. I couldn't find them where I live until I tried the search feature on the left hand side of craigslist. I bought some 3 weeks ago where I live and they have already laid eggs. I've got a pretty nice pen for them and kinda like them and enjoy them at this point. I am a little supprised how mean they are to each other. One of my males keeps the other pair from eating.

Thanks DL. I was hoping to find some dead birds. I will not be able to raise birds in my neighborhood. The homeowners association would be all over me for that. I will see if they sell dead birds as well. Don't no why they wouldn't have them.

 

[Karen Klotthor]

Get a live pigeon, let pup chase it around. It won't live long so you will be able to have a dead one then.

 

[Todd Caswell]

I think alot of new puppy owners get too wrapped up in the bird and feathers thing with really young puppy's i believe they need to be introduced and love to see a 7 week old puppy slam a pigeon the first time it sees one but after that I pretty much put them away until FF is done, my theory is if they love to retrieve bumpers then there going to love birds as well. Main thing at this point is to find something that the puppys loves to chase and retrieve, doesn't have to be a bumper, can be a tennis ball, squekky toy what ever.. I had one that didn't care for bumpers at all at 12 weeks I was concerned and one day she found a tennis ball under the bed, she carried it around all evening in the house, next morning we went outside and she was a retrieving fool, so that week we put the bumpers away and worked with the ball, following week we went back to the bumper and to this day she is a retrieving fool.. So try to find something she is really excited about,never know a bouncing ball might light her fire..

 

[polmaise]

I know this might seem like a silly questions but here it goes. Bare with me this is the first dog I have trainined. Should my 11 week old puppy be retreiving. I am using the Smartworks program and see that dogs are retreiving at 11 and 12 weeks old--even doing memory retreives. My puppy will retreive if i put her in a hall way inside the house. When we go outside she only chases the bumber and does not bring it back. At what age can I expect her to start bringing it back. Should I be worried that she is not interested in bringing the bumper back to me? Is this something that I should not expect until I force fetch?

Also, I have introduced her to quail feathers but all she does is chew them up. I hate to take them from her at such a young age. Should I just let her chew them? I'm afraid it will lead to her chewing up birds.

Don't usually reply to those that say they are on a 'programme'!..because let's face it the programme is infallible surely?