[LAwaterfowler]

I have a 3mth old blkF. She is doing great. Performing short double retrieves and sitting on command. I was wanting some insight on how to start working on stay. I want there to be one command for fit and stay. SIT! what are some good excercises for this command. She will sit anytime i tell her to but as soon as i take a step she wants to. I know she is young and i shouldnt expect this yet but just looking for training tips for the future i could start working on. Also some pointers on her obedience on a leash. As you all know a pup fights a leash (or some do). When i am walking her and she begins to fight it do i keep walking and ignore or what? Look foward to hearing from ya'll. Thnks

 

[BonMallari]

There are Four commands(sit, stay, come, heel) in basic obedience that need to be mastered before you can really proceed with proper training, most young trainers will swear to me that their dogs are steady and KNOW the command but there is a difference between knowing the command and executing the command

1. Sit/Stay is the first command taught and if you can get the dog to sit on the whistle then you may proceed

2. put the dog on a short rope and teach COME by "reeling the dog in", and once the dog gets to you , hit the whistle and get them to SIT.

3. Now here is the sequence place the dog on your left side and blow the whistle for SIT, from there you say HEEL and have the dog walk next to you at YOUR pace, never charging ahead or lagging behind. when you come to a stop, hit the whistle and the command SIT

If you dog can master those four commands, then you are well on your way to bigger and better things...I personally do not walk my dog on a retractable leash because he is either under control and walking at HEEL next to me or he is free to roam while airing out. retractable leashes give owners the feeling the dog is under control but in reality the dog is wandering as far as the cord will aloow him to roam and the dog is in control NOT the other way around

 

[RN]

To work on sit/stay you might try this. Using a lead tell the dog to sit facing you, apply a small amount of upward tug on the leash all the while calmly telling her to sit. If she starts to get up pull up on the lead put her bottom down and tell her to sit again. Don't walk away or even move forward until she sits there in the same spot while you pull up on the lead with a little pressure. Next, still on lead step forward to one side of her while applying the leash pressure while telling her to sit then move back in front of her where you started. Anytime she starts to get up or even move pull up and command sit. Continue this all on lead until you can walk all the way around with a taut lead (may take a couple short sessions a day for several days). Advance this until you can do it at the end of a 10' lead. Next do the same with a loose lead. Test her resolve by tugging on the lead pretty soon you will feel the dog straining against the lead as you try pull her from her sit position. Add distractions while on lead such as rolling a bumper or ball past her. Progress to walking around her w/o the lead then increase the distance.

This has always worked for me and I'm using it now on my 4.5 mo. old female. From RETRIEVER PUPPY TRAINING The Right Start for Hunting by Loveland & Rutherford......unfortunately out of print.

 

[TN_LAB]

I found that putting my hand in front of my pups snout like a traffic cop really helped in getting her to stay. I then gradually went from 1 step to 2 steps, etc.

I also used a heeling stick to reach out and touch her as I stepped away. Kept the heeling stick on her shoulder to serve as a reminder to sit tight.

The key is to take it real slow. You eventually want to increase time and distance, but don't be so quick to increase them both at the same time (if your pup gives you 1 step for 5 seconds, try 2 steps for 5 seconds or try 1 step for 10 seconds...just don't try 2 steps for 10 seconds).

Lots of good puppy programs (books, DVDs, etc.) out there. For the very basic obedience commands and tips you can probably find something at the library (doesn't have to be retriever related when it comes to teaching the sit and stay command).

 

[DeltaCottonBoy12]

great thread guys. i also have a 12 week old Female chocolate lab. She sits, but basically it has to be in a pretty controlled environment. She stays well. Her leash walking is great. i use the word HERE, not COME. Her here is getting better. She will retrieve in the house much more than outside. outside she will run 2 or 3 before she gets off on something else.

i have high expectations for her. Is there anything that can be done when she is around other dogs or should i just let her play and train when i have her full attention?

 

[BonMallari]

great thread guys. i also have a 12 week old Female chocolate lab. She sits, but basically it has to be in a pretty controlled environment. She stays well. Her leash walking is great. i use the word HERE, not COME. Her here is getting better. She will retrieve in the house much more than outside. outside she will run 2 or 3 before she gets off on something else.

i have high expectations for her. Is there anything that can be done when she is around other dogs or should i just let her play and train when i have her full attention?

you just answered your own question, keep your training sessions short, some days your dog will be at full attention other days not so much. On the days you dog tunes you out, stop the training session and put the dog up for the day. Let your dog play all he wants, a happy dog trains better and is much more fun to be around

 

[RemsBPJasper]

Skeet is 14 weeks and since he came home at 9 weeks this is the routine we follow.

Sit in front position; lure to heel and sit at heel; sit; I walk away about 5-10ft.; come; sit in front position; repeat. He gets treated for each step of the sequence. Sometimes he comes and sits too fast so he doesn't get treated for just the come/here.

I use the hand out flat, palm facing the dog also when I step away. I try to remember to step away with my right foot if my dog is at left heel, usually only need to do this with the older dog but trying to get into a habit of it with Skeet too.

One thing I'll start doing is putting him in sit, walking a few feet away, and returning. Then as TN LAB said, go a few more feet away. Eventually you can walk in a semi circle around them and then a full circle and from there go to swinging a bumper while you walk around them.

The heeling stick is a good idea, I wouldn't have thought of that. Thanks TN.

Good luck with your pups guys, hope you're having as much fun with them as I am with mine!!

Kourtney

 

[LAwaterfowler]

Delta you took the qorkds right out of my mouth. At home or in a controlled enviroment my pup with amze me. LOL just yesterday we went training with the kennel club and she acted shy and a bit nervous. When we got home i took her out and threw her a little easy double retrieve and she nailed it! brought both back and sat and held each one. It cracks me up. But if anyone lives in my area or has any info for me i would love to hear from you. My pup if out of FC-AFC Trumarcs Stormin Norman II x Landrys Tiger Lily

Black Bayous Louisiana Jazz (pending)

 

[ricejumper]

Maybe mine is an exception to the rule, but I taught her when about 12 weeks old an extended sit(stay) when feeding her b/c she would practically eat the food out of the scoop. After about 3 feedings without letting her eat before she sat for about 10 seconds or so, it stuck. That translated over to retrieving seamlessly. I can tell her to sit then walk 50yds away then call for her and she comes running. She actually looks forward the 'sit', 'here' game and I think(i could be wrong) its a good way to reinfoce the concept.

 

[DeltaCottonBoy12]

Maybe mine is an exception to the rule, but I taught her when about 12 weeks old an extended sit(stay) when feeding her b/c she would practically eat the food out of the scoop. After about 3 feedings without letting her eat before she sat for about 10 seconds or so, it stuck. That translated over to retrieving seamlessly. I can tell her to sit then walk 50yds away then call for her and she comes running. She actually looks forward the 'sit', 'here' game and I think(i could be wrong) its a good way to reinfoce the concept.

i also teach make Bella wait 5-10 seconds before i allow her to eat. her STAY is getting better. we have been working around other dogs and making her honor other dogs. She also is a very socialized pup. we go many places and this really helps her contain her excitement around people or new environments. if she begins to get to excited i simply command sit and we sit there intul we calm down. i do this until she calms down. i may do it 6 times. she is a very smart pup..