RetrieverTraining.Net - the RTF banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

My rookie

Jump to Latest
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
J

Jess

· Registered
Joined
·
48 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Picked up my newest addition today. Can't decide if he's a Samson (the name he's come with) or a Maverick (the name I'd like him to have). He's gigantic for only 4 months old, already 40+ lbs! I can't believe how big his paws are. He's super clumsy to boot, ahhh puppyhood... :D

He picked up a ball in the yard straight away and brought it to me to play. After some short retrieves with that I got out a little bumper and was pleasantly surprised when he brought that back to me too. Trig's not too sure what to make of him playing with his toys yet but they got along well enough while out in the yard while first meeting.

I'm so happy he's finally home!

Image


Image


Image
 
#2 ·
He looks like a Tank to me! Man he's as big as the other one!!!
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#5 ·
Sharp looking pup, and a retriever too. Can't believe his size, mine is 42lbs, but is only a week shy of 6 months. He should be a match for my big boy, he weighed in at the vet last week at 97lbs and is 6yo. Bud
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#6 ·
I wouldn't worry too much, what were his parents for elbows, hips, etc? My pup is 5 months -ish and weighs at least 44-45lbs. I ask the vet everytime I go in to make sure his joints look nice. I just recently put him on a little glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. I also lift him into the car, etc. for the time being.

Oh and btw, I like Samson! Wishing I hadn't let the ex-boyfriend name my pup...lol.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Rems - I have no clue about his parents, I found him online at a local shelter of all places. Went to meet him and he seemed like a phenomenal prospect. They said he came along with papers from his owner but they wouldn't release them to me because they don't condone breeding, which is fine, I'm not interested in doing anything like that at this point anyway. I have just started looking into supplements, and think it's likely something I'll start with him once we start training. Thanks for the input about names too, he's only responding to Samson so far but I love Maverick, so I'm totally on the fence.

akblackdawg - 97lbs!!! I wonder how much kibble an active dog that size puts down each day lol!
 
#8 ·
Jess, what about if you agree to neuter him? Will they give the papers then?
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #9 ·
That's why I had to wait this whole week to pick him up. Shelter sent him to the U of M to be neutered at no cost to them or me via some sort of grant. I had to wait until he was healed up and off his pain meds to pick him up.

I didn't ask them for the papers today thinking because he's neutered now I wouldn't need or have use for them. Sure wouldn't hurt to ask though I suppose. Thanks for the suggestion, I'm going to call in the morning to inquire about that.
 
#10 ·
Then you would have his info so you could research his pedigree if you wanted. Some places will give the papers if you show proof of surgery and since they did it then there should be no problem unless they tossed them.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#11 ·
Well my 5mo old eats minimum of 5 cups a day!

Are you planning on doing HT or anything? Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I think they need to be registered for HT etc. Besides, it would just be nice to have them, they shouldn't have a problem handing them over since he's neutered now.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
I have no clue if a dog has to be registered to participate in HT.

I asked that earlier here and didn't get an answer.

If he can, that'll be great, I'd love to get into it. If not he'll be my guinea pig of sorts so I can learn exactly what I need to do to excel with the next one. I've never been a part of any retriever club and my experience hunting upland game with Trigger has been limited because my ex wasn't very into it and no one in my family really hunts. How else would a girl learn you know?

I'm hoping joining my local club with him will help me learn the ropes better so I can hunt more confidently myself and train him better than I did Trigger on my own.

I'll have fun raising and training him either way :D
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Nevermind - I found my answer.

In case anyone else is interested, even without his papers I can still register him in an alternative way through AKC so I could still have him compete in HT's.

Requirements would be proof of neuter and that I provide two photos of him to them. Then, submit an application fee and that's how I'd get an PAL/ILP number which would allow him to compete just as if he were AKC registered.


http://www.akc.org/reg/ilpex.cfm


I'm pleasantly surprised to say the least! :D
 
#14 ·
Jess, yes you can get the ILP/PAL, it's just easier to get the papers and again you could check into his parentage.

I hope you join the local club and have a lot of fun with him! I got into this several years ago after seeing some dog work and thinking it was pretty cool. My family hunts but deer and small game, not waterfowl. So I got into that and got my brother and his girlfriend into it too. We still suck at it but it's fun! lol. I train alone 99.9% of the time. Occasionally my little brother throws for me and I recently found a training partner and waiting to hear about a local training group. I still have fun training alone.

Oh and PS, good move on ditching the man if he didn't hunt! ;) jk...kind of lol.
 
#15 ·
He looks like Gunner did at that age. I've decided that if I ever had a giant male again, I'd call him Angus or Hank. Gunner was about that weight at (maybe a few pounds heavier) and he turned into a monster.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#17 ·
RemsBPJasper said:
lol, Gunner's cool tho, a mini horse hehe. Thankfully tho Skeet will be big he won't be as tall I don't think. We'll see. Love the big clumsy pups tho hehe.
Click to expand...
Gunner has moments of coolness. He is a mini horse though, but a giant lovable one. Sampson/Maverick doesn't look much smaller than Trig. That's a sign (you decide if it's good or bad!)
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #18 ·
That's exactly what I'm hoping for! Even if I suck too I know it'll be too much fun (even though I doubt you suck after having several years under your belt!).


To be fair the ex did hunt, but mainly deer. VERY occasionally grouse, but he was never interested in the dog training aspect of hunting upland game. And it's not that I don't enjoy deer hunting (because I do), or walking through the woods flushing up my own birds and then retrieving them myself lol, but I love training dogs, I'm crazy about labs and I have my sights set on waterfowl and he'd never indulge me despite his knowing how. Rarely did he ever indulge me in anything...splitting was a good move on many levels ;-)
 
#19 ·
Big dogs are cool :)

Idk about sucking or not. Kiela hasn't been tested. She's at an awesome level for me in training it's just having the time and mostly the $$ to get to tests is really hard for me on my budget. I have had 5 dogs, including the dog I bought my ex (also my best friend) in the last 5 years. Bad luck. But good experience working with different personalities.

At the end of the day, I've got a dog sleeping with me in bed and I don't care if she ever wins, I'm just glad to have her.

Deer hunting is fun but I get sooo cold just sitting there and then I fall asleep if I'm not too cold lol. I'm hoping to get some pheasant this year, going to have to be at a preserve but that's ok. And I can say this because I haven't tested but training is the fun part lol. I'll get back to you after I test and tell you how I feel then haha.

From a recently single person, I hear ya!
 
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
About this Discussion
18 Replies
5 Participants
Last post:
RemsBPJasper
RetrieverTraining.Net - the RTF
posts
1.5M
members
36K
Since
2003
A forum community dedicated to retriever owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, training, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Retriever Training Forum Event Information AKC Field Trials Equipment, Gear & Miscellaneous Classifieds Training