[reger124]

I own a 14 month old Lab Colley mix. She got more of the Lab than Colley and I am thinking about trying to train her to be a duck retriever. I have taken her when i go out shooting and when something hits the water she will retrieve it ( as lons as she see's the splash). I can sometimes guide her to it, but have never trained her for that.
I have taught her all the basics but none of the hand signals or how to retrieve on a line. She still learns things very quickly though. I do think it may be to late to teach her to retrieve on a line but if i can get her to listen to hand signals then i think it will be ok.

I was just wondering what everyone thinks, and if anyone has any tips or pointers for me.​

 

[Justin Allen]

The best advice you can get is buy a training program and start from scratch. If you can get with other trainers that would be great.

 

[Sue Kiefer]

I'd say go for it.
Years ago I had someone bring me a boxer/lab mix.
I had her in training about 3months. She was awesome.
She was FF,OB and could quarter and sit quietly in a blind.
She was a little odd looking but she was fun to train.
Good Luck
Sue

 

[afdahl]

Go for it. I doubt it's too late to teach her to line; I've trained plenty of dogs older than this. You know what they say about handling--that it started with sheepdogs--so that might not be a bad choice for the non-Lab half. If you focus on "what she needs to know" instead of on procedure, allowing her to be who she is, I bet you can get her doing all kinds of things.

Amy Dahl

 

[reger124]

Thanks guys, what would be a good and affordable training program to buy?

 

[HNTFSH]

Thanks guys, what would be a good and affordable training program to buy?

Let me be square with you about your stated goals. What you need most is commitment. Regardless of book or program training your Labollie will be an exercise in time, money, and education over the next couple years. If you are willing to commit to that - then whatever the program costs along with gas, time, birds, equipment and help will be insignificant.

 

[Tony Marshall]

Train her. One of the smartest dogs that I have ever trained was a lab collie mix.