[backagain]

It has been years since I have trained a water dog and that was using the Wolters method. I now have a pup going on 10wks old and she is doing pretty good in the crate. She was doing little retrieves in the hallway but yesterday she would just run at the sock and not retrieve it. I know not to worry about that at this time but it got me to wondering what should I be expecting and the timeline to be expecting it?

Say for instance 10wk to 16wks? What should I be expected to see at a minimum and so fourth?

 

[captainjack]

Buy Bill Hillman's puppy DVD. It takes a pup from 11 weeks to 5 1/2 months. Realize every dog will be different.

 

[Ihatesteel]

Wolter's was good stuff, back when it came out, but there are better programs out now. The Hillman DVD is great puppy starter. Also I don't recomend using socks for retrieving, dogs can't tell the dofferance between old socks and good socks.

 

[Don Thomsen]

Timeline? That is exactly why Wolter's methods were very questionable. We now know pups progress in very diverse degrees. It is not a timeline; it is not a race. Do yourself a favor and get a modern, proven program.

 

[SCOTT C.]

I haven't seen the Hillman dvds yet but have heard nothing but great things about them. Another tried and true puppy dvd is Sound Beginnings by Jackie Mertens.

 

[Pals]

Eat, poop, sleep, play. Repeat.

Enjoy every second, its over much too soon.

 

[Dustin D]

Say for instance 10wk to 16wks? What should I be expected to see at a minimum and so fourth?

First 20 weeks;
http://www.georgehickox.com/articles/1st+20+Weeks.kp.pdf

 

[Dale]

Why does there have to be a time line? Each dog will learn at it's own rate.

 

[captainjack]

I don't believe in a time line that is set in stone and trying to cram a pup into that time line. I do believe that if you watch the Hillman puppy DVD, you should anticipate that your pup will progress about as Nick does in the DVD and use this as sort of a soft time line. You will adjust the time line to the dog's progression rather than the other way around.

 

[backagain]

I am not going to rush any thing though it would be great to hunt with her this coming fall but I just want a good dog. I don't feel the pressure now that I did with the Wolters method. I have the Wildrose DVD that was recommended to me and I also know a guy who runs a kennel about a half hour from me.

Any advice you wanna lay on me is cool. I just want to be patient and end up with a good hunting dog and companion.

 

[WhisperingHills]

I am not going to rush any thing though it would be great to hunt with her this coming fall ...
Any advice you wanna lay on me is cool. I just want to be patient and end up with a good hunting dog and companion.

Your attitude is right on. Timelines can do as much harm as good - they impose expectations that just don't fit every dog.

My advice is spend as much time with your pup as you can. Bond - it develops trust. Play retrieving games, but don't discipline in any way if you don't see what you want as quickly as you might want - and don't let anyone's video influence your patience. Let that puppy be a puppy while you can. There will be plenty of time to be a dog later.

Jeff

 

[Eli M]

Your attitude is right on. Timelines can do as much harm as good - they impose expectations that just don't fit every dog.

My advice is spend as much time with your pup as you can. Bond - it develops trust. Play retrieving games, but don't discipline in any way if you don't see what you want as quickly as you might want - and don't let anyone's video influence your patience. Let that puppy be a puppy while you can. There will be plenty of time to be a dog later.

Jeff

x2! Also make sure she's exposed to as many different things as you can. Noises of all kinds, only expose her to loud noises when she's comfortable ( pots and pans, doors slamming, etc. Work on her obed.

 

[backagain]

I am really enjoying her! I have a lab that I got in 2005 and due to a divorce and dealing with my Mom who suffered from Alzheimers I just could not put the time into her. She s a great family pet and could still probably learn to be a good duck dog but this pup kinda fell into my lap and I felt I was ready to start again. I miss all aspects of duck hunting and finally have enough down time to dedicate getting back into it. I am a little overwhelmed at all the training methods, e-collars etc that I basically know nothing about and that is what led me to here. I really want to learn and do her justice by giving her the proper training she will need in the field. Would love to dove hunt with her as well. I just got back from checking on her at lunch and making sure she had enough water. My wife is already in love with her as well.

 

[Howard N]

This isn't so much what to expect when but rather what to work on. Roughly, work on the stuff above Basics until the pup is 6 months old and then go into basics. Much of it is done concurrently.

Timelines can only be rough approximations as each pup is unique but this gives you an idea of what to work on in what sequence and gives you an idea of where you're going and what you'll be doing.

From Mike Lardy's website:

 

[backagain]

Thank you all for the advice. I hope to learn a lot from this place!

 

[Evan]

I now have a pup going on 10wks old and she is doing pretty good in the crate....I know not to worry about that at this time but it got me to wondering what should I be expecting and the timeline to be expecting it?

Say for instance 10wk to 16wks? What should I be expected to see at a minimum and so fourth?

First, welcome to RTF. Second, one of the most constructive things you can do at this point is to divorce yourself from the very concept of a timeline. A timeline is a schedule, and dogs don't work fairly or effectively on schedules. They're situational learners, and live in the moment. Please understand that most of what we require in the behavior of working retrievers is our idea. Be fair, patient, and thorough about establising those behaviors.

Here is a suggested progression. Note that no time limits are attached.

1. Socialization, first and foremost (This takes in a broad range of experiences)
2. Introduction to birds and simple retrieves
3. Introduction to gunfire/sharp noises
4. Introduction to water
5. Use of memory for retrieving
6. Passive teaching of fundamental obedience commands (Note where this stands in the hierarchy)

There is much more, of course. But it's hard to tell where you really are with this pup. Have you been taking a methodical approach to any of these items?

Evan

 

[backagain]

There is much more, of course. But it's hard to tell where you really are with this pup. Have you been taking a methodical approach to any of these items?

Evan[/QUOTE]

Right now she is learning house manners. Getting her used to walking with me on the lead. Doing short retrieves. Taking her with me through the field near my house and walking her on and off lead in the yard with a few retrieves thrown in. That is about it at this time. Soon will be working on getting her to sit. She will be 10wks old this wk end.

 

[backagain]

Just started Beginning Training for Your Retriever by Mike Mathiot and I like it.

 

[Chris Atkinson]

Just started Beginning Training for Your Retriever by Mike Mathiot and I like it.

Backagain,

Please see your PM from me.

The dog pictured in the top left of this page was trained with Wolters and MIke Mathiot's old 3M video series. Mike's stuff is very dated. I would strongly suggest, that you look at some of the more modern training materials that are listed here. Is that Mathiot material on VHS, or did they actually make a DVD version of that stuff?

The one scene that stands out to me is the one where Mike's walking along with his dog and he wants to jump shoot the puddle ducks. He silently gestures to his dog to sit and stay. He sneaks up towards the water, crouching down and he takes his ballcap and spins it around backwards like a catcher. The birds explode off the water and he splashes one. He then calls his dog up and the dog makes the retrieve.

That one scene from his tape was such a motivator for me to want to train my own hunting lab that would handle.

Do you know the scene?

Good luck with your dog training. Chris

 

[Sundown49 aka Otey B]

First Welcome to RTF.....BEST site on the web thanks to all who are on here. I am an old timer and had my own helter skelter methods of training. I decided with my last dog to get a program and stick with it and follow it religiously. Guess what my dog is doing better than all my others. I got Evan Graham's Smartwork DVD's and they would work very well for a newbie to train or an ol dog like myself. Good luck with your pup.