Couple More Questions

[irishpride42]

So we have had our now 18 week old BLF for a week and a half now. Potty training is going I would say as good as expected however I have a few other questions. I have been focusing on mainly forming a bond with pup, throwing fun bumpers, and working on SIT (which is slowly coming along. She is still not responding real well to her name but that is expected after only a week and a half.

1) She seems to not want to eat her puppy food but rather wants to eat the "big dogs" food so I will have to pull up the big dogs food and she will not eat til it is back down. Any suggestions?

2) The pup just does NOT want to be in the pen so she has been staying in the crate inside and been doing wonderful. Is her not sleeping outside going to hurt hunting her down the road? I have been thinking of taking the pen down and going the Tri-Tronics collar or electric fence route but how early is too early to introduce shocking with pups?

3) How early do I need to introduce the neoprene vests, water, gunfire (starting with .22 while having her pre-occupied), and birds?

Thanks so much!

[Misty Marsh]

Lots of questions so I will jump in and offer some suggestions.
I have been focusing on mainly forming a bond with pup #1 priority at this point, bond and socialize.
throwing fun bumpers,Good thing to do, keep it fun, short, and establish context of retrieve.
and working on SIT (which is slowly coming along Keep at with your mind on the situation.
She is still not responding real well to her name but that is expected after only a week and a half. I'd say that is to be expected in this situation.
1) She seems to not want to eat her puppy food but rather wants to eat the "big dogs" food so I will have to pull up the big dogs food and she will not eat til it is back down. Any suggestions?
Feed them seperatly and avoid competition eating. It may help avoid creating a eating too fast and bloat/torsion situation.
The pup just does NOT want to be in the pen so she has been staying in the crate inside and been doing wonderful Only been a week and a half at your house in which dog has had lots of change. She feels more comfortable "denned" up in a create which is natural. Personaly I would rather them be in a create and in the house bonding at first.
Is her not sleeping outside going to hurt hunting her down the road?Not al all.
I have been thinking of taking the pen down and going the Tri-Tronics collar or electric fence route but how early is too early to introduce shocking with pups? I'd put up a dog run or a fence before using a electric fence as I've seen too many dogs loose as a result of them, and wouldn't use an e-collar untill you are 100% comfortable and educated on thier use.
How early do I need to introduce the neoprene vestsWhen they are full grown, it's not a big deal.
water, gunfire (starting with .22 while having her pre-occupied), and birds?
Anytime now, but be very careful of the gunfire introduction, gun shy dogs are hard to fix once they are effected. I'd also offer http://stores.mistymarsh.com/Categories.bok?category=Training+books+%2F++DVD%27 s for some reading/education.

[Anna Scott]

Misty's advise is all good. I would look for an obedience class for the winter. It will help socialize and give you a start on the basic commands. Make sure it is what they call a prenovice class not just a puppy socialization class.
You need to think about your outside run. My dogs are all house dogs but they do stay in the outside run some of the time. If you are away during the day and have time to come home and take pup out then the crate is fine.
What kind of other dogs are in the house hold? Are they house dogs?
You need to find a group to train with. Someone had suggested Lake Ontario HRC I believe. You also have Luther Marsh HRC in your area and the York Retriever Club. These groups can help with the introduction to the gun and get you started with some basic advice for retrieving. Check the sticky on the board for some contacts.
There are lots of good resources available take a look through some old threads here and you will see them mentioned.
Keep asking questions

[Anna Scott]

My apologies. Just read your original thread and you are the gentleman from NC a long way from the clubs I mentioned here in Canada. Have you checked out HRC-UKC.com they list the HRC clubs and there should be at least one close to your area.

[irishpride42]

Misty's advise is all good. I would look for an obedience class for the winter. It will help socialize and give you a start on the basic commands. Make sure it is what they call a prenovice class not just a puppy socialization class.
You need to think about your outside run. My dogs are all house dogs but they do stay in the outside run some of the time. If you are away during the day and have time to come home and take pup out then the crate is fine.
What kind of other dogs are in the house hold? Are they house dogs?
You need to find a group to train with. Someone had suggested Lake Ontario HRC I believe. You also have Luther Marsh HRC in your area and the York Retriever Club. These groups can help with the introduction to the gun and get you started with some basic advice for retrieving. Check the sticky on the board for some contacts.
There are lots of good resources available take a look through some old threads here and you will see them mentioned.
Keep asking questions

We have a Valley bulldog (Boxer/English Bulldog) in the house now and he is an inside dog. She absolutely HATES the outside run that is why I was thinking about taking it down and taking it back and putting that money towards something much more needed for her.

[Anna Scott]

I personally don't like invisible fencing simply for the reason that it will keep your dog in but will not stop other dogs from coming on your property. Once saw a beagle being harassed by a larger dog. Beagle had the invisible fence collar on and the larger dog was running at large.
I used the mud room for the pups when I was out. They had their crate with the door open and the floor papered so if there was an accident it was easily cleaned up. Once they were reliably house trained we puppy proofed as much of the house as we could before giving them free run. They can always find something to chew.
Her house training should soon be complete but you must remember that if she is crated for many hours a day she is going to need lots of exercise when you get home.
Labs are pretty easy to train as to exactly which rooms in the house they are allows to be in. Of course mine have trained me so that every room in the house is theirs but they prefer the one I'm in.

[Lenore]

Anna and Misty Marsh have given good suggestions.

I have always crated my pups in the house in the main room where the older dogs stay, when we are not here. That seems to help make them feel safe, plus they have a "buddy" so to speak. They can see them, but can't make a mess or get into trouble.

I don't have a kennel (I have plans to) but I would rather leave them outside (in nice weather only), then in the house. I feel that if your dog wants to hunt, it is going to hunt if it lives outside or in.

I am positive that Anna's dogs are just like mine, spoiled rotten. Yup, I have 3 shadows or as Bob calls them moles on my behind. I have been hurrying somewhere and then stopped suddenly only to be mowed down by them. Let's not even discuss when I want to use the bathroom all by MYSELF.

Are you located near Monroe? I know of a trainer there that can help you.