looking for help

[KEVIN13]

I am wondering if anyone can give me some advice? I have a two year old lab, she is not my first hunting lab. I have been putting off trainer her to hunt, while I was dealing with my 13 yr old . I kept saying, when he is gone.....we will get to work! But time flies and the old boy just kept going!! But now he is gone....and I have a 2yr old. Is it too leate? I really am passionate about the working dog, and cant wait to get her going. But I do wonder if I have waited too long???? Any thoughts???

[eden beardsall]

[Your dog can still be taught but is not as easy to teach as a young puppy. You need to get out and see if he is birdy , will he pick up things and retrieve them . Tell people your lacation and maybe their might be a hunting retriver group in your area . Your dog needs to be assessed before you start training.

[KEVIN13]

Thanks for the reply. She has great desire and drive, I definately DID my home work in research before getting her. From proven lines.......but my fault for waiting to long.
Any other tips would be helpful. As I said, I'VE done this before, but with a puppy, so just looking for tips/thoughts on the two year old part??

[Jim]

Kevin, let me start by saying that I am pretty new at this sport of field work compared to a lot of others on here. My opinion is to give it a try and have some fun with your dog. It sounds like both of you enjoy retrieval/field work, so why not have some fun together out in the field. You may have to scale back your expectations of what level the dog can reach though. It all depends on the dog, how trainable it is and how much time you have available for training. My current dog is not from field lines but I got into this game for something different to try and she managed to get her WCX and JH titles. I know she doesn't have it in her for the SH level, so I don't push her for that level. I say give it a try and see how things go, have some fun. You will also gain more experience/knowledge for the next dog that comes your way.

[North of 7]

You can teach an old dog new tricks

[KEVIN13]

ok...thats what I wanted to hear. Now where do I start??? Everything that I did last time was geered to the puppy, and all the info out there is straight at puppy's??

[Drew Good]

Kevin,

Start training the same place you would a puppy. A few years ago there was an online question and answer with Danny Farmer and someone asked the very same question. His answer was to start with formalizing the obediance and progress from there just like you would a puppy.

I believe his only comment was that the dog would not learn quiite as fast as a pup would but to slow it down a little and have fun. I believe one of his "great" dogs was started at a later age if I remember correctly.

Good luck

Drew

[Dakota Creek]

As Eden asked .... where are you located?? There may be some experienced people / retriever club in your area who would help you out if we know where you are.

[BurlyGirl]

I am literally teaching an old dog new tricks. Burly is 8 years old and we are just getting into senior hunter now. That is our last title that she will get in the CKC hunt test game. I didn't start doing this stuff with her until she was 6 years old, and she took to it quite rapidly. Your dog is only two? You haven't missed the boat by any means. The above advice is good -- treat your dog as if you ARE teaching a puppy. Back up and make sure you hit all the areas of obedience and make sure your dog has it down before moving on, and be sure not to rush things. But by all means get into it! After all, even your worst day out with the dog is still better than your average day at work ;)

[KEVIN13]

thanks to all for the thoughts! I am in kemptville/ OTTAWA and would love to find people to work with!!! Any info will be appreciated!

[Art]

I bought a lab with no intention of hunting. After he was three years old I started hunting with him and my dog picked it up like he was born for it. Once his hunting instinct was awakened he seemed to know what to do. All the obedience training was done, it seemed like a logical progression. But going for a casual walk in the city like I did on a daily basis became frustrating all of a sudden, he became a hunter everywhere we went.

[eden beardsall]

[Kevin, all the Ottawa Hunting Retreiver Club members are up in Clayton doing their yearly hunt test so you will probably get some replies next week. Clayton is a few kilometers northwest of Carlton Place and the Hunt headquarters is in the Union Hall ( it is a Municipal Garage site and has the big storage hives for sand . If you do not have plans for the weekend you can go up and see the tests being run. Stop at the headquarters and see if Tim Tuepah, or George or Lynn MacDonald are there . HRC members are friendly and will guide you to a test site .

If you can go , watch for signs HRC or OVHRC . Clubs usually have signs up to help you find the place.

If not wait and you will hear from some one in the OTTAWA Valley HRC

[litaway]

Hi kevin
maybe i can help you out!! I'am from the kemptville/ottawa area and i'm the v.p of the ottawa valley hrc. Pm. Me.
Scott.