DuckSouth.com

My dog Delta is great. She is about 8 weeks old and I am not doing much training except sitting right now, mostly playing. My question is how do yall teach a dog to be enthusastic about retrieving. I have seen dogs that would rather retrieve than eat, but I have also had a dog that didn't care for it at all. Just yalls opinions would help. Thanks

Hey Matt glad to see you got you a new pup. I would just teach it to sit a stay first she is still young let it be a pup for now. He tell you bro joe to call me by the way this is Jeff from MSU.

Hopefully your dog doesn't need to be taught to retrieve. If he does you probably have a lot of work ahead of you. Most labs should be pretty into retrieving as that is why we call them retrievers. If they aren't make everyhting real fun, no pressure to do anything correct, just throw it and try and get them to bring it back. Like throw a ball or something in a hallway with all the doors shut so that the only thing he can do is bring it back to you. Then once he breings stuff back then move to outside. Also anytime you need to pump them up, throw a live shackled bird that usually does the trick. But hopefully your pup is already nuts about retrieving.

8 weeks old..... bro, you got's plenty of time to teach that puppy to sit. Right now, bearing on sit will cause lack luster attitude. Don't worry about sit for the time being. You can teach that in 15 minutes later on. Place a lot of interest in a game of keep away, where you keep the pup Q'd on a sock, stuffed ducky, whatever, and rev him up, finally letting him get the toy from you..... making him think he chased it down. Now use this to transfer into throwing it, and develop retrieving desire.

Thanks fellas, opinions are like elbows and a$$h@les...we all got em and I sure appreciate yall giving me yours.
Matt

get you some good blood!