Best age for training

[BellySlater 15]

I realise I could be leaving myself wide open here......I appreciate that every dog is different in breed and temprement.

 

My HWV is now 4 1/2 months old and really enoying being a puppy. He sits on the lead and his attention span is not too bad, he returns on the whistle (if he is not to distracted with scent and other dogs etc.) He doesn't tend to wander more than twenty yards when he's off the lead, if he does I hide and he doesn't like that at all !

 

My questions are .

1) As he is only a puppy should I be letting him get away with "throwing a deaf one" occasionaly

 

2) what age should the "serious" sit , stay and recall training start

 

3)If he picks something up on a walk he has a habit of not letting me get within 5 feet of him to get it back, I dot want to start a game of tug of war or chase, just for him to come to me so I can take it off him.

 

Thanks,

Dan

[BellySlater 15]

:icon_eek:

[billbroon 9]

Am sure they say wait til after 6mnths old mate before getting to serious even still dont take out with gun or that till about 12mnths. But be quite consistant with sit and retreving, but it should all be fun and play for the dog at this stage. Am not a professional so maybe someone better will fill u in. thanks

Wish u well with him cause ive just picked up my wee 8week old springer.

billy

[Mickey Finn 3,011]

Am sure they say wait til after 6mnths old mate before getting to serious even still dont take out with gun or that till about 12mnths. But be quite consistant with sit and retreving, but it should all be fun and play for the dog at this stage. Am not a professional so maybe someone better will fill u in. thanks

Wish u well with him cause ive just picked up my wee 8week old springer.

billy

 

I'll second what billroon says. (good luck with your springer). Generally, you should start formal training when the pup starts showing it's independence. But you are setting yourself and the pup, up for failure. When you give commands that you can't or won't inforce. So going and picking him up when he turns a deaf ear is appropriate. Remember to keep it fun. As for things that he picks up on a walk. Let him carry it around and make no attempt to take it away. Unless it's a hazard of course. This is all part of his exploration.

Thats a good looking pup. Have fun!

[Dave C 63]

At the minuet Dan just keep it fun and build up the bond with him, he will then want to work for you when he is more mature and the real training can begin, i know my old GWP was about a year before he was mature enough to take on serious training, but a lab could only be 5 or 6 months, so the all mature at different time, just dont rush him.

 

I would like to add,what a bonnie pup he looks and i am looking forward to future posts about him.

 

ATB

Dave.