New Pointing Lab Pup help

ShadowChaser · Post by **ShadowChaser** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:22 am

I have a 5 month old pointing lab. The first command he ever learned was sit. After reading this forum, I have found out that this may not be too good (yesterday). This morning I worked with having him come to heal and then supported him under his belly to keep him from sitting and repeated "whoa". I would really like him to maintain his pointing characteristics if he has them (both parents do point), but fear that I may have done something to keep him from doing so.

Also, what commands should be considered solid at this point? He is good in the house and decent in the yard. Since we live in the suburbs, we don't have much of a front yard and lots of surrounding people and dogs. He has a tendency to want to go visiting. He was neutered at 17 weeks (which i also read may not have been the best thing as well, but the vet didn't seem to think twice about it. IF this is too open ended, I'll try to be more specific.

Post by **Ayres** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:56 am

If you haven't directly discouraged his pointing by negatively correcting him when he points, then you haven't done anything to ruin it. Pointing is instinctual and he'll either do it or he won't, though it can be encouraged to a point with a wing flip and/or remote release bird traps. At five months you should still be working on most of the commands you'll use. I don't think any should be solid yet unless you have a pup prodigy.

As far as him knowing the sit command, it's not that big of a deal. If you put too much pressure on him when teaching a new command at a later time he may want to sit down in lieu of what you really want him to do. This usually coincides with a command such as woah. You're doing the right thing by not being harsh with him, but instead just picking up his rump and then praising. In my opinion, a dog that sits when confused is easier to "fix" than a dog that heels, and it won't disrupt his range. I've seen many a dog become a boot-licker for awhile when the pressure was put on.

And as far as "pressure" goes, it can be just the teaching of a new command if it is in any way confusing. Some people read that word and think "don't be so hard on the dog then!" but I'm telling you that pressure is instilled in every new thing a dog will learn and it will be there until they've unquestionably learned the command. It doesn't take badgering your dog to put on pressure; likely when you first say "woah" and expect a stoppage, he'll sit down and look at you like "is this what you want?" That's the reaction I'm talking about.

ShadowChaser · Post by **ShadowChaser** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 2:04 pm

Thanks Ayres.

The opposite is true of his pointing. Anytime he does anything that even resembles a point, even if its at another dogs "pile" I praise him.

One lesson/word of wisdom I am trying very hard to follow is only train when he and I are both in the right mental state. At this age, it is pretty hard for us to jive. I do try to continue the things he has done well on bad days so there is some confirmation.

He makes me laugh in that one day out of the blue I had him following hand commands (left, right, back, and come), but since then, he just looks at me like I have a purple head.

I have no doubt he is going to be a great companion, but I really want a great hunting companion.

We start training with a "professional" tonight. Single and double retrieves.

Willie Hunter · Post by **Willie Hunter** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:53 pm

ShadowChaser,

The pup will be fine. Get a good training program and with the help of the pro things will be ok.

Where did you get the pup?

Do you ever stop in at the PL site?

http://www.pointinglabs.com/

ShadowChaser · Post by **ShadowChaser** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:13 pm

I haven't visited pointinglab.com yet. The professional is doing obedience. SHe is accustomed to Goldens.

I am going to contact Steve at God Father Kennels (?) again and see if he ca do an evaluation and reccomend where I should head. Thanks for your reply.

Ryan

Post by **ezzy333** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:25 am

Shadowchaser, Relax! Your dog is just a puppy. It will point when it is ready. It needs to chase enough bird to realize it can't catch them and then it will figure out there must be some other way. Thats when the pointing starts. Take it for walks and let it discover the world with out much help from you. In other words unless you need to say something don't. The pup will build cofindence and learn all the wonders out there.

Good luck and don't worry,

Ezzy