Dog Training Commands

[Captrix]

What are some of the commands y'all teach your hunting dogs? My chocolate lab is 4 months old and knows "sit" "down" and "crate" to get in his crate. He knows those 3 very well and I'm wondering what I should teach him next. We are still working on "heel" but he's picking it up quick. I also have him trained to ring the bells I have hanging on the front door when he needs to go outside, it made potty training easier. He is also fetching a ball and bringing it back and drops it when or before I say "drop it". He also comes running when called. What else should I be teaching him? We only work for 5 to 10 minutes at a time several times a day.

[bowhuntertex]

I think fetch should be on the top of your list.........that way he will bring the birds back

[Tubby]

What are you using the "down" command for?

The more crisp sounding and not sounding alike, fewer commands the better.

What I use and what for:

Sit
Stay
Move - go away
Here
Lay down
Kennel
Up - to load up or jump up
Outside or Potty - he does #1 and #2 on command
Heel - walk at heel


For retrieving:
Gator - that's his name that I use to send him on a fetch
Fetch it up
Back - to go further back
Over - cast him in one direction or the other when he's out looking for the bumper with hand signals
Mark - watch for something to fall and mark where it lands

The most versatile command NO!

The best retrieving book Water Dog by Richard Wolters!

[Captrix]

We also use fetch it up. He'll go get his ball even if we're not playing. "Down" is lay down. And he knows "no!" He is a good puppy and is always next to me or shane.

[Low Fence]

"DRINK"
One of the first commands I teach. From a bottle, hose, pan, whatever you want. VERY valuable in the dove field!

[Captrix]

We also use "fetch it up" he'll go get his ball if I tell him to fetch it up when we're not playing. I use down for lay down. He's a good pup and always next to me or my son. Right now shane is in his room with the door closed and Hank is laying next to the door.

[Tubby]

ok, good.. some folks will use "down" when the dog jumps up on them. Bad idea. Dog should be broke of this habit quick, fast and in a hurry! Using the NO command.

Sounds like you're on the right track. When you are in a training session, don't work them too long. Twice a day for 15-20 minutes (less in this heat if outside), keep an eye on the dog's tail. UP = happy, eager to learn. Down = not really interested. Positive reinforcement overshadows negative reinforcement tenfold. If the pup is sitting with the sit command and you can see him just about to get up, say HERE. The pup will think he did good rather than scolding him for getting up.

Remember, any punishment must match the crime!!

[sdfrench]

I'll add:
Leave it (useful for breaking their focus on something you don't want them to pay attention to)
Drop (for when you want him to give you the bird)
Hold (to remind him to hold onto the bird and not just drop it)

I use "down" to have him lie down and relax.

[bucksnducks]

Basic commands I teach my labs:
In chronological order

No- should be the first thing that they learn
Quiet- stop making noise on command
Sit
Come
Stay
Heel
Down- lay down
Cage- for kenneling time, and for boat later on

Hunting Commands-
Back
Over
Mark
Take- for force fetching
Give- for delivery to hand
Stand- for leaning against me in waist deep water to prevent the dog from treading
Hunt- keeps their eyes skyward instead of things on the ground

The fetch command is always and only given from the heel position while sitting
The fetch command is only their name

I only use words other than their name in the house, outside is always whistle and hand signals

Dogs, labs especially, are capable of learning the meaning to over 300 different words. They don't so much no the words as the first few sounds that you make that word with.

If you're serious about teaching the dog and knowing how to teach the dog, get Water Dog by Richard Wolters. That will help you learn a quick and precise way to train a retriever.

I trained all 12 of my previous retrievers with it. Each was hunt test ready, or finished, by 18 months. A dog that will hunt is rarely finished, and few nonprofessionals take the time to finish a retriever. Finished doesn't mean hunting, it is another level handling entirely.

To attain a lot of what you want you need to know whether you want a finished dog, or a dog that's just huntable.

[Captrix]

We've been doing most of the work in the house and only about 10 minutes max. He's only 4 months old and I would rather quit while I still have his attention. We use No if he jumps up but he knows better and hasn't done it recently. I can't stand a dog that jumps on people. Do you use any commands like stop or whoa? Meaning to stop what you're doing and don't move.

[bucksnducks]

Just got a new 7 week old pup on saturday from Crumpler Kennels in Canton... we're already fetching, delivering to hand and sitting within two days! The system used by Wolters and then many trainers that he stole his ideas from works and works well.

[Johnny Dangerr]

May I add anything except come. We usr zeeee - for the come comand. No one can call our dogs but us...

[bucksnducks]

We've been doing most of the work in the house and only about 10 minutes max. He's only 4 months old and I would rather quit while I still have his attention. We use No if he jumps up but he knows better and hasn't done it recently. I can't stand a dog that jumps on people. Do you use any commands like stop or whoa? Meaning to stop what you're doing and don't move.

Quitting while you still have his attention is essential, never let him lose focus. If he starts to wander the game has gone on too long, stop immediately and do what he wants to do.

Also, 4 months old is old enough to already be learning water retrieves and for being gun trained. By most systems actual hunt training starts at 3 months. My pups actually go to "school" starting exactly at 12 weeks. Training is no longer a game, but their job. We start marking and doing blind retrieves. They are introduced to an actual gun and gun fire during this time. At 16 weeks we're retrieving from a boat.

A 4 month old pup has the mental capacity (relative) of a 15 year old human child. Don't under estimate your dog.

[Johnny Dangerr]

May I add anything except come. We usr zeeee - for the come comand. No one can call our dogs but us...

Well dang it - - we can call them and my 15,000 friends on TBH.

Dang

[rocky]

zeeee