Posted By: Cow_doc.308
Need some advice on my lab - 09/18/17 02:03 AM
Little back story here. I lost my chocolate female back in the spring. I was looking for another dog and was approached by a friend of a vet colleague who knew of a 2-3 year old yellow male that a guy was looking for a home for. Was told the owner didn't have time to spend with the dog and was more focused on his GSPs. He was hunted last season and has had ducks, pigeons, and quail shot over him.
Anyway, I went to see the dog and he was scared to death. Way too freaked out to retrieve anything. I still think most of that time was a lack of socialization as a young dog or spending too much time outside in a small run without much work. My first instinct was to walk away but decided to give him a chance. That was in May. He was a wreck when I got him home. I don't have a outdoor run, my dogs stay in the house. He was again freaked out by the house, fenced backyard, you name it. He did seem to like going up to the park where he could run around and make some retrieves.
Fast forward to today and he's a new dog in the house. He likes to stay in, likes the backyard much better and is much less freaked out.
Now for the problems: He doesn't seem to have a lot of drive to retrieve. I know that can't really be taught but he'll pick up bumpers out of the water pretty consistantly, but has no desire to pick it up on the ground.
Took him out to the lease today and let him run. Took the shotgun along since I've yet to shoot over him. He hit panic mode as soon as I loaded the gun. I had him on leash or else I don't know where he would have stopped.
Got him settled down and took him to the lake sans shotgun. He made some good single retrieves but has the terrible habit of dropping it before he gets back to me, or possibly before he gets out of the water.
I've tried just throwing fun bumpers and tennis balls just to get him excited about it....not much improvement.
I'm far from a dog trainer so I'm open to any advice. He's a good dog and I hate to give up on him but I just don't know what to do with him.
Anyway, I went to see the dog and he was scared to death. Way too freaked out to retrieve anything. I still think most of that time was a lack of socialization as a young dog or spending too much time outside in a small run without much work. My first instinct was to walk away but decided to give him a chance. That was in May. He was a wreck when I got him home. I don't have a outdoor run, my dogs stay in the house. He was again freaked out by the house, fenced backyard, you name it. He did seem to like going up to the park where he could run around and make some retrieves.
Fast forward to today and he's a new dog in the house. He likes to stay in, likes the backyard much better and is much less freaked out.
Now for the problems: He doesn't seem to have a lot of drive to retrieve. I know that can't really be taught but he'll pick up bumpers out of the water pretty consistantly, but has no desire to pick it up on the ground.
Took him out to the lease today and let him run. Took the shotgun along since I've yet to shoot over him. He hit panic mode as soon as I loaded the gun. I had him on leash or else I don't know where he would have stopped.
Got him settled down and took him to the lake sans shotgun. He made some good single retrieves but has the terrible habit of dropping it before he gets back to me, or possibly before he gets out of the water.
I've tried just throwing fun bumpers and tennis balls just to get him excited about it....not much improvement.
I'm far from a dog trainer so I'm open to any advice. He's a good dog and I hate to give up on him but I just don't know what to do with him.