Suggestions on training books

[PaulB]

I'm thinking about getting my first dog and am looking for advice on books, etc on basic training and training for hunting. More than likely I'll get a puppy and start from scratch, he/she and I both. I have a 12 yr old son who wants to play an active role too, if that makes any difference.

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Paul

[LABS4ME]

What type of dog? There will be lots of suggestions once you narrow it down.

In the lab world (all retrievers) most people would suggest and have used "Water Dog" by Richard Wolters. He also has written other books that take a little more effort to find, "Gun Dog" (retrieving and upland hunting combined) and "Game Dog" (for flushers, but some good insight on working with retrievers on upland game) and he had one on obedience which I think was "House Dog". Another good book to give you an insight on training during the "pre-collar" days is "Training Retrievers the Cotton Pershall Method". For training with the use of collars Jim and Phylis Dobbs wrote an excellent book that is put out by Tri-tronics, and if you want to work on handling see if you can get your hands on "Training Retrievers to Handle" by D.L. Walters.

I think it's excellent to get your son involved. It really is a great father/son activity. Have all family members work on the obedience part of training and the dog will respond to all members equally.

If you looking for training pointers others will have to give you their input.

Good Luck!

Ken

[PaulB]

Labs4Me, I was thinking more along the lines of a lab, or some other retriever. I see one of the other members has some lab pups listed for sale soon. My son is of course wanting to start yesterday and I'm approaching this a little more slowly. Thanks for all the tips, guess it's time to hit some book sites next.

[Bushwacker]

PaulB,

I started off with "Gun Dog", "Game Dog", and "Water Dog", all written by Wolters. There is some good information there, but it is a little outdated and it is extremely structured by time tables, i.e. picking your dog up at 49 days. There is some good information in them, but it is frustrating at times when you fall a little behind or have we 12 down and are supposed to wait until week 13 to move on and so on.

I bought "Smartworks I", "Smartworks II", and "Smartfetch" by Evan Graham. I would recommend these books to anybody that is looking to challenge a dog and take them to levels that I for one, thought were impossible. I took my female lab to a trainer for a month and we went over expectations and goals for us and he recommended the Graham books. I really think they are a worth while read. SmartFetch especially focuses on force fetching your dog which I have found to be the key for advanced training. At nine months, my lab can do more than the last lab that my father and I trained could do at 10 years.
Another book that is a good read is "The Pointing Labrador" by the Paul and Julie Knutson. Even if your lab does not point it covers everything from "Fun walks" with little puppies to advanced training.

[Koda]

the Smartwork books are very good!!!! they do a good job of explaining the details. I don't know of exactly where they are sold. I got mine off there website. http://www.rushcreekpress.com

[folke2000]

The Working Retriever by Tom Quinn is excellent.

[duckbuster]

I would 2nd folke2000's recommendation!

[Swamp Scooter]

The books are great as suggested, but you might also consider getting a dog with a little training in it already and just finish it out with the 12 year old son. I have done the puppy and started route and for a beginner I would suggest the started pup. Time turns in to money and at least you know you have a dog with potential for the Fall and do not have to wait a whole season training a pup. Either way is fun and rewarding and it is up to you how much you want to put in to it to get it to where you want it for hunting.

Good luck. You are sure to get solid advice from the people here.

[Greg McGinn]

There are lots of terrible books on the subject in print. For a single resource that gives you step by step program, the Tritronics retriever training book may be the best. Well laid out, excellent photos, understandable, etc. This is true even if you don't plan to use an e collar. He (Dobbs) used "escape training" and I believe in the Rex Carr, Lardy, Voight system, but the basics are presented better than anywhere else I've seen. For anything beyond basics, I suggest you only take advise from someone who can demonstrate their knowledge through retriever trial or hunt test success... Mike Lardy, Dennis Voigt, etc... even if you don't intend to do anything competitive with your dog. They are the best and will provide the best information.

Perhaps the VERY best (& easiest to get) information available for the serious retriever trainer is through Retrievers Online magazine. Don't just subscribe and watch the issues trickle in or it'll be a couple years before you assemble anything comprehesive. Order up at least two years worth of back issues. Taken together, you'll have a collection of the most advanced articles on training available. Combine that with a basic, comprehensive program & you'll be in good shape to go as far as you like with your new dog.

I would recommend you look into joining a local retriever club. The clubs host hunt test events & training sessions and are a great source of training advise and even nice training grounds.
You can get info on local clubs by visiting the AKC and UKC web pages. Keep your eyes peeled for workshops. You'll learn more in a weekend than you can immagine. Lots of fun too.

Good luck