I got a chocolate lab pup last Saturday. It has now been a full 7 days since I’ve had her and I’m looking for some more advice. I am a duck hunter, and looking for a somewhat competent hunting companion. I am not looking for a push button gun dog. I want a dog that can sit in the blind with me but more importantly be a family dog I can take anywhere. The 3 things I want to master with her are manners, obedience, and socialization.
For the first week I’ve done crate training, potty training, leash training, and have started minor obedience training with just the sit command so far. I am failing miserably with puppy biting and have no idea what to do.
She is taking to her crate well (last night was the first night she slept all night in her crate without waking up) she went from scream crying on day one to now just light whimpers for less than a min before settling down. I am trying to do 2 hours in crate, immediately outside, play for 2 hours, outside, back in crate, repeat. Sometimes I cannot get her back into her crate after playing before she falls asleep in my living room. Am I destroying all progress when I let her nap outside of her crate sometimes?
She had her first vet appointment yesterday and it went really well. Hips, eyes, heart, teeth, belly and weight all perfect for her age (60 days) and tested negative for any worms. She has had her first round of vaccines and has her second set up for Dec 5th so I am careful when we go to the park by my house (a lot of people in my community are dick heads and don’t pick up their dogs poop)
For bite training I am trying instant redirect to a toy but it does not seem to be working and sometimes just makes her more crazed. Any ideas here lol?
I’ve had labs my whole life so I know what to expect with them but my Dad has trained them and I’ve just been able to reap the benefits of his hard work.
She got the hang of the harness and leash VERY FAST like within 3-4 potty breaks. We still has a lot of work to do but I am happy with the progress on that so far.
So far everything has been going good… too good….. she doesn’t really bark, does not resource guard, she is quiet in the crate, I am just waiting for a flip to switch and lose control and I feel like my anxiety is going to start sinking into the dog. And I am scared I am not going to handle regression well.
Would just like to hear other people’s accomplishments and failures so I can also learn from my own accomplishments and failures with this pup. All advice welcome and thank you for reading my book lol.
submitted by /u/PepperBrooksDota2
[link] [comments]