NEW DOG

JUST PICKED UP MY NEW YELLOW LAB THIS PAST WEEKEND. I WANT TO SEND HIM TO A TRAINER WHEN HE GETS OF AGE. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE TO SEND HIM? JUST WANT TO BE SURE I SEND HIM TO A REPUTABLE TRAINER.

Bill Autrey.

Autrey Kennels located in Bentley, LA

www.autreykennels.com

www.southerntraditiondogtraining.biz Jerry Moll lives in Laplace. Has ads on the sportsman classifieds under dogs.
Web site has contact #'s and address. Hope this helps.
Good luck. He did me right.

Thanks duckcrazyalways, I still live in Marrero but relocated my kennels to a more modern facility in Laplace. MarreroDuckman if you wish to come and visit the kennels and observe us while we train, please give me a call at (504)232-1739. Jerry J. Moll

I highly recomend john wilson at wax lake retrievers!!!
He did a wonderful job with my chocholate lab. I will use him again when the time comes for her to retire and need a new dog his web site is www.waxlakeretrievers.com he is out of patterson louisiana.

I'm a Do-it-yourselfer. I think you form a special bond with your retriever by doing the bulk of your training yourself. You can find hunting retriever clubs that will train with you. Teach you tricks, etc.

I don't think you can take the place of a professional trainer for some things such as force fetching, but the basics you can do.

I've turned out some pretty good dogs on my own and most importantly, built a bond with them that last throughout the life of your dog.

If you do plan on doing it on your own. Get the book WaterDogs by Richard Wolters. It will serve as your bible. Once you get the dog doing some amazing things, you can send him to the pros to fine tune him. The key is to start them early...

Good Luck...Seth

I agree with seth,
I also have a yellow lab I am training on my own. The bond it created is like no other. Water dog is a great tool for training your retriever. Ya know, i have learned that it isn't that hard to train them. It's a matter of time and patients. I work with my pup every day after work. He is 6 months old and retrieving like a champ. Once you get the basics down, teaching your dog the advanced stuff is really fun. I am working on the right and left over command. It only takes 15 min. a day to get them working! It makes each retrieve that much more special when you know your dog learned from you. I have some pics of my pup on some of my other posts! check em out!

Call Jerry at Southern Tradition.He trained my dog and you wont find anybody as acomodating as him. Jerry loves training dogs and dont kid yourself, if you don't have the time or patience to train your dog, then use a professional. Call STDT and talk to Jerry (504-232-1739). or drop me an email and I'll tell you about my experience using his services.

Agree with Seth and blooddeep, do it yourself. Water Dog book and video is a great help.Just get with it regularly for 15-20 mins. a day. It does also form that bond with your dog. If that is out of the question, contact Ben Young at Y-farms kennels iin Zachary......www.y-farms.com.....he and Jennifer are great trainers and dog breeders.

Just be sure if you do it yourself that you do it correctly and that you have the time to really devote. I trained my dog myself and wish I would have sent her to a trainer. I followed the Water Dog. The training went good for a while but there are some things that I couldn't get through to her.
My lab is now about 7 years old and I'll be looking for another in the next couple of years. This time I will send the dog to a trainer at about 4 months till about 8 or 9 months old. If you send your dog to a trainer, make sure you pick one close to home so you can go and interact with the trainer and the dog. The trainer will also be training you to train your own dog after it leaves the trainer. Sending your dog to a trainer is not a once and done deal. You have to continually work on this with your dog. I would also suggest that after the first season with your dog that you keep notes on what your dog is/isn't doing correctly and what you do want your dog to do. Bring the dog back to the trainer for a couple months after the first season to correct these things. Getting to them at an early age is KEY.
Shock Collars!!!!!!!!!!!If you use one, make sure it is used correctly. I've seen several people ruin a dog for life by misuse of a shock collar. I've also seen several people turn an average dog into an awesome dog by use of a shock collar. Most trainers do use the collars because it allows for faster training.

Good luck and remember that this dog will not only be a duck retrieving machine, but will also be your best friend to you and your family.

I AGREE WITH ALL THE COMMENTS HERE. I HAVE TRAINED 3 LABS MYSELF, 2 CHOCOLATES AND 1 YELLOW. I USED WATER DOG FOR ALL THREE AND THEY ALL CAME OUT EXCELLENT. I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW EVERYTIME I TRAINED BECAUSE DOGS ARE LIKE CHILDREN AS THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT TENDENCIES AND PERSONALITIES. THE KEY IS REPITITION AND PATIENCE PATIENCE PATIENCE. IN MY OPINION THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS ONCE YOU HAVE CREATED A BOND AND TRUST WITH YOUR DOG THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO THE DOG IS TO PLEASE YOU. HE LIVES FOR IT. THE KEY IS TO BE SMART ENOUGH TO RELAY TO YOUR DOG WHAT IT IS YOU WANT HIM TO DO. AND THE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEPA DOG IN A KENNEL FOR HIM TO BE PRODUCTIVE IS B.S. I HAVE MY DOG IN A FENCED IN BACK YARD AND HE INTERACTS WITH ME AND MY FAMILY ON A DAILY BASIS. I WOULD PUT HIM AGAINST THE BEST ANY DAY. ON OPENING WEEKEND HE MADE A 250 YARD RETRIEVE ON A LIVE MALLARD IN SWIMMING DEEP WATER.

I also agree with what everyone has said. I think you're getting good advice here. I'm not a pro trainer but I do train, hunt and run my dogs in HRC events - I do it all myself. It's true that you do form a bond with your dogs when you train them yourself and I feel the rewards are greater. However, if you don't have the time to devote to training the dawg then I suggest sending it to a professional trainer. As someone mentioned, the trainer will train the dog and should also train you how to handle the dog.

If you are interested in training yourself then Waterdog is a good start. When I started I had never heard of force fetch, collar condition or casting. You'll learn a lot, quick! Waterdog is good material to start with and I trained my 1st pup with it. I personally like the Fowl Dawgs DVD's because it's easy to go back and review what you plan on working on.

Good luck!

MarreroDuckman,

Check out your local hunting retriever clubs such as Pontchatrain (sp?) They are AKC affiliated and also Amite River HRC (www.arhrc.org). These are both good places to start.

As stated in a previous message, you cannot go wrong with Mr. Autrey ( Pineville area ), Also check out D2 Kennels in Church Point, Chuck McCall, Kelly Scott. There are many great trainers around. Be sure to check the kennels out before you commit and even go a couple of days to see how they train.

You want to bond with your dog now. Alot of trainers do not want the dog until their adult teeth are in. Good Luck!

Peter

thanks for all the suggestions fellas. it is greatly appreciated

I'm not sure the name of the kennel, but the trainers name is BARRY LYONS. One of the best in La., if not the country. He has over 40 grand champions on his resume'. the next closest in La. is 10.