New Lab tracker

[Shawn Leonard]

Nope, would never crate train a dog, how would you like to put in a cage and not let out until someone cam e home or decided to let you out. It may just be me but I think doing that to any dog is atrocious. My daughter is trainging a new pitbull pup, it is now 11 weeks and no accidents in the house, whines to go out and has actually learned to use the doggie door they installed. Broke it from chewing real quick too and only chews its own chew toys now. Shawn

[xtrema312]

Labs around here with good breading are also 1500-1700.  Crazy.  The last lab pup we bought was only around 500, but that was 14 years ago.  I expected some inflation, but not triple the cost.  We are going to get a Springer this time.  

I love crate training.  Worked very well on the last two.  We will be doing it again soon with a new one coming this summer.  Crate training is a good thing all around if done correctly.  Just use the crate for sleeping and for when you can't monitor the pup directly.  It is no different than putting your baby in a crib or playpen when you have things to do and can't keep an eye on them to keep them out of trouble.  Make sure they get a little treat and praise for going in easily, that they have things to chew on, and it is comfortable.

My dogs loved their crates.  It was their personal place and they never had a problem getting in when needed for something going on in the house, when we were out and they were not yet trustworthy to not get into something, or when traveling. The crate should be a safe place and not where they go when punished.  Don't leave them in the crate a lot and make sure they go outside as soon as you let them out of the crate and before they go in for an extended period.  Don't get such a big crate that they have a place to relieve themselves.  It should be their bed area.  We also didn't feed them in the crate other than a treat.  

One of my favorite things for them during crate time was to put a treat in a kong.  Peanut butter or a dog treat in one will keep them busy a while and it will be something they look forward to.

[Paul/KS]

We rescued a 2 year old yellow lab just before Christmas and she is a real sweetie. She has some "issues" but is shaping up pretty well.
She does appear to be of the "Lap-rador" side of the breed tho...

[Timberking]

We crate every pup we bring home. Like I said above, we have a team of sled dogs and the crate training comes in handy when one of the team has to come into the house for any reason. Canines dig dens and the "crate" was designed to mimic a den. Here is one of my wife's videos from our youtube channel where she talks a little about canine nutrition.

 http://youtu.be/_vvuH6Kb1uE

[joebuck]

I miss those puppy days and look forward to them again!  Just a little .02cents here. I personally trained my own lab up through the AKC Master Hunt Tests for him to earn the coveted Master Title. So in short he's exceptional and great duck hunter. But an exceptional lab deer trailing dog and waterfowl dog dont always geehaw.  Labs wind with their nose up, deer dogs trail with nose down. if you waterfowl hunt then your lab will try to "wind" a downed deer and pick up off blood trail and "grid hunt" ..Unless you train him from the start to trail with nose. "Tracking Wounded Deer " is an excellant book and goes into detail on how to keep a canine's nose down on the trail with treat rewards.....IMO ...i would not try to demand both from him..pick your poison......However my Master Lab is so so when finding wounded or dead deer because he "winds" and will not keep his nose down due to years and years of genetics.. So i simply put him down wind of the trail to wind....he does alright but a ground sniffer is the way to go though..Any lab will can blood trail but start them off young....So GET HIS NOSE ON THE GROUND!   good luck

[BUFF]

Congrats on the new dog.
A blood tracking dog is the best piece of equipment a fellow can own

My chocolate girl is 6, and if your dog is anything like her, you've got a great future! Enjoy!

[DEATHMASTER]

Extrema312 you have said it perfect why you DO want to crate train. Dogs are den animals and this is there den when done right.

[DEATHMASTER]

Timberking that is a good information on food. Just found out about the cooking down to kibbles and now less than next ingredients. So many tricks out there.

[7 Lakes]

I love that new puppy smell, will be getting my self a retriever soon.

Take my advice and go with the crate.  I know it seems mean but everybody needs their own bedroom and safe place, even dogs.

My Lucy races to her crate every night, she gets a kong with treat every evening and goes to crate with entheusiasm.  (I have no idea how to spell entheusiasm)

[Richie]

[DEATHMASTER]

One last thing, Anyone find a good book or DVD on new training that they have found helpful?
Wife is checking on puppy training classes.

[no]

Feed the best you can afford, my 4 beagles eat purina one, they work hard for me & deserve the best I can give them so they are at thier best. Also dont worry about crate training, dogs have no sense of time & it doesnt bother them to be in thee for long periods. Mike

After a lot of research (10 minutes on the Web) I found that Tractor Supply's brand, "4 health" is virtually identical to BLUE, at 1/2 the price. My dogs love it.

[Mike Taylor2]

That's a fine looking pup.

[DEATHMASTER]

Have heard lots of good about the 4 health
Thanks for the compliments on the pup. We sure do love her. Just like having a child in the house with the puppy proofing and potty times. The weather has been horrible but we are working with it.
Crate training is going great. Come home and she just looks at you like "I was sleeping do I have to come out?"
Thanks again for the compliments.