Dave & Misty Update

[jweese]

Both are getting restless sitting around the house waiting for the weather to warm up a bit more. Since the introduction of Dave, Misty has settled with him quite well but she's still quite protective of the kids when he tries to play rough with them.

Dave is now 17 weeks old and knows his sit, lay down, and is about 75% on the stay. We've also been practicing retrieving with frozen (thawed first) pigeons and he's doing quite well. He always brings them back, not to hand yet but I'm sure he'll get there. For now, its a game for him.

Below is a picture of Dave and Misty taken a couple days ago. He doesn't look it but he's tipping the scales at 36lbs, while Misty is only 50lbs. I think he'll be a bruiser, his mother is only 65lbs but his father was closer to 80-90.

OK, maybe I Dont know how to insert an image from my phone, there might be a hidden link in the text somewhere lol, sorry.

[jweese]

Another quick update, and to recycle my thread:

Although it's hard to see, Dave is now 55lbs, 5 lbs heavier than Misty. A month after my last update and it seems he's gained a whopping 15lbs. That seems excessive, but he's healthy, and happy - not overweight (last vet check was last week). The vet figures he'll probably end up topping the scales between 80-90lbs.

On another note, his obediance is coming along nicely. He still has lapses in his listening skills but for the most part he does great with sit, stay (work in progress), come (work in progress). He is retrieving some dead birds without issue when tossed in the house (yeah, my wife doesn't appreciate that one), about 60% of the time to hand - the rest of the time he brings them to the general vicinity, but drops them a few feet away.

Misty doesn't like him playing fetch - when I tried to do some outdoor play with him over the weekend, everytime I'd throw a bumper and he'd take off after it Misty would tackle him, growling and snarling. Think it's time to cut her out of the training equation with Dave before he feels discouraged about retrieving.

That's it for now!

[krakadawn]

Time to put Misty away before Dave decides he no longer likes that game. With your ne collar you will be reinforcing that sit means SIT! Then you can have her sitting and honouring Dave retrieving.

Time to teach Dave the 'hold command' which is the beginnings of force fetch which you may or may not need.. Reference Bill Hillman's videos about teaching 'hold'

[jweese]

Picture of Dave in the back scrub area behind the house, same area I heard woodcock last evening. We didn't find any but it was awesome for Dave to get out without Misty and do some running. Being born in late October, this is all sort of new to him.

From a tip from another forum member, I just let him run by himself, no official training besides the odd "come" call. He did a lot of romping, and trying to pull sticks off the trees, he found an open creek and was about to swim when I decided it was time to leave, still a bit cold perhaps.

All in all, we had some fun. Played fetch with a bumper when we got home, he returned it about 65% of the time, but all in all he had fun - and no Misty biting on his this time.

[jweese]

Just a quick update:

Been working on Dave's hold and release commands. He has been retrieving fairly well but tends to drop the birds/bumpers/dowels about 5 feet away from me then comes and sits beside me.

For the first time last night I managed to get him to hold a dowel for nearly two minutes, and then upon giving the release command he dropped it into my hand. All the while, looking up at me with those big brown eyes with the look of "Am I doing it right?" in those eyes. So proud of my little boy, he's doing well - but still stubborn and block headed, but a quick learner!

Misty on the other hand is just enjoying being a hound dog; she has escaped a few times and gone on a run - once taking Dave with her. Dave is easy to call back, he comes instantly when called and will sit in front of me. Misty on the other hand needs to be retrieved; poor girl. She just wants something to chase so badly, the squirrels, cats, and even the starlings are starting to drive her bonkers.

Heading to the hunting camp this weekend, they'll both get a chance to run around for a bit and burn off some energy. Is it too cold to get a 6 month old pup into the water? I know there's no chance in hell for Misty, she'd rather run in the mud - but Dave's been dying to get into the lake for a swim.

[Cass]

He'll let you know if its too cold. Don't send him in, but don't be surprised if he goes in on his own

[ebenezer]

Mine have been go in and out of the ponds but to do any actual training we will wait until the water is at least 55 degrees. The wind chill has been bitter these last few days and the snow during yesterday's training was really unwelcome.

[Sharon]

He'll let you know if its too cold. Don't send him in, but don't be surprised if he goes in on his own

Good advice. Glad you are enjoying your dog so much JW.

[jweese]

There were no issues with Dave and water this past weekend. We no sooner arrived and he had jumped in to chase some ducks near shore. He spent the majority of the morning on Saturday diving for beaver sticks close to shore (not thrown, sticks that were on the bottom already). He would go in for about 15-20 minutes, then head back up to the cabin for a snack, or to show me what he'd brought up from the depths, he might rest for a bit - then he'd be right back at it.

I don't think he'll have any issues with the water; the only time he got a nervous was when there were other dogs around (Misty, and a couple dogs from down the road). He had the look on his face like "Dude! I'll go in on my own, don't push me!"

Misty still has no interest in water, and I doubt she ever will - she'll run through a swamp, and through the thickest, muddiest crap I've ever seen - but for open water - no way. Just not her thing I suppose, but I'd already known that. The only time I ever saw her swim was when she dove off the dock last summer to try to catch me speeding away in the boat.

Did some more "Hold and Release" training with Dave as well. He's doing well, holding objects (kongs, bumpers, sticks, ducks - even a piece of ham - that took some coaxing ) for up to 2 minutes before he decides its time to release on his own. I doubt he'll ever have to hold something in his mouth that long (I'm sure you folks will tell me otherwise), but he's releasing to hand as soon as the command is given - he didn't release the ham

[jweese]

Just noticing Dave's coat is starting to thicken quite a bit, almost becoming shaggy. Thought he might need a good brushing but that wasn't the issue.

A bit of Google'ing tells me that some labs have longer coats, and some have wavy coats. Not that I'm concerned, I'm sure of his lineage, but from the folks I know of with his litter mates, they all seem to have normal length coats. Could this possibly be another throwback to the St.John's water dog lineage? Is this common for lab pups? Will he grow out of it?

Really, it doesn't bother me, I'm just more curious. It won't affect him in any way besides his looks. It appears to be longer just on the back, and back end.

Any lab experts in house?