Puppy training

Got a new yellow male. 8 weeks old. Gonna send him to a local guy for some training, just wondering if anyone had good luck doing it yourself. DVDs, books, etc. I'd love to give him a good start.

Nothing to it. Where you located?

Richard A. Wolters Water Dog. The book or the DVD that's based off the book.

Training one yourself is very enjoyable if you have patience! If he's 8 weeks old now it's time to start training. Get the book tbest3 suggested and get started now.

I'm in Rogersville

Whatever you do don't use water dog. That is outdated to say the least. The best advice is to get with some folks with experience that know how to train a dog. I'm in the Cullman area of you ever get out this way I'd be glad to show you some things to begin working on. At 8 weeks I'd be working on not pissing in the house more than anything.

This X 2.

Have never heard very many people say that. I'm like whild bill though on this one, I just know what works for me.

Chris Akins DVDs are best in my book. Getting my dog ready for a seasoned rest and i follow his methods. Freddy king on youtube is also good.

I do enjoy Freddy King's videos on training and the videos of him and the echo calls boys smashing mallards in the timber.

I enjoy Bill Hillman's DVD.

Ive done lots of hillmans stuff, my dog is very sensitive, and hillman has a soft touch. Best thing to do is to follow one method for the most part, but know the others cause you might need some adjustments.its always good to know multiple ways to solve a problem

There are much better ways to train a dog than a book that's old as the hills. You would be amazed at your results of you updated the approach. My guess is you've never seen quality dog work and just don't know what your missing.

Yeah.. that's it. I've never seen quality dog work.

If you think a dog trained by water dog is quality hen you haven't been exposed to it. There is no two ways about it.

I'm not bashing you by any means. Waterdog had its place years ago, and I mean many but there is way more sound training material out there today that is so much more detailed and productive to use. Waterdog is about like riding your bike to work instead of taking your truck.

Water dog is what I have used as my core method on my dogs. Not saying I go strictly by it 100% without being open to other methods. I incorporate other methods/aids as needed. But once again, "we just know what works for us."

Water dog has very good information. But it is a 1950's version of a how to manual. Better tools, techniques are available now.

I trained a duck dog using Waterdog. Have trained several since using Carr based training (Lardy). I won't be going back to Water dog.

I find the modern training methods easier, faster, produce dogs that require fewer corrections and the dog understands corrections when they are applied.

I understand what you guys are saying and pretty much agree. I do use a lot of modern methods but my basis of everything comes from water dog. Guess I'm old fashioned. I have taken a lot of stuff from Freddy kings youtube. I've almost adapted my own version of water dog. Anyway, hope y'all get to watch your pups pick up many birds this season. Good luck gentlemen.

I would definitely give Cornerstone Gundog Academy a look. It's an online based program that is start to finish. But they also have a version that only covers early puppies. The guys that made it are from Alabama and Mississippi and make themselves personally available if you have any questions. My 1 year old black lab is doing pretty well on it.

I'm also using cornerstone gundog academy and I'm pleased so far. They have different modules for where your dog is (puppy module). I'd suggest talking to your trainer that you'll be using so your work would fall in line with the system he uses.

I would look into a proven trainer. One who has had success in the hunt test or field trial game.. The difference in jimmy Johns finished meat dog that he trained and a master hunter titled dog is daylight to dark difference. If he didn't run hunt test I wouldn't even consider him.

What he said but I would go one step farther. Go and watch your chosen pro run his/her string of dogs at a hunt test or field trial. The dogs will tell you all you want to know about the trainer.

I've heard nothing but good things about cornerstone, except that it can be relatively expensive. I have not read water dog, but the author put one out for pointing breeds that i have read. I agree that it is dated, I personally never stuck with one book/dvd, but used a couple different references to tailor a unique plan for my dogs needs. I've watched a bunch of the freddy king videos, I like them a lot. sportdog/Tom Dokken has some videos that are worth a view too.