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At what age should I start introducing my lab puppy to bird dekes and such? she is 8 weeks old
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As soon as she learns basic commands (sit/stop/etc.). If you have not started this yet, get on it right away. -
ok, thank youComment
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Hey tybostev5,
As JM said, you can start working with your young pup immediately. The thing is, you have to remember she is young and all training at this point is positive and very short in duration. You can use treats to reward a sit (using a leash and collar with a slight amount of pressure), to get her to walk beside you, etc. She doesn't need to be perfect at this point, you're laying the groundwork for the future by teaching her in a positive way the place she should be and things she can do to please you and earn praise (vocal, food or physical).
That said, you can introduce her to them immediately. Leave them around the yard and let her investigate them. The sooner she learns that they're not big deal, don't do anything besides sit there and are just a part of life, the sooner she'll ignore them and you won't have to worry about her being more interested in them than the object to be retrieved (bumper or bird). Leave them around the yard when you do your play-training, she goes out to go to the bathroom, etc. Be careful about introducing her to them in the water, however. Let her get comfortable and confident in water for some time before putting out a decoy or two. A young puppy that gets tangled in the cord (you could leave this off if in shallow enough water) can be scarred and remain scared of swimming around the dekes for some time afterward. Take your time and enjoy introducing everything, she's only a puppy once, and make sure every new item introduced is done in a positive, no-pressure manner.Comment
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it's ok to play train the first year,make the first year fun and not to demanding then they will give you all the rest of thier years.Comment
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Thanks all for the help!Its only been a week and a half but she is learning quite wellComment
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