Is the following too much or not enough

15 minutes walk on pavement in morning

10 minutes walk on pavement + 50 minutes in garden playing fetch at lunchtime

15 - 20 minutes off lead through wooded area in the evening

don't want to cause damage to dog - mums hips 4-5 dads hips 4-3

Can lab people comment on this

Thanks
Russ

Don't forget that hip problems aren't always caused by too much exercise. Even if the parents hips are good genetics being what they are the odd problem can always creep through. So parents with good hips are a good start.

I have golden retrievers so we have the same hiccups, the exercise is fine but knowing gundogs I would prefer to change the 15 minutes on pavement in the morning to 15-20 minutes off lead through the woods, don't forget that pavement walking is very hard, good for toning up the muscles but hard on joints and in the woods is much more fun. Playing lots of fetch games also jars joints when they put the brakes on and twist and turn so this can cause problems with shoulders and elbows so becareful there.

Looking at the times are you perhaps out at work, if so 15 minutes walk in morning, free running in woods at lunchtime so that as he gets older will settle down again and then free running in the evening.

Hope that helps.

Thanks. YES I am out at work about 9am but home for lunch 12 - 1pm to be with dog (plus hubby pops in during morning) then child home from college at about 2.30pm everyday. He gets lots of attention and he is very good (touch wood not chewed any furniture). Left in the kitchen with toys, filled kong, plenty of water, radio on very content. Will try woods more often.

You are not that far away although I would wonder about 50 minutes "Fetch" in the garden. If this is just running after a ball then I would considder it too much but if it is mental work hunting for a hidden toy then that is a different matter. With a working Lab I give no more than about half a dozen retrieves in training in a day, believing that quality rather than quantity is whats wanted. With a pet, mental exercise can be just as tireing but without the possibility of hip damage.

Regards, John

Hi John

Thanks for reply. The 50 mins is just throwing toy and fetch or rather not fetching then fetching but dont give (will cut this down and try some general sit stay training instead) Have you any suggestions for mental stimulation for my dog. I think he is very clever but I am biased. How do you go about hiding toy and learning him to fetch it and how can I learn more about this type of training. He is getting better on lead meeting strange people (i have started to tell people who stop me dont try to stroke him as he backs off let him sniff at you first) but still wary of other dogs. We will get there in the end. Any more tips or advice you can give will be very much appreciated because I only want the best for my dog.

Thanks again
Carole

Try hiding a ball under a plastic flower-pot. To start with, let the dog see you do it. When he gets the idea that it is under it - try putting out two pots - let him try to find it - when he has got the hang of that put out three pots etc. Put the pots in a line going away from you so that he has to look at the first one then go on to the next etc. He should eventually be able to tell just by smell where the ball is.

Daisy

Hi Daisy

Any specific ball I should use? or is just a tennis ball ok. He only has rings, squeaky toys, kongs, chews.

Thanks
Carole

Use anything that he is really fond of and retrieves :) Doesn't have to be a ball.

Daisy

Edited - don't rush it - get him used to finding his toy under just one pot to start with :) then gradually add more

Hi Carol.
The easy answer with amusing a Labrador is gundog work! That does not mean you have to go shooting things :) Working with gundog dummies, controling with a whistle and hand signals, this is what it is all about! Get a good gundog training book and or video. They naturally love to retrieve and channeling it into the direction you want it to go is all that it is about.

The added advantage of this is that our dogs get so use to the interesting things happening around us that they tend to stay close when free running so as to be able to enjoy the fun! I never take Anna for a walk! Anna and I go for a walk together!!!

Best wishes, John

Hi John

Can you recommend any books or videos.? A friend of mine goes shooting with his springers and he has a few whistles but don't want to ask him because I am (some may comment only a woman and his wife is not into dogs). How does the dog know about whistles do the books and videos show you about the whistles and things (excuse the sounding thick but never done any of this before whistles etc), it sounds interesting. Max's mother was according to her owner a very good working dog. Is it easy? As I have said he is clever I can see that he just needs teaching and I don't mind having a go as the weather is coming warmer kids doing own things, hubby going scuba diving just leaves me and Max so plenty time on hands to try things out just need pointing in right direction (e.g. books, videos, dummies (only know where to buy babies dummies from) whistles etc).

Thanks again waiting your reply

Carole

The easiest way I've found to train a dog to the whistle (especially for recall) is to start off blowing it (in the code you decide, usually three short "pips") whenever you feed him. Once he has associated it with food, you can blow it when you want to give him a treat, then send him off to play again.

Once he's learned that, and don't rush it - go one step at a time - you can carry on working out a code that suits you, and he can learn one short 'pip' for sit, for example, a long "peeeeeep" for down, etc.

Have fun! :)

Hi Carole.
Don’t worry at being “Only a woman” most of my class are women and there are almost as many women picking up on shoots as men!

Daisy is working along the right lines. I drop something such as a glove when walking then send my dog back for it. I start off only going a couple of paces so the pup can easily see it and gradually, as she learns, extend the distance. When that gets too easy, instead of leaving it on a path I’ll drop it in long grass or even bushes! The secret is to not allow the puppy to not find it or the game will loose it’s appeal!

As to books, I like the late Susan Scales “Retriever Training” and for a video, Stan Harvey’s “Gundog Training the young Labrador” (I put that video on as a treat for “The Flower” when she’s been good!) My only complaint with the video is that you cannot hear the whistle! (Or maybe it's my ears not as good as in days of old!!!) Both of these are available from http://www.turnerrichards.co.uk Also such things as Whistles, Lanyards and dummies etc.

If you really get interested in gundog work there are training clubs to help you with training. Gundog working tests where the dogs compete retrieving dummies on set tests.

Best wishes, John

Carol

We (Lab rescue North West) are just in the process of getting a book published which has been written by an extremely knowledgable chap we know who has kindly donated his master piece to the rescue ( :D ), are you blushing John !!. This is a simple approach to Gun Dog training. It will be available for purchase very soon and will be a great aid to the owner who has no knowledge of training that needs a start to this wonderful sport. It is not complicated and gives a step by step approach without scaring you off which a lot of books unfortunately can do !!

Anybody who is interested in reserving a copy then please let me know or go to the site and leave a message !! All proceeds will go to the rescue ! :D :D
http://www.helpalabrador.co.uk

Lucy

Nice one, Lucy!!! ;)

Monty's Mum :)

:o

Spare your blushes! It's all in aid of a good cause! :D

A good bit of mental stimulation for Thistle during the summer months is to take her down to the tennis courts where she miraculously finds loads of lost tennis balls from the surrounding thick hedges. I don't know how she does it (smell I guess) It's quite amazing.
Jane

Hi Jane,

We don't have tennis courts here, just a golf course. Same result though! A box full of unwanted golf balls in the garage! :D

Monty's Mum :)

Hi Lucy

Would be interested in a copy of the book you can email me on russell.fairhurst@btinternet.com
hubby address but will collect message (i.e. price, when available)

Regards
Carole

HI Lucy please let have details of the book DUN40@AOL.COM

David

No problem !

If anybody who wants to pre order a copy then please e-mail at [email]lucy.spensley@harcourteducation.co.uk[/email] OR go to:

[link]http://www.helpalabrador.co.uk{/link] and leave a note on the message board and when the book is going to print then contact will be made when information about price and delivery costs are available.

Hope that is OK !

Many thanks for the interest !

Lucy

I hope you enjoy the book when it arrives. Dogs have given me so much enjoyment over the years and this was my way of giving something back to them :)

Best wishes, John

I am just doing the final proof read and have found it a brilliant book ! Recommend it with ***** Five stars which must be good ! :D :D

Lucy