I'm primarily a bird hunter so here's my pack.
Until the dog learns the here command well, I would not train them off of a lead. Run a long lead and continue to work on the here command. I used the techniques from Smartworks when training my dog. View attachment 47596
Smart works is a great series. I force fetched my lab with Evans system and it worked great. Another series that I'd recommend looking into would be Bill Hillman's stuff.Thanks, I will look into the Smartworks program, I'd like to read more about it before buying their videos.
For now I've come to the consensus to go slow and don't screw him up, let him be a puppy and try to give commands when I can control the situation......for the most part lol
Wondering if someone would like to share some techniques for reinforcing commands when you are without a leash or treats. It seems I often find myself in the situation of giving a "hear" command and having no way to reinforce it without saying it repeatedly or going towards the pup, sometimes (not always) when I move towards the pup he takes off away from me when I approach because he knows I am going to make him do something which usually is physically moving him in the direction I wanted him to go and saying "hear", my only thought is to have a leash hanging on him 24/7 until he gets it.
I am making lots of progress in the short time I have had him but I am just trying to get more ideas and thoughts on keeping things smooth and not to frustrating for both parties.
Thanks
This is Trapper pointing at a bag he saw on a fence, the wind was making the bag move and he saw it from a distance and froze about 10 ft from it, he was also following a scent and pointed towards a bush but I couldn't get the camera out fast enough, it looked really cool! I took it as a good sign for things to come.