Damn, I ran out.

 

is that a no?

 

is that a no?

Seriously?

Is it even legal in your state, to send a pup home at 5 weeks?

 

we saved it

 

we saved it

Right.

Here's your first pat on the back.

Did you pay somebody for the opportunity to save this puppy?

 

nope

 

nope

Cool.

Give it a good life. Introduce it to everything it will encounter as a hunting dog, while it is still a young pup. Especially birds, (live ones) boats, and water.

Join a Retriever Club, and train with the members at least once a week.

If you do that, and the pup grows up to be physically sound, it will probably turn out just fine.

 

The pro trainer who helps me out, used to have a full pit who ended up pointing birds without much effort being put into it. Obviously thats the exception not the rule. BUT I agree with the above post if you put it a position to succeed and cultivate the lab side of the dog you might end up with a good hunting buddy. I've noticed there's quite a few people on here that hunt with non traditional retrievers and have success. Get some training material to study and go from there.

Good Luck!

 

Join a Retriever Club, and train with the members at least once a week.

Can't get better experience doing this just bear in mind from an AKC perspective it might be hard to get a membership since you can't run the dog in tests (the only revenue driver for most clubs clubs). If you approach it from dedicated volunteer/helper offer...you'd get a better reception I think.

 

Join a Retriever Club, and train with the members at least once a week.

Can't get better experience doing this just bear in mind from an AKC perspective it might be hard to get a membership since you can't run the dog in tests (the only revenue driver for most clubs clubs). If you approach it from dedicated volunteer/helper offer...you'd get a better reception I think.

I've seen Labradoodles run as test dog, in actual hunt tests.

Also, with a spayed/neutered mutt, you can earn AKC suffix titles, and HRC prefix titles, if you do the paper work for PAL/ILP and LPL with each applicable registry.

"Looks like" a gundog, or Retriever breed, is a very gray area, and money, is money.

 

Join a Retriever Club, and train with the members at least once a week.

Can't get better experience doing this just bear in mind from an AKC perspective it might be hard to get a membership since you can't run the dog in tests (the only revenue driver for most clubs clubs). If you approach it from dedicated volunteer/helper offer...you'd get a better reception I think.

I've seen Labradoodles run as test dog, in actual hunt tests.

Also, with a spayed/neutered mutt, you can earn AKC suffix titles, and HRC prefix titles, if you do the paper work for PAL/ILP and LPL with each applicable registry.

"Looks like" a gundog, or Retriever breed, is a very gray area, and money, is money.

There are always more than enough folks happy to run test dog.

My point was if you show up and intend to train and get guidance in a club - be prepared to show up working and contributing. Course that's the plan regardless of what dog you show up with. But a pit/lab cross will raise more concerns about voting in a new member.

 

I have a lab/Rotti that is excellent on ducks and hunts moose and bear with me. She is an excellent house dog and one of the best all around dawg's I have ever owned. That said, there is no promise that your dog will turn out but if you like the dog and work it, my guess is it will be aat least a meat dog. All that said I just got a new pup, a DD, and I am looking forward to working her up starting now. More on her when I get some good ptotos. Duckdon

 

I'm with the majority here. Dogs are smart, and I believe you can train most dogs to most things within their realm of ability. Start young; like at seven weeks with the basics ( sit, stay, come). Develop a retrieving pattern by sitting in a long hallway and throwing a toy in a place where the dog will have to run back past you to get where he wants to go, take the toy, and praise the pup for bringing it to you. Basics at a young age leads to success later on. Get "water dog" by Richard Walters. Great book!

 

Let's not forget the most potentially valuable advice.

Pups taken at 5 weeks (yes...I know a 'forced' take and good on you) have a much higher probability of aggression and fear biting. Along with Separation Anxiety issues which will surface as older pups/young adults.

I would suggest SERIOUSLY socializing the pup with other pups, do not put undue pressure on it for anything 'retreiving related' and spend the first several months exposing the pup to environments SAFELY and build the most CONFIDENCE you possibly can. In other words...take it very slowly and be careful how you interact with the pup and what you expect of it.

I am not saying to coddle - but do whatever you can to mitigate these traits by how and why and when you expose the puppy to certain environments.

 

Great advice above!

just got about a five week old pit bull/lab mix.

Damn, I ran out.

... :lol3: ..Now Doc',..on the more humerous side of things,.... do ya' think maybe vocalization may become a little more relevant once ya' start pinchin' this dawgs ear? :lol3: :wink: :devil:
Can't tell me your hiney wouldn't be drawn up in a knot than usual the first time you reached for it, .. so don't even go there :lol3:

 

Didn't even think about this till now swamp relative to 5 week pup issues but I bought my aluminum dog box from a craiglist ad.

Ends up the aluminum bars in the door were slightly bent and roughed up. Not enoughg to be a big issue but definately put the box in an otherwise 'used' state.

Asked the guy what happened. He told me he got a Pit puppy at 5 weeks old. Dog by 1 year had eaten through 3 plastic crates and a complete window sill to escape the box when the owner was outside in the yard. Pure issues with separation.

He finally tried the aluminum box....hence the bent, chewed on bars.

Finally decided the dog needed to go and he sold me the box.

 

Didn't even think about this till now swamp relative to 5 week pup issues but I bought my aluminum dog box from a craiglist ad.

Ends up the aluminum bars in the door were slightly bent and roughed up. Not enoughg to be a big issue but definately put the box in an otherwise 'used' state.

Asked the guy what happened. He told me he got a Pit puppy at 5 weeks old. Dog by 1 year had eaten through 3 plastic crates and a complete window sill to escape the box when the owner was outside in the yard. Pure issues with separation.

He finally tried the aluminum box....hence the bent, chewed on bars.

Finally decided the dog needed to go and he sold me the box.

..Wonder if it was prey drive, or just a need to get out :lol3:

You gave some dang good advice on the socialization HNTFSH..I'd say you couldn't get enough of it with this one.. :clapping:

 

QUESTION-

If a pitbull/lab mix would make a good hunting dog, would the same dog make a good pit fighting dog? Does the cross breeding go both ways, so to speak? I know its illegal, but that dont stop people from breeding and owning them. So my question is a rehtorical one, but could make some lively conversation.

 

a while back we had a guy come with a yellow pup - sure looked like a lab - he paid $10 for at the pound - one other in the litter was brindle and another had curly hair - well the pup would only pick up a bumper if had a feather on it and than only by the feather - yes i know ff but the owner did not want to do that - fast foward to may next yr and he has
a yellow pup 10 wks old - i told him bring the pup out - we had some dead pigeons - i threw one into the water along
the shore - the pup jump jump into the water grabs the bird and runs back to him - i told him thats the differese
between a $ 10 pup and a $600 one think about your choice
oc

 

Good thing about the "pitadoor" retreiver is not only can they retreive your ducks but they wont take any crap from the labradoodles at the boat ramp. :yes:

You have the dog now train it.

 

I have a pit/lab 50 50 mix. I know the people who own the parents and the breed backgrounds for both and I paid for mine. Reasons: Calm, Loyal, and One sided. My dog is very much a one person dog. He likes other dogs and people but if I am standing in a crowd he is by my side without saying a word to him and has been that way since he was a puppy. Also I have duck hunted with him for 4 years now and minds better than any lab I have ever owned and retrieves without a hitch. He doesn't whine or bark when in a blind and doesn't run around unless im out walking around. So to answer your question Yes a Pit/Lab can make a great duck hunting dog and in my experience a very loyal one to. Good Luck and Happy Hunting :smile: !