Just a quick one...and I hope I aleady know the answer...I've gotten our new girl "Misha" home, and really, after all the background we did, after watching the boards and all the great stuff you all have said, I'm still astonished how incredibly bright a Chesapeake is...I mean she's 12 weeks old and seemingly sharp as a tack...Don't get me wrong, she's a Chesapeake, she'd rather eat rocks, plants and sticks as opposed to the Kongs and Nylabones scattered everywhere...Now my sort of question is this, am I missing it...in that I've not really got her training much, just keeping all four paws on the ground, a little sitting work, and finding out what the do's and don'ts are in life. But I hear some folks...and I just can't get it out of my head she should be working on triple water marks and blinds already ...All kidding aside, I do feel sometimes I should be advancing her more than I have, but from what I can tell, from everything I can get a hold of, the real stuff should wait until at least 15 weeks, or even until teething is out of the way as I read in a great book that was refered here, (Rutherford & Loveland's "Retriever Puppy Training"). Thanks!

Hello Charles,
first my congrat's to you and your puppy!!!
Plse go to the website of Northern Flight Retrievers and read the stuff about early puppy training.
On the other hand plse read the info of John and Amy Dahl on their website and..........GOOD LUCK with that little "monster".!!
DD

There's a difference between "serious" training, and puppy training. By all means, you should be teaching your pup all kinds of things, but it should be mainly positive and motivational. You are teaching your pup how to learn at this stage.

What are your plans for your pup? Hunting? Hunt tests? Field trials? All three?

At this age, I use soft, easily swallowed treats (I use hot dog pieces) and use them to guide the pup in its obedience work. I teach them to walk nicely by my side (not really heeling yet, but following my lead), sit, and here, along with the usual house manners/good behavior stuff.

As far as marking, try to balance how much bumpers you throw vs how much you have others throw. It's easy to get into a rut of doing X minutes of obedience, followed by Y hand-thrown bumpers. You need to be sure your pup knows that marking means looking out rather than looking up at you. If you have someone that can walk out a little ways and throw baby marks (use a paint roller or soft canvas bumper), you can teach the "mark" cue, and also teach the pup that it must sit and focus while marks are being thrown. No matter what your ultimate goals, the pup should be able to do these simple things.

Lisa