Lazy puppy

**Hank09** · 05-31-2009, 07:26 PM

So we have a 12 week old lad hank. We ahve tried to begin to train him about hunting but he will only retieve about 2-3 times and then he is done. Any ideas???He is really good about sit stay heel come and swims and is not gun shy but does not like to retieve. His brother is crazy about retrieveing and just life in general Hank is very very laid back. My husband is just getting frustrated with him

Manda

**nicole** · 05-31-2009, 07:50 PM

He's a 12wk old baby, honestly 2-3 retrieves is fine at that age. Once his adult teeth are in, you can get more serious about training him "for real" but just keep it fun for right not. Obedience is great to work on now though, again in short sessions. The puppy period goes quickly, enjoy it!!

**Labradorable** · 06-01-2009, 08:42 AM

I agree, he sounds like a pretty normal pup (2-3 retrieves).

**jzgrlduff** · 06-01-2009, 09:19 AM

He's 12 weeks old for cripe's sake! Your husband needs to learn patience.

**sarah** · 06-01-2009, 09:32 AM

agree with the above. He is 3 months old! Don't over work him too early, he'll lose interest and won't want to retrieve at all!! Keep everything fun, short and reward with a small treat each time. I'd be more concerned with teaching him sit, drop, stay and his name and housetraining him before worrying about how many times he'll retrieve!!!

**lkb987** · 06-01-2009, 10:07 AM

I think you should try taking him to different obedience classes.

**sarah** · 06-01-2009, 10:12 AM

General rule of thumb is that for every month the dog is old they have a 5 minute attention span. Sooo... a 3 month old puppy has a 15 min attention span MAX! and that is if he doesn't get distracted by a good smell or a cool noise or a yummy stick on the ground.

Just ease up on the poor little guy and lower your expectations of what a 3 month old puppy is capable of. You've only had him for 4 weeks for pete's sake lol. Even at an obedience class, after 15-20mins he'll be over it.

**lkb987** · 06-01-2009, 10:15 AM

I agree that after about 15-20 min. the puppy won't be paying attention. I would lay off of those until he gets a little bit older. Sorry.....The puppy doesn't need to be hunting anyways.

**lkb987** · 06-01-2009, 10:16 AM

Oh and by the way the puppy isn't Lazy it just likes exploring other things.

**sarah** · 06-01-2009, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by lkb987

Oh and by the way the puppy isn't Lazy it just likes exploring other things.

a new puppy may appear 'lazy' to people who have not been around a puppy for a really long time.

The owner should try and think of a 3 month old human baby. How often is it asleep? ALOT... why? It's growing! Growing is tiring!! How much does it interact? Not alot... why should a puppy be any different? LOL.. the puppy has an attention span of a gnat. Plus, like always... a puppy has a mind of it's own and probably wants to sniff and investigate rather than be held and cuddled.

Your lab will want to be held and cuddled when it's 1 yr old and far too big to be held and cuddled LOL

Such is life... enjoy your puppy while he's still small. When they are 12 months old and STILL a puppy and huge it's not so much fun!