I got my pup when she was alomost four months and with college and work training was tough but by 7 months she was sitting and not moving, retreiving marks out past 100yards and bringing them straight back, and was sitting and heeling on a whistle. Then there was about 5 or 6 days that me or my trainer was not able to train. We picked training back up and she was fine. Then it seems like the next day or day after she just decided she did not wanna listen. She will bust her ash to go get a mark but as soon as she picks it up she runs away with it and not bring it back. Is this the stage where she is testing me and im goin to have to go back through the basics. One of the guys I train with says she needs to be force fetched to put her in her place. His dog is a litter mate also and his dog is force fetched already and is gettin at it! So the last two weeks i have been doing only obidience and she is doing good marking but gets about halfway back and does her own thing. Should i let him force fetch her to get her back on track? She has unbelievable drive to go get her marks but im just kinda discouraged at what happened all the sudden.

At bout the eight month age they try and test you. They are seeing what they can get away with. Keep training short and basic during this time. It usually only last two or three weeks if you don't give in.

Try and keep things simple and in a situation that you can control. Forget the 100 yrd marks. Work her on a check cord so you can MAKE her come back when you send her. This can also be done w/out the retrieve by putting her on a sit/stay and walking off w/ a check cord on her choke collar. Whistle her in and snatch the stuffing out of the rope. She will soon understand that she comes back despite all else. FF is a very good tool as well. My 1st solo was alot the same but at this age she lost the desire to retrieve. I was trying to steady her (make her sit until sent) way to early. Puppies need to enjoy the training. Throw her fun dummies and don't expect so much. Let her play and be a pup. The other will come in time. I would do the FF whether you get by this or not. Don't give up on her. You are right about the age, she will come around.

It's as common as barking... 99.5% will test you one time or another... LOL !!! That is all she is doing... F.F her.. Get with someone that knows what they are doing.. Get with a training group...Let her know who is boss...The trick is not to brake the dog's spirit while you are getting control..

Enjoy it !!! It's over fast... I am look at my CBR with gray in his face.. I wish Red was that little pup peeing on the rug again..

I ff mine best thing i could have done. I think you need to go to the check cord and not let her run free. And if your out just playing keep the excitment going if she goes the other way run backwards or sit down when she gets to you just put here ar heal and a quick pat on the head

Thanks...This past week or so she is returning to the way she was. The straight obedience helped alot. She is returning marks again. Hope to get her on the table within the next week. Thanks MMT and Midnight Ridges Retrievers.

Right on, forget the 100 yard marks with what migrator said. I force fetched my lab and it helped extremely with everything else. She has a good understanding and it helped her trust me a lot quicker. If you are going to do it though, don't half a$$ it, follow it all the way through.

I am goin to have one of the guys i train with do it. He is pretty tough and to the the point. So i think he will do i pretty good job

Good deal! You r on the right track w/ her. Keep it fun & learn ur Dog. Some days she isnt gonna be as sharp as others. We r like that to. There are hundreds of tricks but Always end on a positive!
The FF will make a huge difference.

She will change back once she wants to test you again..imho... Get with a good training group...

Watch the e collar.......... An E collar has never trained any dog....

It does not matter if the dog is "testing" you if you have taught the dog what you are asking then corrections need to be applied. WATCH THE CORRECTIONS WITH THE COLLAR!! Forced on here and force fetching are great if done right. There are many steps to what you are trying to accomplish go step by step and hit all areas of training with balance in between. There are many ways to training your dog Weather you are wanting a meat dog hunt test or field trail dog keep doing something and remember success leads to success. Age means nothing just because a younger dog is ahead of you means nothing go at the pace that the dog is learning. Good luck doing something is always better then doing nothing. Bill hillmann videos are great for training a young pup.

Just sell her and get a black lab

I just went hunting with them today, chased 5 out so get rid of her. You know what else is brown.....crap, something to think about.