I have a 5 month female black lab, seems that she is heard headed. At times the training goes well, but then at times she doesn't want to do anything but get the dummy and run from me.

Also when I try to put her in the kennel, she doesn't want to go and runs away. I put her on the leash, walking her to the kennel saying kennel up the whole time we're walking.

I can get her to sit while on the leash, but when i take her off the leash, she wants no part of sitting.

It is hard to train, because i work offshore. So i'm trying my best

Don't chase after her she will think it's a game. Try running from her and see if she chases you. Also, do short retrieves while she is on a long lead so you can maintain control.

Duckman Your pup is only 5 months old so expect some of that puppy behavior. I agree, don't ever chase her. That's when the game starts. Go back to the very basics of sit, here, stay, and do that often. Next, I would shorten up and simplify the bumper work your doing with her. The less distance she has to run away or pass by you the better. I would then go to using a long lead, maybe 30 feet long and keep it in hand until she is working better on the return. Drop the lead after w few weeks and let her work farther out, letting her drag the lead. As soon as she heads off the other direction call her and briskly walk away from her. She should run catch up with you and get past you. Step on the lead as she goes by and reel her in. Its a process, takes many sessions and she will start coming in on command. Keep the sessions about 10 - 15 minuts. Keep them fun and up beat. She will come around. Duckdon

It can be nerve racking but I think ever dog I have ever had hit that stage. Its like the teenager stage of rebelion and they are gonna try you at some point.

When you do the training sessions you should put her back on a 30 foot check cord.Go back to the basics she is just a puppy so her instict is when I give it back he takes it.Keep those sessions short but you have to work her with that check cord.When she retrieves the bumper if she does come back you now have control so you say here and pull her back.sooner or later with enough correction meaning it is unpleasant to hit the end of that cord she will be coming back.also another option is to kneel and say her name and praise the crap outta her.Hope any of this helps

+1 to the above. I worked without a check cord, and was amazed how much difference there was in mines behavior by simply taking a knee amd calling him in with my arms open. Then praise when she returns. And as mos have said dont chase, as it becomes a fun game at that point.

Puppies by nature don't come stubborn. If they aren't doing what you want, they haven't been taught the correct expectation. Formal OB generally begins when the puppy teeth are gone and somewhere around 5-7 months old. At five months it is often a question of mental maturity rather than natural ability. Sometimes pups aren't ready until much later.

Too ofen puppy training is not well thought out and/or doesn't adjust for the uniqueness of each pup. They are not all created equal. Too often puppy owners want the pup to fetch before they are ready. "Here" is often an after -thought. This link shows the process that makes "here" a top priority. My pups never have a chance to learn "keep away".

Everyone, Thanks for all the info. One thing I don't do is chase her when she runs from me, I was just wondering if it was normal. Really, when she starts running from me, that is when I stop working with her. Then later that evening, i start working with her again. Seems that she works better in the evening. I will just have to keep up what I'm doing and hope for the best.

Thanks again for all the info.

a half a dog treat when the bumper is delivered back to hand works wonders. Every time for a session or two, once or twice a session after that. It works with other commands well too.

when she runs from you and will not come to you yell her name and run the oppisite direction!! i have a 16wk old chocolate and when i heard this i did not think much of it but it works!! And no dis to the post above me but treats for obidience not retrieving! Every one has there own way, there is a new video out my trainer showed me and the trainer in it never uses a single treat. So its really your call

remeber thier attention span is short might want to back way up to basics and remeber less is more. Try retrieves in a hallway w/ doors closed so she has no escape routes. Maybe 3 or 4 retrieves then put bumper away. it will make her think this is a fun thing when u get it out next time and help her learn to bring it straight back or the game is over. After no problems u can give some more escape routes but if she veres off no more retrieves and she will understand the gig

A quick note on the treat thing, the retrieve is supposed to be the reward but for a dog that just doesn't have the drive to, sometimes you have to make them want to. That is what I had to do. One session with training treats. The next session, every other retrieve got a treat. Next session, only when she wouldn't bring it back (bout every 4th or so). By the next session, she didn't need any treats to keep her coming back to me and waiting for me to throw it for her to run and get it again. My unprofessional opinion, use it if you need to but don't rely on it and ween them off it very quickly if you do. All you are doing with them is creating a positive situation for bringing it back. I'd guess that using the treat, and having her run back to you will make you feel better about the situation, which will greatly help with training by your mind being in the right state.

thats about when I busted mines ass with the shock collar