am i a slacker?

[grimm]

reading through posts on this forum, i feel i am way behind the curve...

my pup is just about 3 months now. he knows sit well. we are working stand from sit. i cant get him to down from stand (i try to lure him down, but he just follows it down with his nose not his body.) i also have been taking him to a fenced in baseball field to work his recall the last couple of days. he has worked out retrieve by himself when i toss a ball and he brings it to me for more. i want a good solid obidience base for him but not really worried about tricks and such. i will probably be taking him to a class in a few weeks when he gets the last of his shots. i just feel (reading through posts) that everyone on here already would have had sit, down, stand, stay and a bunch of other things by this age. honestly, i just love hanging out playing with him and such, so we don't really train on a daily basis. am i going to regret this???

[Courtney]

I loved our first puppy class...have fun! You are not a slacker, you are engaging your puppy in play and enjoying him

When I was training down, I would take the treat/toy and actually push it somewhat under the belly as he was going down...he caught on quickly to lay all the way down.

I also think a long lead it a great training tool and great for working on recall.

Again, enjoy him, they grow fast!

[Angelina03]

I don't know much as I am a new dog owner; but I think that as long as you are training him and bonding with him; it shouldn't matter that your going slower. Just my thought...

[1sttimeforgsd]

Everyone goes at their own pace, as long as you are working with him he should be fine. Bonding with your pet is very important in the beginning and it seems like you have set up a good bond between the two of you.

[grimm]

thanks for your encouraging responses.

[BlackPuppy]

It's not a race, just enjoy your puppy. I don't do much training at all until my puppies are a year old.

[OriginalWacky]

I think that unless you have some sort of deadline, there is nothing wrong with going slower in training. As long as you're working with them, it's all good usually.

[doggiedad]

not training on a daily basis, yes, you're going to regret
it. if you want a well trained dog and highly socialized
dog i think you should train and socialize everyday, several times a day.
don't worry about the super pups and trainers. the people with
pups that's sits, comes, rolls over, stays, down, etc at 8, 9, 10,
11, 12 weeks old is questionable. enroll in a puppy class. after
the puppy class start an OB class. you love hanging out with
the pup. train the pup while you're hanging out. i start training
my dogs at 4 months old. they know a few things before 4 months
old but i call the formal training starts at 4 months.

Originally Posted by grimm

honestly, i just love hanging out playing with him and such, so we don't really train on a daily basis. am i going to regret this???

[grimm]

thanks doggiedad.

i plan on a puppy class when he turns 4 months (he will have all his vaccinations by then) and OB after. i have been socializing by car rides to different places and meeting family and a few neighbors. i dont want to over stimulate/stress him with tons of stangers and strange dogs too soon.

@blackpuppy and others

i am enjoying him a ton. i know its not a race. i am just a worried parent and want him to be confidient and such.

[MaggieRoseLee]

If you are socializing and exercising, as well as getting the house rules down, you are getting a good start of everything.

WAY extra credit if you are already signed up for dog classes!

The other easy thing I'd work on it 'engagement' type behaviors between the 2 of you. Click this --> Engagement - Key to Training