Feeding:

1 cup dry kibble with warm water added, you may add a heaping tablespoon of cottage cheese to this mixture, 3 times a day.  I prefer Eukanuba Large Breed Puppy.

Retrieving:

With the TV on for distraction, try retrieving in a family room.  Have the puppy sit facing the direction that you are going to throw.  With a canvas puppy dummy, toss it a few feet away and release by saying your puppy's name.  When the puppy reaches the dummy, clap your hands and call out Hurry, Hurry, Hurry.  If the puppy does not bring it to you, just reach over and grab the training dummy playfully and do the exercise again.  Do this simple exercise 5 to 10 times, consistently throughout the day. If the puppy becomes confused, simply go back to the hallway.  If your puppy refuses to retrieve, put the puppy away in it's crate or it's special place and try again later.  Do not keep it in a crate for too long of a time, only long enough time to take a nap.  When you take it out of it's place, immediately take it outside to go potty.  Take it then back to the hallway and try again with the retrieving.  If it won't retrieve, again go put the puppy away in its place.  Keep repeating this and as soon as it retrieves, even just once - say Good girl/boy and stop.  Try again tomorrow.

Potty:

Take the puppy outside whenever he/she starts to smell the floor or about every two hours, especially after feedings.  Stand over the puppy and several times say - Go Potty, until he/she goes.  Make sure the second he/she goes, several times tell the puppy Good Boy/Girl, and take him/her back inside.  If the puppy goes potty in the house, and if you catch it in the act you may scold it by telling him/her No, No, No with a gruff voice and placing it outside (if your yard is fenced, if not, you will have to go outside with the pup).  Wait about 5 - 10 minutes and go outside, encourage the puppy to come to you and not be afraid by giving it a lot of love.  Bring the puppy back into the house.  If the puppy goes potty in the house and you did not catch it in the act, do nothing.  Clean it up immediately and try to watch your puppy better.

Overall:

Don't be afraid to add a little pressure to the puppy as long as you follow it up with love, your puppy will adapt just fine.  Physically the puppy is immature, but at the age of 7 weeks, his/her brain will have attained full adult form.  You will be amazed at what your puppy can do.  Right now, the important thing is that the puppy adjusts to the rules of your home, is coming to you and retrieving.  Remember, "never spoil your bird dog," yeah right, as you have it lying next to you on the couch, rubbing it's belly, hand feeding it a piece of cheese and of course kissing it's little face.

Week 3  Training My Puppy by  Kathy Stevens

Feeding:

1 cup dry kibble with warm water added, you may add a heaping tablespoon of cottage cheese to this mixture, 3 times a day.  At this age you can introduce a persimmon or tomato a couple of times a week it is very high in Vitamin C.

Retrieving:

Your puppy should be retrieving very well by now.  This is a good time to introduce doubles.  Go back to the hallway, face your puppy in the direction you are going to throw.  Hold the puppy as you throw the dummy, then continue holding the pup while you throw the second dummy.  Call your puppy name and the second it reaches one of the dummies say - Hurry, Hurry, Hurry.  When the puppy gets back to you, take the dummy, face the puppy towards to second dummy and say your pup's name.  If the puppy does not go, get the dummy, just playfully reach over, pick it up and do this exercise again.  Make sure to do this within a few feet away until your puppy catches on that there is something out there.  This is an exercise that builds trust.  A retriever at this age believes in what it sees and has a very short memory.  Repetition is what is going to teach your pup to be a good retriever.

Potty:

You will find that your puppy is now starting to pick up on going potty outside very eagerly.  I am a big fan on dog doors.  You will find by now if you have one, your puppy is most likely using it freely to go in-and-out to go potty.  If the pup is having a difficult time adjusting to not going potty in the house, please read further.  Training your puppy to hold it's bladder can be a little tricky sometimes.  Your puppy is now old enough that it has to decide, is the repercussion worth the temporary sensation of urinating anytime on your carpet whenever he/she feels like it.  If the puppy goes potty in the house, grab the puppy, swiftly say "no potty outside" and with a rolled up newspaper, swat it next to the floor by the puppy or alternatively you can swat the newspaper in your other hand next to the puppy loud enough to get its attention.  If the puppy goes potty in the house and you did not watch it in the act, do nothing.  Clean it up immediately and try to watch your puppy better.

Obedience:

This is a good time to introduce a nylon flat collar and a nylon 6' leash.  Start taking your puppy for a walk around the yard.  Go slow and have patience.  Gently pull the puppy towards you and say "here."  When the puppy reaches you, pet him/her and say Good girl/boy.  Reach down and gently push the puppy's butt down to the ground and say "Sit."  Say Good girl/boy, if the puppy stands back up just gently push its rear back down again and repeat "sit."  Try to keep this up a few times and give the pup a lot of praise.  Oh yeah, and don't forget, never spoil your bird dog!

Thank you Kathy for this valuable information.  To reserve training for your dog in the California area you may contact Kathy @  909-797-8738 or email: retrieverlover@earthlink.net.