What's wrong with a 4-month old puppy?

[gottaflylee]

Best Lab that I ever had and trained was a gift that was given to me @ 6 months. I picked her up and put her in the front seat with me and drove home, 5 hour trip. She had her head in my lap most of the time. This was in June, trained her over the summer, every day and in Sept. she retrived her first Dove on to ducks in Nov. and Jan., got her first Goose. To this day, she was the best hunting buddy I have ever had...
Go for it, keep it next to you for the first few months and it will be with you for life...

[Foul Hook'd]

There is nothing wrong with a 4 month old, I got our's when she was 4mths. Breeder had kept her and 1 brother, then decided they already had too many. Rest of litter went for $450, we got her for $150, I tried to get her brother also but owner decided to keep him. Right out the box she went to the door when she had to go and to this day she has never had a slip up. I'm not into fowl hunting so I never shot over her but she has alot of her mom in her. Retreive she can, anything, wether it floats or not she finds it. Ice on the creek? no problem, I've stood in knee boats until my ankles killed me in Feb. trying to wear her out The day we got her her mother was on site and did everything she could to get someone to throw for her and Ellie is the same way. She is my partner and friend and wouldn't give her up for nothing.

I've been laid up all week with pneumonia and she has been by my side every minute, even growled at the wife trying to check my temp and the cat well.... has had to find a new spot to lounge.

Foul Hook'd

[carom]

Great advice guys, thanks a lot. I'm taking a drive with the wife next week to see the little guy in living color. It should be fun, I have never get a dog on my own....and this one I have a feeling that is gonna leave a mark.....in a good way....the wife is already pumped up. When she saw a pic of the puppy the only thing she said was "OMG, he's adorable, I just just found my new running partner"

[tunatamer4]

Good for you, and best of luck with him.

[Foul Hook'd]

Beautiful pup, look at those feet, great looking guy. First trip to the creek Ellie wouldn't go in, I thought great a lab that won't go swimming. The farmer I was helping at the time let his black lab out and after getting run over a couple times playing it kicked in and Ellie can't be kept out of water now. Getting her in the boat was a chore but now she's first one in and first one overboard.

Foul Hook'd

[tunatamer4]

Beautiful pup, look at those feet, great looking guy. First trip to the creek Ellie wouldn't go in, I thought great a lab that won't go swimming. The farmer I was helping at the time let his black lab out and after getting run over a couple times playing it kicked in and Ellie can't be kept out of water now. Getting her in the boat was a chore but now she's first one in and first one overboard.

Foul Hook'd

That's too funny. Kinda the same thing happened with my pup.
Scared to death of the water until he figured out he could swim. Now we can't keep him dry.

[tunatamer4]

Squid after his first swim.
Getting up the nerve for his first swim.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

A 4 month old lab is certainly trainable, lovable, petable, etc. Nothing wrong with a 4 month old puppy, perhaps unless someone starting training him and now you will have to continue that training or start/convert him to "your way".

The one thing you will/can not get with a 4 month old is imprinting. In my experience, there is no substitute for the permanent bond that can be established easily by having a 5-7 week old puppy imprint on you as his new master. Ever watch baby ducks or geese follow their mother in a line everywhere? Take the ducklings away and put them with dog and they will follow the dog everywhere - due to imprinting.

Same applies with a puppy. While they would normally imprint on their mother, forcing them to ween at 6 weeks gives you the chance to step in for mom. Let a puppy imprint on you and he will follow you, look for you, and defer to you for the rest of his life - naturally. NOTE: Puppies imprint primarily by smell so it is important that you interact with him and initially "keep him to yourself".

My favorite part of getting a new puppy - tried and true is to bring him home and let him sleep in the bed for a few nights, then next 6 weeks or so in the crate as has been suggested - then to the kennel to sleep quietly on his own. These first few weeks he only sleeps with me, is only fed by me, and only instructed by me. Building on the natural imprint, you will be amazed at the bond.

Google "Puppy Imprinting" - and I'm sure you'll find some compelling reading. Good luck!

could not agree more

Mike

[xxmacplherexx]

Once you go and see him or her in person itsall over..Good Luck....And these words are so true..A dog is mans best friend!!!!!!!!!