Tips for gun training and retrieving with a mixed breed dog?

Please refer to this article about soft vs hard mouths in Retrievers. I hate to keep sending to you articles but the questions you are asking are in depth and we don't have a lot of space here to write. ( https://dogdiscoveries.com/retrievers-soft-mouth/ )

Do not allow Phoenix off leash until she is coming back consistently. Use a long lead (not a retractable one) and practice recall. Allow her to go a very short distance from you initially then recall her. If she returns, praise and reward her. If she does not return, prompt her with a gentle tug while calling her name. Gradually increase the distance as she progresses. Always carry treats/rewards in your pockets. A treat/reward should take her no more than a second or two to eat. Be firm and be consistent in training. Praise and reward compliance, correct non compliance immediately. For house training, reinforce crate training (again if necessary). The crate should only be big enough for Phoenix to stand, turn around and lay down. Put her on a consistent schedule for elimination. Dogs thrive on routine. Going out every half hour does not teach her bladder control. She should go out FIRST thing in the morning. Pick a spot outside and wait. No walks until she goes. Praise and reward her when she goes. Place her back in the crate or on a leash attached to your hip so you can watch for her cues to go. Do not leave her unsupervised inside, even if confined to a room, until she is house trained. She should go out once or twice more during the day. Take up the water 2 hours before bedtime and take her out right before bedtime. Be patient. Be consistent.

Both Golden Retrievers and poodles were originally bred to be hunting dogs and like to chase and hunt. In my opinion, Golden Retrievers tend to be more easily excited. Fortunately both breeds are usually 'easy' to train, so if these behaviors are undesirable you might be able to curb them with some basic obedience training.

If the entire family can't be consistent in Zach's training it's going to be a tough battle getting him to follow rules. You need to first get your family on board with training as a whole before any big changes can be made. I would also talk to a trainer in your area who can be there in person, or enroll in a basic obedience class together so that you can start working on proper leash walking behaviors in addition to helping him calm down in a more structured environment. If the two dogs start to fight, separating them for a while before reintroducing is best, as well as making sure they aren't together without supervision. For the herding, that is a natural instinct in herding breeds and is something you probably won't be able to train out.

Hello, yes they may as long as he has the adequate training. However, his long coat and big frame may limit him to short hunting ranges and likely in cooler temperatures and climates. You can contact a local trainer or someone who specialized in training hunting dogs for advise on training Woof. Best of luck.

Training a disobedient large breed dog with bad habits can certainly be happy. However, in the end, the use of positive reinforcement will always reign supreme. Depending on what motivates Roscoe most will need to be what you choose to make Roscoe want to listen. I think this is a perfect case for clicker training. A clicker is a device that makes a clicking noise when you press down on it. Basically you want to first teach Roscoe that the click is associated with something good happening, which is called "charging" or "priming" the clicker. Once Roscoe understands that the clicking noise is associated with food or treats, you will be able to use this tool to your advantage. You should carry the clicker with you at all times and make sure to use it any time you are rewarding Roscoe. In terms of the jumping and mouthiness, you need to be very careful not to inadvertently reward inappropriate behavior. I realize that that gut reaction to something jumping or biting at you is to yell or push away. Unfortunately, this is not going to get the picture across to Roscoe. Instead, what you want to do is simply turn away or move your hand away. Continue to do this until Roscoe stops this behavior on his own and sits calmly. It is at this point that you want to click and reward. Dogs that are extremely disobedient sometimes need to have more strict boundaries than other dogs so that they be good pets. It is possible that you may eventually have to train Roscoe so that he knows not to enter your personal space until you have given him permission. With respect to biting, obviously this is an extremely bad behavior for a large breed dog. Rather than saying no, you will want to deflect his attention to something else. I would teach him the "touch" command. Since he tends to bite, you will want to train him to touch something like a stick or a rod of sorts. As soon as he starts to do the biting thing, you will want to get him to touch the object. If he does this, click and reward. With repetition and consistency, this should resolve the issue. In regards to walking, pulling can sometimes be resolved with a change in the type of collar. Some dogs do better with different types of harnesses or gentle leaders, while others do fine with conventional collars. Some even require choke collars, though I usually reserve these as a last resort. You should be teaching your dog the heel command, and be using the clicker in this case as well to reward the appropriate behavior. However, until you figure out what type of collar / harness works best for Roscoe it will be difficult to train him appropriately. Behavior issues are often complex and somewhat difficult. Don't be afraid to go out and get a trainer or go to some obedience classes. You can even speak to a vet that has some interest in behavior that is willing to work with you. If there is anything else that I can do, don't hesitate to reach out. I'd love to work with you.

Based on your desires I would recommend a Labrador or Golden retriever. They are eager to please dogs and so easier to train than huskies or hounds and tend to stay close. They also have less of a prey drive than some of the other breeds so less of a risk to your other pets though every dog can be different, I had labs growing up with rabbits and birds and little creatures and they did not harm them.