Rookie Trainer

SaboTheGreat · Post by **SaboTheGreat** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:33 pm

Hi, I have been reading everyone's training secrets for some time now, but this is my first posting. I have had my pup for about 12 weeks now and it is my first bird dog I have ever owned, Sabakous The Great is 20 weeks old now. She is a GSP and an amazing pup, she seems to pick up on the little things pretty well and listens to me without question. The only things I have worked with her on are sit, come and kennel. She gets plenty of exercise daily and weekend I take her to a state owned property where I used to hunt so she can run and take in the different smells. I just purchased "The Perfect Start" but haven't received it yet. I am worried that I may be a little behind in her training.

My Main questions are, do any of you use quail sent at first, or do you try to stick with birds. Also using pigeons or quail is there anything I should avoid with either? I have a million questions and several have been answered just by reading all the other posts. If there is any advise anyone would like to give at this age of my pup it would be appreciated. Happy hunting![/b]

SwitchGrassWPG · Post by **SwitchGrassWPG** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 4:02 pm

Start out with good flying pigeons. Also, if you have a NAVHDA chapter close by, join and attend ervery possible training day. You won't be sorry.

Jay

TrueBlu Shorthairs · Post by **TrueBlu Shorthairs** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 4:12 pm

Find a well respected amateur or pro trainer who can mentor you and the pup. It is one thing to read books and see videos, but the only way to learn to read dogs is by getting your hands on as many as you can.

My first advice is don't even consider scents. Scents don't smell like the real thing, drags make dogs run with their noses on the ground. Find someone who raises flight conditioned quail and free release them. Yes, they are more expensive than homers, but after all we will hunt quail. Free release them in light cover, not hard planted, and let pup find them. Let her point, bump, chase, whatever she wants to do for now. She needs to be taken out, learn to hunt, be somewhat independent, learn to use the wind, to point and naturally hold her birds. After all, she will need to learn to hold them until you get there. Free released good flyers will hopefully flush hard if pup jumps in. She will most likely catch a few, but a FEW is not a problem.

I'd advise you to go easy on the sit work. Let her run, hunt, be independent and bold, and you keep your mouth shut!!

Ask tons of questions. It is far easier to do it all right than to fix problems.

Yawallac · Post by **Yawallac** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 4:24 pm

I am worried that I may be a little behind in her training.

That's probably a good thing. Let her be a pup... That is the single biggest mistake new owners make. Take her out just like you are doing and let her build independence. Just like Trueblu suggested, keep your mouth shut!

Also, no scents.

gonehuntin' · Post by **gonehuntin'** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:37 pm

The DVD you have ordered is great. Might as well get the Perfect Finish also, you'll need it soon enough. Plenty of time for the pup, no rush yet.