Gun Dog Forum

So in two weeks I will have my first hunting dog (a GSP). I've never trained a bird dog before and I've never bird hunted, any crucial information I need to get ahold of before his arrival? I've purchased the navhda green book and a grouse hunters guide (oh yea, I anticipate hunting primarily grouse, but would like to use the full potential of the breed and take other species on as well), will these books suffice as a solid primer? I'm afraid that my greenness will result in some major oversight. In other words, what should I be doing now to insure that my dog will become a good hunter?

Sorry for the long windedness, I'm sure you've all been through a similar stage of excitement.

www.huntsmith.com

I suggest you attend the seminar that is in Grand Junction, TN in September. If you do I would get the Puppy Development video and that will give you a head start.

Look into your local NAVHDA chapter and join if you have one. Lots of experienced people who can help you at all stages of your training.

In a broad sense, there are three phases in the life-cycle of a bird dog: 1. Development 2. Formal Training 3. Maintenance and Enhancement.

One of the most important things you can do is to let the Development phase happen and not rush into the Formal Training.

Read the archives here, ask questions. There are lots of very experienced people here (I don't claim to be one of them).

You'll read over and over about "Let the pup be a pup". Many (I'm one of them) advocate this to be about a year.

That doesn't mean that you're ignoring your pup. Quite the opposite, in fact. It just means that you don't do training that pressures the pup.

So, IMHO, your first year is about developing drive and independence. While there is a minimum of obedience, this phase is NOT about obedience.

Take it FWIW,

Thanks for the responses.

Greg,

It makes me feel better to know that I don't have to be ready right away to implement a strict training program. When, though, in your opinion is it ok to begin hunting with a new pup, should that wait at least a year also?

My last dog had pointed and retrieved wild chukars by the time she was 6 months old (she had already been introduced to gunfire and birds prior). I went into the hunting season thinking I would just let her be a puppy and if she found birds - Great, if she pointed them - even better, if she held point and retrieved - What more could I ask for? I let her have fun and tried not to put any pressure on her and it worked out perfect (the next season she still had fun, but was under control).

Rut