Baby "Happy Timing"

[mountaindogs]

No birds or anything, just an early romp in the field. Not ranging far or knowing what to do, just playing. Good times though.
http://youtu.be/uu9MdGSQSso

[DonF]

He's doing just right. Love that age!

[SafetyChain]

Looks great! At what point did you decide he could run free? I am afraid to let my 10 week old Brittany go just yet.

[AZ Brittany Guy]

Great time in their life for both of you.

[mountaindogs]

I am blessed with a big space... bit I get puppies running free a few times a week as early as I can. She is 9 weeks here. At that early age she is afraid to be out alone so she easily learns to pay attention to where I am. It makes handling easier if I start before they want to leave
but part of the goal of happy timing is getting her comfortable in the field away from me.

[AZ Brittany Guy]

Looks great! At what point did you decide he could run free? I am afraid to let my 10 week old Brittany go just yet.

Find a safe place like mountaindogs has. This is the time to teach them to come to you and go with you with no pressure. Also a time to keep them from becoming a "Velcro pup". There is a lot of reading out there that deals with this topic and stage of life. Mo Lindley talks about this in his book training with Moe.

[markj]

Nice pup, whos he out of?

[mountaindogs]

Here is another Happy Timing Session still baby stuff for the little girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... Uus4fkcG24

(Markj sending a PM)

[RoostersMom]

Looks great! At what point did you decide he could run free? I am afraid to let my 10 week old Brittany go just yet.

I'm of the opinion that you don't "wait" until they're ready to run leash-free, you start them out that way. For me, it's not when to let them go free but when to start reining them in from the free running. When they're small, they'll look to come back to you - as they get bigger, that's when you want to worry (or just work on recall when they're little with positive reinforcement).

[mountaindogs]

Looks great! At what point did you decide he could run free? I am afraid to let my 10 week old Brittany go just yet.

I'm of the opinion that you don't "wait" until they're ready to run leash-free, you start them out that way. For me, it's not when to let them go free but when to start reining them in from the free running. When they're small, they'll look to come back to you - as they get bigger, that's when you want to worry (or just work on recall when they're little with positive reinforcement).

well put, that's exactly it. Now if you have a very very busy neighborhood you do need to go to a more out of the way place.
You can see in video 1 she is staying very close mostly. In video two I had to zoom in on some shots and she is ranging more. But she looks back often to be sure I am around. She does not want to be left behind yet, and NOW is the time for her to learn to watch and listen for me. Later I'll have to "remind" her to do that when the field gets SO enthralling that she forgets about me.

[DoubleBarrel GunDogs]

Looks great! At what point did you decide he could run free? I am afraid to let my 10 week old Brittany go just yet.

I'm of the opinion that you don't "wait" until they're ready to run leash-free, you start them out that way. For me, it's not when to let them go free but when to start reining them in from the free running. When they're small, they'll look to come back to you - as they get bigger, that's when you want to worry (or just work on recall when they're little with positive reinforcement).

+1

There's no better teacher than experience. This is how a pup learns to be bold and confident in the field.

Nate

[robert_lh]

Good looking pup. I learned that the dog doesn't want to leave you at that age. Just keep your work with calling going with a check chord and plenty of pats and "good dogs". I'm sure that all dogs are different, but my 1 year old doesn't want to leave my side. By the time your dog does desire to wander from your side, be darn sure that NOTHING will keep that dog from coming when called. I have found the E-Collar to be a useful tool in my pup's learning as well, but not until they are older.

[Sharon]

Very enjoyable. Thanks.