1st gundog

[Bobba_fett 117]

Hello, I have just paid the deposit for a springer bitch i will be picking her up if a few weeks. what age would you say i could start training her? I dont want to push her too soon and sicken her with it but i am really looking forward to doing some work with her, and idealy would love her to be ready (not 100%) for next years shoting season. any help would be great.

Thanks

[rickyspringer 15]

well good luck when the pup arrives, i'm made up for you and what a cracking choice of dog.

 

I would go steady with the training of the pup, lots of bonding get a nice relationship going with the dog, teach the pup to sit and have a quick recall. this will be your foundation for the future.

 

I would do some play retrieves, nice an easy to begin with,everything should be a game.

 

I would then get a lil more serious at 6 months and let some real training begin.

 

My own ground-rules are not to allow the pup to have free reign when young, it really has a detrimental effect, to make training fun and always finish on a good note.

 

Good Luck,

 

Keep us posted on how the pup go's and get some images up.

 

Hope I have been of some help.

 

Ricky

[Bobba_fett 117]

well good luck when the pup arrives, i'm made up for you and what a cracking choice of dog.

 

I would go steady with the training of the pup, lots of bonding get a nice relationship going with the dog, teach the pup to sit and have a quick recall. this will be your foundation for the future.

 

I would do some play retrieves, nice an easy to begin with,everything should be a game.

 

I would then get a lil more serious at 6 months and let some real training begin.

 

My own ground-rules are not to allow the pup to have free reign when young, it really has a detrimental effect, to make training fun and always finish on a good note.

 

Good Luck,

 

Keep us posted on how the pup go's and get some images up.

 

Hope I have been of some help.

 

Ricky

 

thanks alot ricky this has been helpful, so i can work on the sit/stay right away but start of slowly with it not to much to soon. what about walking to heel? I'v heard that its best to teach your dog this when its a puppy because at that age it will run along next to you anyway rather then wanting to run off.

[Dave C 63]

I do general obedience for the first 4 months then move onto using dummies, but still very gentle making it fun and games, sit stay, retrieving dummies, walking to heel that kind of stuff, but thats when i start introducing the whistle (when they have marstered the general obediance).

Only then do i move on to cold game and more serious training, now that could be at 6 months or allot longer depending on the dog, when he is ready, start hideing the dummies for blind retrieves, which starts them hunting, you then have to start controling him and inroducing the stop whistle.

Get yourself a good step by step DVD, it will be well worth it, but only move on in training when the last step has been mastered no matter what the age of the pup.

 

Good luck with it and keep us informed.

 

Dave.

[IWD 0]

I've just got a springer pup too could you recommend a good step by step dvd or book?

[Steve McHardy 2]

I've just got a springer pup too could you recommend a good step by step dvd or book?

i do things slightly different i introduce the stop/sit whistle whilst teaching them to sit when they are young. say sit then blow the sit whistle and use the hand signal at the same time but do the rest the same as the other guys always keep it a game and dont let the little bugger try an second guess you my present cocker was a wee shite for trying that one. for me recall and sit are the most important lessons to learn as they generally need no encouragement to hunt its getting them to stop hunting that the hard part. spaniels are great dogs and make excellent gundogs be patient and calm at all times whilst training there are loads of books and dvds out there. remember every dog is different in mentallity just like people so just take your time and you will end up with a dog welcome on any shoot.

atb with your new nutter. nothing!! has as much energy as a spaniel.

[lewismac1 1]

David Lisset's Set of 4 Dvd's is by far the best aid to help you get onthe right track.