How Do People Train Hunting Dogs?

Choosing a Puppy

• The job of training a dog is made easier by choosing a puppy that comes from a well established line of ancestry. When choosing a puppy, it's a good idea to look into the history of the puppy's genealogy with the breeder and be sure to meet the puppy's parents if all possible. Training begins the moment you bring a puppy home. The sooner your puppy understands his name and the basic commands--"come," "sit," "stay/whoa," "heel"--the easier it will be to work on the more complicated aspects of dog training.

The Basics

• Repetition and dedication is the key to training in all stages of a dog's development; it is certainly critical in the early stages. At least one hour per day should be set aside for dedicated training on top of typical playtime with your puppy. Using a long leash is a great way to teach these commands because you can control your puppy's movements. Walking the pup with a short leash allows you to stop the animal on command. A gentle push down in the dog's behind when they aren't moving with the command "sit" said firmly will teach the obvious, and if you give the puppy lots of slack with the leash and call to him with the command "come," you can then reel him in close as you call. Rewarding a job well done is imperative, but be careful not to rely too heavily on treats--there is a place for these sometimes, but your praise and happiness with a job well done is of the greatest value.

Close Quarters and Farther Distances

• The nature of hunting with a dog requires the dog to often be separated from his handler by great distances, and sometimes voice commands aren't enough as the sound can grow muffled or confusing over long distances, especially if the wind is high. Therefore, when teaching commands in close quarters, many trainers also use hand signals. If you choose this option you must decide early on which signal fits with which command and use the same signal every time you say the command. The dog will eventually associate the hand signal with the voice command. Again, repetition and praise are important throughout the process. As your dog becomes comfortable with the commands in close quarters, slowly expand the distance, and if the dog is struggling, continue to use a long cord/leash to effectively correct mistakes.

Introducing Game

• Most commonly, dogs are used for hunting upland game birds in North America. In all cases, you must introduce a puppy to the scent of the quarry you intend to hunt most predominantly. Instinct will take over almost the instant this process begins. The wig of a duck, chicken or other bird can be used with bird dogs. One trick is to attach a wing to a fishing line on a fishing rod and cast it out for a puppy to stumble upon. A pointing dog will likely stop and point instinctively, and a retriever will naturally attempt to pick up the wing right away. The fishing line allows you to keep the wing from the puppy and, using the commands "whoa/stay" or "all right," you can control the puppy on the leash. Again, repetition and reward is a must.

Retrieving

• From the beginning, most hunting dogs will instinctively attempt to retrieve to their master. Controlling the retrieving process can begin right away by introducing the puppy to something of interest. This could be a simple tennis ball or a proper training dummy from an outdoors store. Trainers begin by simply tossing the item a few feet away and allowing a young puppy to track it down. When the puppy gets a hold of it, they'll call the puppy's name with another command, "retrieve" or "get it" perhaps, and continue the process, praising a job well done and correcting mistakes. It should be noted that many trainers of pointing dogs will choose not to train their dog to retrieve and will instead have the dog locate and point to the dead bird. Once again, repetition and reward are the critical pieces of any aspect of dog training.

From Puppy to Adult Companion

• The development of a good hunting dog is not unlike the development of a person in three phases: puppy/child, teenager and adult. From about 11 months old to 2 years old, your dog will go through the typical teenage stage. They should know what to do on command, but they often get distracted or even defiant and, at times, need a firm hand for correction. They will be introduced at this age to their first season in the field, and it is critical that you and your dog learn through this process together. In that first season with your teenager, you must be aware of every move the dog makes and continually correct and punish every mistake. Of course, rewarding a job well done is the best move you can make, and a vigilant first season with your dog will help him develop into a well-trained adult, and years of successful hunting with your companion will lie ahead.