When Your Dog Should Enter the Hunt

Young dogs take a while to develop into the hunting or field trial champion you want. Your knowledge that the pup you chose is from proven hunting stock is just the beginning.

I've been spoilt. During the hunting and field trial seasons, I've always had older, experienced dogs to depend on. When me dogs are young, they tag along on the hunt to get a taste of the excitement stirred up by the older dogs. They don't hit the hunting field until they're mature enough and their obedience training shows they're ready.

I reckon young dogs shouldn't have bird contact until their obedience training is down pat. They oughta heel and stop before they even get a gander at a bird. They should also know the commands here and come. Top-notch bird dogs are birdie by nature; they don't need to chase birds to get birdie. Plus, they don't need to be taught to point; it's in their blood to point. I honestly reckon that bird work can take a back seat for a couple of months until the foundation of a well-trained mate and hunting buddy has been established.

A first time dog owner often wants to show off their new mate by shooting birds over him while their mates watch, hoping for a top-notch performance. I've been to heaps of field trials where the owners of three-to-six month old pups will shoot cock pheasants over their dogs, sometimes only nicking the bird, but sending the dog for a retrieve. These owners don't realise the harm they might be doing to their dog. If a pheasant isn't properly taken out when the dog goes for the retrieve, the bird's flapping wings can cause damage. Or even worse, what if the young dog gets spurred in the gob? The damage could well leave you with a dog that's scared of birds when hunting.

Dogs, like people, have different personalities. You've gotta learn to read that personality and adjust your training methods accordingly. Bring that pup along slowly and make sure you're on the same page while training.

Me eight-year-old German shorthair pointer, Riley, was brought along slowly. At nine months old, her focus was on obedience before she was introduced to birds. She was made to stand her birds for three months before a bird was ever shot for her. She was also force broke to retrieve at this time. To this day, she always remains focused when in the bird fields, remembering her early training. Because of this training, she rarely breaks to wing and shot. I am a firm believer that young dogs should be worked on pigeons. They're readily available and if not cleanly dispatched will not hurt the dog in any manner.

Introducing a young dog to wild birds too early may cause bad habits which will be hard to correct later. At this young age, you could very well encourage him to hunt for himself rather than for you.

Follow a good training program and allow your young dog to enjoy being a puppy. With early obedience lessons instilled, the young dog will know that he must listen to the boss at all times. If he should become distracted while in the field, a loud “heel” should bring him to your side. With the proper training, in a few years you should have a field trial competitor or a great all-around bird dog that enjoys hunting both with and for you.

Always check your local and state regulations related to dog training and the use of game birds on private and public property.