Do's
- lots of fun and play with the pup
- a few thrown retrieves with no pressure and let the pup run in to it, stroke the dog when the pup comes back to you and don't go straight for the dummy
- sitting for its tea/breakfast (do not get angry with it if it doesn't because the pup doesnt really understand what its doing as of yet)
- recall whistle make it nice and fun and big fuss when she comes to you
- build the bond up with your pup
- At around 6 months old go to a PROFESSIONAL GUNDOG TRAINER
Get it right now and you will have a good gundog for the next 10 years.
- Always train with kindness and not anger
Don'ts
- Don't do too many retrieves, 3 max in one session and 2-3 sessions a week.
- Don't do let the dog have too much free hunting, half the 'walk' should be on the lead (don't worry about heel until later on when the trainer advises you too). This will stop the dog not wanting to come back to you when it is older, this problem is normally created from too much free hunting, also the dog will discover game before you want it too and can in turn create retrieving problems.
- Don't play tug of war with the pup as it can cause hard mouth to the dummy or whatever it is retrieving. Some say you can do it and it doesn't cause hard mouth but I dont like to take the risk personally.
- Don't give the dog squeeky toys
- Give the dogs treats (a debatable subject but I personally give dogs treats, they have to do things for me and their reward is me sounding like a big girl and giving them lots of fuss and/or a nice fun retrieve for them.
- Don't get mad if the dog isn't doing what you want too, the chances are he/she doesn't understand what you want of it, if you are getting mad just pack up and try again another day.
There's loads more but this should be a good for you to start off on the right foot.
Chris
