A Few Tips For Training a New Pup

It isn’t easy and it is going to take time! Start with the basics. Sit, stay and come, and make him understand that a command given is to be obeyed. This is done through repetition but keep the sessions short. You must also understand that dog training isn’t a democracy, the pup has to understand that he has no say in what takes place. If the pup gets the idea that he can obey only when he feels like it, you are going to have problems.

There are lots of good books on dog training out there but my favorites are Gun Dog, Game Dog and Family Dog all by Richard Walters and have been in publication for over 30 years. These three great books will help you train your new pup without making lots of mistakes that will create consequences that you might have to live with for years. By avoiding a few common fundamental mistakes, you can help your pup achieve a high level of performance that you will enjoy for years.

Here are a few things in my opinion that you should not do with a new pup.

1. Don’t ever play tug-of-war if you want your pup to retrieve. That teaches him to play keep-away and teaches him he doesn’t have to give up the training dummies. Don’t let him chew or mouth training dummies either if you ever want an edible bird retrieved.
2. Don’t verbally or physically discipline a pup for picking up or carrying something you don’t want him to have. You might send him the message that retrieving is bad. Simply take it away from him.
3. Don’t use different terms for a command. For example, “Here” and “Come” mean the same thing so just pick one and stick with it.
4. Don’t chase a pup because you might scare him, or he might just see it as a game and you will have a harder time teaching him to come on your command.
5. Don’t ignore the small things like occasionally barking in the crate or kennel. Once these behaviors become ingrained, the more difficult they are to break.
6. Don’t let the pup get away with anything like sleeping on the sofa, stealing food, or eating birds that you don’t want him to do for life.
7. Don’t get stuck in a rut. Training in the same place at the same time with drills in the same order doesn’t allow him to think on his own. Teach him to adapt by varying his training grounds and routines.
8. Don’t discipline a dog randomly. Be careful that the pup can connect the discipline directly to his behavior. The same thinking applies to his rewards.

These simple don’ts will help turn you pup into the hunting dog that will give you more pleasure and pride that could possibly be explained in words. Please let me know your thoughts.

by Outdoors International