Article and photos by Steve and Jodie Ries, Top Gun Kennel
Is it possible that our spring puppy will be ready for the upcoming hunting season?
Yes, your new hunting partner is about to start paying you back for the time and efforts you’ve committed to at this point. We’ve completed introductions to basic commands, rides in a vehicle, habitat cover, water, birds and gunfire. So, are you ready?
Let’s compare our current situation to athletes who practice all the fundamentals of the sport they participate in to contribute to the success or outcome of the game. It doesn’t matter which sport. “Game day” can open up a whole new level of questions, doubts and obstacles that come up when least expected.
Here’s an example: Your friend invites you to join him on opening day and wants you to bring your new hunting dog. You accept and are excited to show off your puppy and his training results as he has his first opportunity to hunt wild birds. Your friend has a lot of good hunting ground and apparently has a lot of other friends as you show up early that morning only to see a crowd of people with a variety of hunting dog breeds. There are first time hunters, pre-teens and even some veteran hunters in the group, and your first hunt is going to be in standing corn or cattails. Stop! Okay, now that we have your attention, are you ready?
There are two training commands we want to make sure our young dogs have down prior to game day to contribute to the success in their first experience with wild bird hunting.
When our training dogs reach six months of age, we start to overlay training collars with commands to help replace using leashes and check cords in the bird field. Two of the most important commands we want to focus on are the recall command with “here” and “whoa,” which is used to stop them so you can remain in control if the unexpected happens and safety is at risk.
The recall command is used when we need to be able to call them away from safety issues, undesired game, traffic or property boundaries. We often get mixed results from this command because of our lack of consistency with the response required and timing with corrections. Simply put: Don’t allow this command to have options with regard to a response from your hunting partner. Call your dog by their name followed by command “here” with your finger on the transmitter ready to apply correction if the proper response isn’t provided. This isn’t a moment of revenge with correction, either. Simply use the proper level of pressure to receive the response needed.
The “whoa” command has many different training methods used by trainers today. We place a belly collar near the flank area that fits snug enough to allow free movement. We place this on our young dog for a week before starting to apply any form of pressure to reinforce our check cord with verbal or visual command. Start with low pressure, read and adjust to the level of pressure as needed for the individual while teaching pressure on means to stop and stand still. Then, we heel them around and stop them with both a check cord and stimulation under their waist. We’re always amazed at how well this works with proper levels of stimulation, correct timing and consistency when using the check cord with pressure applied simultaneously. Once the young dog has learned how to correctly respond to the pressure by standing until released, we’ll allow them to reach out from the heel position to teach standing still at any distance. Within a couple of weeks of consistent training, they should be able to stop and stand at the end of a 25-foot check cord.
Proper planning allows better opportunities for success.
When planning your first hunt, it’s important to select who will join you. Find someone you can trust who understands the game isn’t as important as the risks to your young dog. Select the type of cover that allows you to watch your dog. Speaking from experience, unexpected setbacks can be created at a critical time during hunting season. You want to have all your equipment charged, packed and ready, including water bowls and bottles to carry with you. Bring a first aid kit for any unforeseen situation and a protective vest for your young dog.
We need to remind ourselves that the birds we used to acclimate and train on this past summer had a lot less survival instincts than those you will be pursuing in the field. Allow your hunting partner to gain experience with opportunities that you simply cannot put into a training situation. Recognize and enjoy the mistakes made to build on together in future training. Work on natural retrieving and allow them to build confidence in carrying the game around and back to you to share their prize with welcoming praise.
Most importantly, enjoy this time together in the field knowing there will be many good days ahead making memories together. These moments will become the stories you share with family and friends and a way to reflect in future years.
Steve and Jodie Ries, owners of Top Gun Kennel have been breeding, raising and training German shorthaired pointers for the past 30 years. Their focus today is working with other breeders and trainers to continue meeting the needs and goals of versatile hunting and family dog owners. Steve and Jodie are co-founders of the Aiming for a Cure Foundation.
