A puppy’s first year

[ruffbritt3]

Hello everyone, I am a former member who had to create a new account after a long hiatus and the inability to remember my password. I've had a few dogs since I first started, and just last month picked up my fourth Brittany. He's about 4.5 months old now and has been a lot of fun.

Up to this point, we have worked on basic obedience training and a few outings on pigeons. I was using the positive pigeon drill that Standing Stone Kennels uses, and most recently moved to birds in launchers. While working with birds, I have done my best to keep my mouth shut and just let the birds teach the dog. After only a few pigeons, he was holding point until I walked in and launched the bird.

My past dogs were started on birds from anywhere between 5 months and 1.5 years of age. I'm aware that you can push training too fast and try to be contentious of that. The pup just seems to be a quick learner, although I'm sure the training wheels will fall off at some point

I'm curious to hear what you guys think. Should I continue working with pigeons, and properly introduce gunfire in the next few weeks? Take the pup out this fall in a no pressure environment and just let him experience all the sights and sounds in the woods with hopes of finding a few birds along the way? Should I pump the brakes entirely? I have 2 other dogs at this time, one who is 9 and one who is 3. I'm happy with the way my training has developed each dog I've owned, and there is no rush or expectation of hunting over a steady dog this fall.

Thanks!

[Compton30]

Personally I'd focus on a very thorough gun introduction and then just take him hunting this fall. I also wouldn't hunt him with the other dogs, yet anyway. Steadiness can wait until later.

[wihunter]

I also have a pup around the same age. End of April birthday.
At about 14/15 weeks old I introduced mine to a pigeon in the form of just getting him excited - no launchers or anything. He was all over that chasing and such so we did blank guns from far back moving in, by the 3rd session of the day we were able to be 5-10 yards back with a blank pistol and he had 0 care in the world. Also dropped him on some recall pheasant to get some chasing and running in, got a couple points, called it a day.
Couple weeks later did the same thing but progressed further, now shooting blank gun when he is on the recall birds.
I wouldn’t do too much launcher work - I haven’t with mine for the reason of potentially bird/launcher scared or launcher smart. After those two times I then just did some normal recall work for a couple weeks then got him just running free on the prairies searching for Sharptail, pointed a snipe.
Like mentioned I’d focus on gunfire, could take a long time could be quick like mine. Gotta pay attention to the dog to not overdue it in one day or one week etc. we watched mine closely when going thru that many progressions of it in a day, and typically isn’t the speed we would do it but he excelled thru it.
I’d do less with pigeons and try and get on some wild birds. Pigeons are great but wild birds make wild bird dogs and pigeons are what steady the dog as you have full control. Pigeons off and on mixed with wild birds would be great too.

Definitely take him out in the woods and let him run try and get him into some wild birds with no expectations.
Good luck!

[ruffbritt3]

Thanks for the replies! That’s the game plan once I get him gun broke, nothing but grouse and woodcock. The launcher and pigeon work has just been the foundation. I make pretty darn sure I launch the bird long before it could ever scare him.

This leads me to another question, when do you introduce the ecollar? I understand he’s a pup, but have heard everything from 4 months to 1 year. I only use it as a cue to get the desired response, and understand the right and wrong ways to use it for learning. This is just my first time with a spring puppy

Thanks

[Max2]

I like bonding and puppy play the first year. Enjoy your new pup's ! Time goes so fast ! Probably a lot of others who don't post up that have new pup's(friends) on the ground also now and are reading here . Enjoy ! keep a cool head, always end training on a positive note and one thing I remember my first breeder telling me as he handed off my first pup ~ Once you got them coming you got it licked !

[wihunter]

I would put the collar on him and have him get used to having to carry it on his neck, if it seems to be too heavy yet at this age wait a bit a try again when he get a a little bigger.
In the past I would wait till 6months to introduce it and condition it. Doing the same thing with my current. He’s worn it many times outside and running on the prairies but never had stim or vibrate. I typically use a check cord so I can pull them in to help it click that doing the command turns the stimulation off - whether it’s actual stim or vibrate. I personally start with vibrate on pups

[ruffbritt3]

Thanks for the info. Been putting the collar on him when we go on runs and wrapped up the gun intro this weekend.

I like bonding and puppy play the first year. Enjoy your new pup's ! Time goes so fast ! Probably a lot of others who don't post up that have new pup's(friends) on the ground also now and are reading here . Enjoy ! keep a cool head, always end training on a positive note and one thing I remember my first breeder telling me as he handed off my first pup ~ Once you got them coming you got it licked !

Absolutely! They are just too much fun. I like that last part too and can see the truth in it!