Spending Time To Get To Know Your Gundog Is So Important
But until your gundog is trained well enough that you can go hunting with him can be a long ways off and there is a lot to do in the meantime.
Before you launch yourself into training, it is important that you take the time to get to know your gundog and to start making a one to one connection with him. Remember that when you get into the field, you will want to be able to read your dog from the distance and you will also want him to have such a connection to you that he listens immediately to your command. Having a gundog that won’t listen in the field can be dangerous to the dog since he could be injured, especially if you are using live rounds.
Getting to know your gundog starts from the minute that you arrive home with him. It is important to take time to simply observe your puppy. Answer personality questions about your gundog puppy. Is he timid? Does he charge right into something new? Does he explore? Many puppies show their personalities at a young age and you can start to discern how your dog will react to new experiences and even training.
Another great reason to observe your puppy and later on your gundog is to learn his cues. All dogs have cues and you can pick up on them very quickly. My black Labrador Retriever will begin to creep when he is about to head off to get into something. Once I see the creeping, it is a firm indicator to me that he is planning something that isn’t good, such as sneaking to the bathroom toilet or stealing tissues out of the waste basket, and I can head him off at the pass. Other cues that you can get from your dog is when he needs to go out, when he is scared or when he is excited.
Being able to read your dog will aid you in training and working your dog. Observing your dog will allow you to learn his personality and also what motivates him and what doesn’t. So in a sense, observation is a great way to get to know your dog.
While you are getting to know your dog, it is important that your dog can get to know you. This will actually aid you in training and will ensure that you are making a one to one connection with your dog.
One of the best ways to make a connection with your dog is to be the primary caregiver for your dog. Make sure that all of his needs are taken care of and that you provide him with water, food, play time, exercise and quiet time. Interactions do not need to be in the form of play and a quiet period where you are simply stroking his back can be a great way to make a one on one connection.
What all of these interactions are teaching your dog is that you are the alpha in the pack. The leader that will ensure all of his needs are being taken care of. In this role, you will need to establish trust. You can do this through providing firm rules that both you and the dog will follow. It is also important to nurture the trust through positive reinforcement and firm, but not harsh, corrections. Don’t hit your dog or abuse it in anyway and only use a firm “no” when you are correcting behaviour.
One of the main areas where you will find yourself making a one to one connection with your dog is through training. I have seen this time and time again and the person who trains the dog is usually the person who the dog has the strongest connection to. For this reason, I always promote owners training their own dogs but I also recommend that you get the advice and or aid of a professional gundog trainer, especially if you have never trained a gundog before.
When you are training your dog, use positive reinforcement and never give a command twice. Also, make sure that your dog has clear ideas of when a command starts and when it ends.
Personally, I use the command “release” to indicate that training has finished and the dog can relax and just be a dog. I also use “watch” to get a dog to re-establish his connection during training. To do this, you simply hold the bait near your face so he is watching your face, you may have to move the bait near his face and then up to your own to do this. Once he makes eye contact, say “Watch,” and then treat. As your dog grows to understand the command, you can stop treating and “watch” tells your dog that even with a connection, you want him to pay attention.
Remember that when you are making a connection with your dog that you do so in a positive manner and you continue to get to know your dog and build on that connection throughout your dog’s life.