My Kids would love a puppy but i always end up with a adult gundog like Charlie or my new gundog Tia (Above)

Everyone loves a puppy, even people who don’t really like dogs so it is no wonder that many people are interested in purchasing a puppy to start as a gundog than they are in purchasing an adult. While there are many advantages to purchasing an adult gundog as to purchasing a puppy, there are also several disadvantages.

Generally, many people feel that a good gundog will start training young and should be purchased as a puppy but I have seen many excellent gundogs come out of dogs purchased as adults. These are dogs, by the way, that have had no formal training in field work but they were still able to outshine the puppies that were bred and raised for field work only.

That being said, I want to look at the advantages and disadvantages of starting with an adult gundog. Like everything else to do with your dog, you will need to make the decision between whether you want to start with an adult dog or whether you want to start with a puppy. Believe it or not, this decision will greatly affect how you will approach gundog training and it may also affect the time it takes to get out for hunting, although this is not always the case.

Since I love to start on a positive note, I am going to start with the advantages of starting an adult gundog.

Advantages of Starting with an Adult Gundog:

• He may be trained completely. Depending on the dog you get, you may have a fully trained gundog on your hands which means that after a few months, until you have set up a bond with him, that you can start working him. Of course, the gundog might not be properly trained and then you will have to start at square one.
• You don’t have to housetrain. Usually this is a big bonus for starting with an adult dog. Most of them are house trained so you don’t have to deal with all the accidents in the house. If you have them outside, then you aren’t going to worry about this as much but it is still something to consider.
• Some of the potential health risks may be avoided. Since there are a number of health issues that occur before the dog reaches the age of two, purchasing an adult dog instead of a puppy may help you avoid some of the health risks. Of course, some do not appear until later in life so don’t expect to be free of all the risks.
• They can be fielded faster. Training a puppy can take a lot of time and is a lot of responsibility. Starting with a trained adult dog means that you can get out in the field much sooner than you could if you have start with a puppy.
• Basic training may be finished. If you are purchasing a dog that has not been trained for gundog training, you will probably be training a dog that has basic training. Since the building blocks are in place, you don’t really need to start with basic training and you can move on to the field training much faster.
• You avoid the puppy stage. While puppies can be very cute, they are also a lot of work and it just isn’t the housetraining that can be difficult. They are active, rambunctious and will constantly get into stuff. By purchasing an adult dog, you get to avoid that age and simply enjoy a steadier time with your dog, at least most of the time.

Disadvantages of Starting with an Adult Gundog:

• You may not bond with the dog. This can be one of the biggest disadvantages of starting with an adult dog since a lot of bonding takes place during the puppy stage. While you can still create a bond with an older dog, it may not be as strong as one that you have nurtured throughout your dog’s life.
• The dog may be improperly trained. Training is not always done correctly and when you purchase an older dog, you run the risk of all forms of training not being properly established. This is across the board with basic training, housetraining, and finally, field training.
• You might not know the pedigree. If you are purchasing a finished gundog, then chances are this won’t be a problem but if you are adopting a gundog breed from a shelter, there is no way to know the pedigree or if it came from field lines. This might not matter in the training, but then again, it may.
• You miss the puppy stage. Okay, I know I just cited this as an advantage but in some ways it is actually a disadvantage. There are many positives to starting with a puppy and while you avoid a lot of the cons if you start with an adult, you do miss all the positives.
• There may be several issues. Aggression, socialization problems, mouthing problems, and a variety of other issues can arise if you start with an adult gundog. It is not always easy to see these problems when you first purchase a gundog but they may be there and they may destroy any effort you make to work your adult gundog.
• You don’t know the dog’s history. The last disadvantage that I am going to mention is not knowing the dog’s history. Were there problems with the development? Did he receive all the proper vaccinations and medical treatments? Did he have any growing problems? Was he abused or neglected? Some things may be clear while others may not be evident until a major problem arises.

In the end, it is up to the individual to decide whether they want to purchase a puppy or start with an adult gundog. Both have their disadvantages and advantages but with a little work, you can have an excellent gundog no matter what age you purchase him at.

Ron Likes All His Dogs In Kennel's I Kind Of Disagree

Before I begin this blog post today, I just want to start off by saying that there really is no right way or wrong way to house your gun dog. Every breed, dog and owner will have different success and opinions on where a gun dog should be kept but when it comes down to the actual statistics of success, it is usually six to one and half dozen to the other.

Basically, that being said there are a number of breeds that do not thrive in a kennelling situation and you will find that I mention this in all the breed profiles that you will find throughout this site. In addition, every trainer will feel differently about housing issues but regardless of popular opinion, there are many pros and cons to keeping your gundog outside and I would like to address those today.

The Pros of keeping your hunting dog outside:

Like everything, there are always a number of pros that will come into play when you make your decision on housing your hunting dog and it is very important to look at them. Many trainers feel that the pros far outweigh the cons and often feel that housing a gundog inside will not only affect their training but will also destroy any potential to do so. That belief, in itself, is a good reason why you should kennel outside but it isn’t the only reason.

The gundog’s training is more controlled: This is one of the major pros of keeping your gundog in a kennel. When a gundog lives inside there are many bad habits that can occur. First, you are constantly training your dog and sometimes those lessons are very negative.

Since the gundog is given free reign of a house, he is less likely to listen when told to do something such as sit in place. Also, he is more likely to get into things that capitalize on his natural instincts. If he gets into something that would bring a correction, it can inadvertently teach him to ignore his natural hunting instincts.

A dog that is kept in a kennel is not constantly learning or capitalizing on negative behaviors and you can really say when and what he is learning or being trained to do.

The gundog has his own space: Something that is another pro is that the gundog has his own space outside. This is his room where he goes when training is over and he can take a break. It also provides a strong split from work and rest and your dog will know that he is going to be working the minute you open up the kennel door.

The gundog is eager to train: One behavior that most trainers have seen with their hunting dogs is the fact that they are always very eager to train. When their owners come up to the kennel, they know that now is the time to get out and get active. They are very excited to get to work and receive praise for all of their hard work.

In addition, training is a great way to break up some of the boredom the dog will feel in the kennel. This means that training, and hunting, is fun for the dog and he will usually be much easier to handle when you take him out since he is striving for his rewards and for a nice outlet for his energy.

The Cons of keeping your hunting dog outside:

Since I have mentioned the pros of keeping your gundog outside, it is only appropriate that I go over a few of the cons that can occur when you house your gundog outside.

The gundog is not well socialized: Although this is not the case with all kennel raised gundogs, it can be very easily since socializing is often overlooked by all dog owners, regardless of how their dog is used.

A gundog that is kept outside may not have much opportunity to learn about interacting with other people and animals and may become aggressive or timid when they are around anyone other than their owner and trainer.

The gundog may not bond: Again, another thing that may or may not happen but since a gundog is not interacting on a regular basis with their owners; they may not have as strong of a connection to them. If an owner takes the time to interact with his dog several times per day, then this bond will be built but if interaction is minimal, then the bond may not develop and you won’t have a dog that performs to his best potential.

The gundog may have behavioral problems: Remember, a kennel is a dog’s room and if you keep your gundog outside, he may become used to being king of that kennel. This can lead to dominance issues during training and it can also lead to territorial aggression.

In addition, gundogs that are kept outside, especially if it is a breed that is not suited for it, may begin to exhibit separation anxiety and will become destructive, may dig and will often bark, which can be a nuisance to both you and your neighbors. Lastly, the gundog may not housetrain completely and this can be a problem if you need to have him inside for any reason.

Even with the pros and cons, housing your dog is up to the individual owner and trainer and it is possible to utilize both your house and an outdoor kennel so that your gundog is given the best of both worlds with all the advantages.

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I Just adore Young Gundog Puppies

In an early post, I have talked about how performing a health check on a puppy and I looked at things to look for when you are purchasing a puppy. Today, I would like to talk about how to actually select a gundog puppy to ensure that you have a greater chance of choosing the best possible puppy from the litter.

Before I get into those points, however, I would like to mention a few things. First and foremost, when you are deciding on a puppy it is important that you really decide on a breed and that you know the breed. While I offer a lot of information about dog breeds here, I always stress the importance of meeting a breed in person and seeing it in action. The reason for this is because some breeds look amazing on paper but in person, you might find that you clash with the breed.

Once you have researched and chosen your breed, it is time to start looking for a breeder. My general rule of thumb is that choosing a good gundog puppy will take about 6 to 12 months from start to finish.

Depending on your breed, you might find yourself on a long waiting list and it can take over a year to get a puppy in your preferred breed from your preferred breeder, especially if it is a rare breed, so be prepared to wait.

When you are looking for a breeder there are a few things to be aware of.

1. Make sure the breeder is breeding field dogs. Some breeds have seen a branch off from their original use and it is not uncommon to find a breeder that only breeds show quality dogs. This isn’t to say that the show quality can’t be used in the field but many hunters have found that they get better gundog puppies when they purchase from field bred dogs.

2. All the health clearances should be done. This means hips, elbows and eyes should be checked and cleared and a health check should be done prior to breeding. If the breeder doesn’t do clearances, then run; don’t walk, away from that breeder.

3. Find a breeder that is knowledgeable. Since you are looking for a gundog puppy, the best way to find one is to find a breeder that is knowledgeable in that area. Try to find one that actually hunts or, at the very least, competes in various field or hunt competitions. These are the breeders that are going to answer your questions and they will also lay the foundation in the puppies to ensure they create amazing gundogs.

4. Choose the picky breeder. Most people, when they meet a picky breeder, often feel very frustrated by the process. They often wonder why they need to fill in questionnaires and why they need to give a pint of blood as well, okay, I might be exaggerating on the latter but if your breeder isn’t picky, then they probably aren’t going to invest that much into their puppies to begin with.

Once you have a breeder and the litter is on the ground, it will be time to choose your puppy. To do this, you will want to first assess what you want in your gundog. Do you want it to be independent? Do you want it to be a dominant with other dogs? When you know the type of dog you want, you can get a clearer idea of the puppy you should choose. Even if you aren’t sure, there are few tips below that will help you choose a puppy.

1. Look for balance: When you go to see the puppies, take the time to observe them in motion. Look for the dog that has good proportion and has fairly good balance for its age. Generally, if you wait until the puppies are about 7 weeks old, you can get a good idea of how it will look as an adult. Find the puppy that has the closest attributes to what you are looking for.

2. Watch the puppies interact: It is often surprising to many people that puppies as young as 6 weeks old have their own hierarchy but it is true. There are more dominant dogs in the litter and more submissive. Watch the puppies playing together and determine how the hierarchy is arranged. From there you can choose a dog according to what you are looking for.

3. Determine their interest: Some gundog breeders will expose their puppies to birds before they leave their home but try to assess how the puppies react to things like that. Bring a toy or dummy and toss it into the litter, make sure it is off to the side. Watch the puppies that show an interest in it since these are usually the puppies that have more hunting instincts.

4. Check to see if they are healthy: Lastly, when you have narrowed your gundog puppy down to one or two puppies, do a health check. You can follow our health check or you can ask your vet for a sample health check.

Choosing a gundog puppy can be fairly easy and it is important to make the final decision based on everything I mentioned as well as your gut instinct. If for any reason a puppy just doesn’t sit well with you, then don’t purchase it. In addition, make sure you really take the advice of the breeder since they will often know the puppies much better than you can in one visit and will point you in the direction of the best dog.

At The Moment Me And Ron Are Filming A Video For Training Your Gundog Puppy From Start To Finish, For More Info

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Good German Shorthaired Pointer Gundog Breeders And Sometimes More Difficult to find

One question that is often asked by many potential dog owners is “Where do I find a breeder?”

This may seem like an easy question to answer since you can simply open up a newspaper or even a website page and find a dozen breeders for any type of breed. The problem with this method is that it is really difficult to find the breeder that fits your needs.

Obviously, if you are reading this, you are probably at the point where you have selected the breed that you want and are interested in finding the best breeder for it. Before you do that, make sure that the breed is really the right fit for you.

Research its history, breed characteristics and health concerns and also research whether the breed has distinct differences between their field dogs and their conformation dogs. As surprising as it may be, some breeders have changed the breeds significantly so that a “bench” or conformation dog may not do as well as a gundog as a puppy that is bred from field dogs.

If your chosen dog breed has differences between show and field, it is time to start researching your breeders. Before I get into where to find the breeders, I want you to be aware of several points before you start searching so you can eliminate some breeders without putting too much time into them.

Questions to ask:

What do they breed for?

If the breeder tends to focus on show quality dogs, then chances are they are not going to have a lot of field dogs to choose from. Yes, occasionally they will produce an excellent dog but for the most part they are breeding for conformation and looking for the traits of a perfect conformation dog.

What groups are they part of?

Another thing to check when you are searching for a good gundog breeder is the groups they belong to. Breeders are usually a part of the national kennel club, and a breed club but there may be hunting clubs, gundog association and field groups that will alert you to the fact of whether they are interested in producing quality gundogs.

How do they work their dogs?

If you are looking for a good gundog, then you are going to want to find a puppy that has gundogs in its pedigree. When you are researching a gundog breeder, make sure that they are using their dogs for hunting and other field work. If they are only using the dogs for showing or for nothing at all, then they may not be aware of the considerations needed to produce quality gundogs.

Do their dogs have health clearances?

Although this has nothing to do with gundog specifically, you should make sure that the breeder gets health clearances for their dogs before breeding. If they don’t have clearances, then don’t go with that breeder.

Are they picky?

This may seem like a strange point to check on but I have found that the pickier a breeder is about the homes his puppies go to, the better the puppies are. It shows a general love for gundogs and also that they want the best for the puppies they produce. Some breeders of gun dogs will not sell to anyone that won’t be using the dog for hunting purposes and this can also be a great sign of a good gundog breeder.

Now that you have asked those questions, let’s look at places to look for a reputable gundog breeder.

The first place that you should really check is the breed clubs. Many of the clubs offer a listing of breeders and it is a great way to narrow down your choice. Some have websites and others don’t so do not be deterred if the breeder doesn’t. Simply contact him by other means and ask to set up a meeting or to receive pictures of his dogs both in the field and at home.

If the breed club doesn’t seem to have a large list, I would recommend looking into a gundog association. There are several and many of them list breeders of various gundog breeders who are also members. Focus on the active members and on the ones that are working their dogs in the field.

Another great place to find a reputable breeder is by attending field trials and hunt tests. It is important to remember that this is not a family outing when you go to a field trial. Everyone who is there is working so don’t bring your children and make sure that you don’t bother the people who are working their dogs or getting them ready for working. Instead, focus on the people watching since many of them are breeders or know of reputable breeders. If you want a good recommendation for a breeder, talk to the people who own quality gundogs because they are going to know where to look.

When you are choosing a gundog breeder it is important to find one that works his dogs and only produces between one and three litters per year. Once you have found one, get references and contact people who have purchased dogs from him. Do a web search to determine if there are any disputes with him and check around in the gundog community.

If everything checks out, then you have found a reputable gundog breeder.

There are so many things that you will be doing that it can be an almost overwhelming time for many new owners. Preparing for the next gundog sensation in your home is not always an easy task but it should be done before your puppy arrives.

One thing that I always see many people doing is the important health check. This should be done at the veterinarian shortly after your puppy arrives home with you but it is also important that you check your puppy’s health before you leave the breeders.

This should actually be done in several ways. First, you should check the overall health of the dam and, if possible, the sire of your puppy. Second, you will want to check the overall cleanliness of the breeder’s facilities. Third, you will want to look at the overall health of all the puppies and finally, you will want to check the health of your puppy.

When it comes to the parents, it is important to gauge how they look. First, make sure that their eyes are clear and also check the ears if you can without upsetting the dog. Ask the breeder for documents concerning the health checks and clearances. If the breeder doesn’t have those, then I would recommend that you look for another breeder.

If the dam looks undernourished and her nose is dry and cracked, then ask questions about her health. Gear them towards the whelping and rearing of the puppies. Was it a difficult time for her? What was she being fed? Many dams will look a little washed out from raising puppies but she shouldn’t look unhealthy.

The next area that you will want to check to determine the health of your puppy is the facilities. Ask yourself these questions. Are the kennels clean? Are the puppies raised in the house? Is there ample protection from the elements?

If any of those questions are no, it is time to look for a different breeder because you want to ensure that your puppy has the best start in life.

Finally, the last thing that you will want to check is your puppy’s litter mates before you leave the breeders. Make sure that all the puppies have a healthy weight and that they are all active. Also make sure that they have cool moist noses and that their eyes are bright.

Now that you have checked the health of the breeder’s facilities, dogs and puppies, you can begin to look at the health of your own puppy. When you do this, there are actually eight areas that you need to look at and I have gone through each one.

Although I recommend making a health check when you choose your puppy, it is also important to continue to make regular health checks on your puppy after you bring him home. In addition, you should make sure that you take your puppy to see a veterinarian so that a medical health check can be done.

The Puppy Health Check:

All puppy health checks can be done quite easily during grooming sessions.

• Body: This is very important and you should take time every week to check your puppy. All that you need to do is run your hands down the length of his body while you are grooming your puppy or simply petting him. If you find any lumps, take a moment to visually check them and if they seem suspicious, contact your veterinarian.

• Skin: This is another important area to check to ensure that your puppy is healthy. To check the skin, simply watch while you are stroking your dog’s coat. Most dogs have skin that is a greyish-white in color so look for that. If you find that the skin is inflamed, your puppy may have allergies. If you see any abrasions or cuts, clean them out and then check them daily until they are healed to ensure that there is no infections.

• Coat: Your puppy’s coat should be checked for fleas on a regular basis and you should also make sure that the coat is free of debris and mats.

• Eyes: Eyes should be bright and free of heavy discharge and discoloration. If you find that your puppy has red or yellow in the whites of his eyes with or without heavy discharge, contact your vet.

• Ears: This is very important for any dog that has long pendulous ears since water and dirt can get trapped in them easily. Make sure your puppy’s ears are not hot to the touch or inflamed. Also check to see if there is a foul odour coming from them. If you find both, contact your vet.

• Mouth: Check your puppy’s mouth to make sure that the gums are a healthy pink color and that there are no discoloration on the teeth. Also check for a foul odour and if you find one, express your concerns to your vet.

• Legs and Feet: While you should check your puppy’s legs periodically for joint swelling, it is important to check your puppy’s feet on a regular basis to make sure that there are no debris caught between the toes.

• Nose: If your puppy does not have a slightly cool and wet nose, then something may be wrong.

And that is your puppy health check. If you make it part of your regular grooming routine, you will find that it can be done quickly and painlessly.

As you probably know there are quite a few gundog breeds. The most popular gundog is the Labrador Retriever.

All breeds have their fans, as do I but today I will try to give you a quick overview of a sometimes overlooked breed. Pointers.

There are loads of breeds of pointer gundog, they include the following:

Spinone Italiano

The Spinone Italiano breed goes by many names, including Italian Wire Haired Pointing Dog, Spinone, and Italian Griffon, The breed is big and strong and is also known for its intelligent looking eyes. Like the Labrador it is a excellent swimmer and a excellent hunting dog whatever the terrane or temperature.

Weimaraner

These dogs are athletic, sleek and usually have short, fine hair. There are long haired types though. They have intelligent amber, grey, or blue-grey eyes. Their limbs and bodies are muscular and long, with webbed feet. Weimaraners are very skilled hunters, trackers, retrievers and pointers, they are also used for police and search and rescue work.

American Brittany

The American Brittany dogs build makes them adaptable to woods, or hills, as well as cold or damp weather. They excel at hunting particularly hare and woodcock they are also tireless in the field. They are medium sized with a short coat, hazel or amber eyes, with short ears. The coat is orange and white, black and white or liver and white.

German Shorthaired

The German Shorthaired Pointer breed is known for its lean build. It has a clean cut appearance and intelligent, brown eyes. They are smart and eager-to-please with loads of energy. They love children and are loyal to their families

Vizsla

Another sleek breed with light red coat and excellent muscular build. Its face is lean with long pendant ears and light eyes. The coat is short and tight, displaying its defined body. They are loving dogs that display affection easily and often.

English Pointer

The English Pointer dog breed does better in a warm environments and is more comfortable on land rather than in water. It is a beautiful dog known for its powerful grace. The dog carries itself proudly being constantly alert. English pointers are athletic, with a high nose, chestnut or hazel eyes, medium-sized ears, and have a long neck.

Other types of Pointers include: Pudelpointer, Wiredhaired Pointer, Griffon and Munsterlander.

A great blog with loads of information on all breeds of gun dog visit http://www.the-hunting-dog.com/breeds-of-dogs.html and let me know what you think

2. Spend some time visiting gundog breeders in your area, ask them to tell you what the breed are good at and what their faults are. Most good breeders would rather you choose the correct hunting dog for yourself, even if it means not buying off them.

3. If possible ask to see the parents train, while good blood lines is not necessary, it will make training your gun dog 100% easier if your puppy had well trained parents. An experienced breeder won’t hesitate to prove their gun dogs’ bloodline, they may even let you see the parents on a hunt.

4. If you took notes when researching breeds you should know what traits each breed has. I always find its not best just to choose the biggest, Ron told me he always looks for the runt of the litter. This is because he/she will be a fighter, rather than the biggest pup who can be lazy due to its size.

5. If you follow these steps and make sure you pick the correct breed for your needs from the right breeder, and choose a puppy who looks full of character , you will be well on your way. Remember that choosing a puppy is itself a first step; proper training once you get your new addition home is crucial.

If you want the easiest training available for your Gun dog why not check my our weekly video classes

Click Gundog Training Here

This is a great way to learn to train your gundog. Each week I send you a video of Ron training his new gun dog, all you have to do is copy him and you to could have the best dog on the shoot, within a few months. Remember gundogs are also known as hunting dogs and Bird dogs.