NEW PUPPY TRAINING

MUSKIE08 · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: NEW PUPPY TRAINING

Hello I have a new 8 week old blue weim that is going to be my new pheasant hunter. He has great instinct and was introduced to birds at 6weeks by the breeder. I have used the fishing pole wing trick and he started pointing it after about 30 sec. Now he will point it as soon as he sees it and will slowing creep at it. This is as far as i have gone with it and has keep it short only 2-3 min at a time. where do a go now i have a dummy launcher but i think he is too small for it now. He is progressing much faster than my older weim did and that was my first bird dog and i just wong it with his training. while he turned out ok and is very obedient he does not have the drive this pup seems to have and i want this pup to be the best he can. any suggestions?

h20fwlkillr · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:16 am Post subject:

First off, lose the wing and string. It can lead to sight pointing. It is basically a parlor trick. The same thing can be accomplished by a sock or just about any other object in place of the wing. At 8 weeks, the only real training needed is basic obedience. Keep working him on birds, but only for fun and don't over do it. Take him out and let him experience all the sights sounds and smells as possible. Let him bump and chase birds. Doesn't really matter what kind. It helps build desire. And lastly, let him be a pup. There will be plenty of time later for structured training.

anne · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject:

I agree, stop with the wing thing. It's fun the first time or so but only causes sight pointing as h20 has already said.

At this age, I would just get him exposed to as many things possible. Get him out into the field and walk with him. Let him learn how to explore, let him learn how to use his nose. He can do no wrong at this age. Just zip it and walk. The more fields you get him into so he can experience as much as possible is probably the most important thing you can do at this age.

You can also start exposing him to more birds, but I wouldn't do pheasant yet due to the size. I like using cortunix (Japanese) quail for little puppies if he needs more drive as those can be caught. Other birds you can get him into as appropriate to bump and chase will do wonders.

In the mean time, find a local Weim club or NAVHDA club or something that can start showing you the ropes on training. You won't have to start serious training for a while, but you can start establishing your contacts.

Have fun with your puppy! Puppies are so fun to start.

singsmom · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject:

I have a 5 month old weim boy and a friend who hunts with Boykin spaniels who are pretty birdy. He has invited me over to get my guy used to "birding" with them and he even offered to fire the gun to get him used to the noise. Is this a good age to start or too early? He loves to retrieve and seems interested.

CherrystoneWeims · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:44 pm Post subject:

Nope it's not too young at all.

Use a small cap gun to start with. Fire it when he is in full chase after a bird.

I find that sometimes the best way to get a puppy (at 5 mos.) really fired up is to have another dog about the same age together with it. Then some competition gets going after the bird especially if the other dog is crazy about birds.

As far as the 8 week old. Just let your pup get out and be a pup right now. As Anne said just let it get out and explore. Let him just be a dog right now. Take him on lots of walks in the fields and woods so that he will be exposed to lots of new things. I recommend Joan Bailey's book "How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves".

With both pups NO talking while the pup is chasing or exploring. The less said the better. Talking distracts the pup from the task at hand. Don't call your dog to you while out walking. Doing so can create a "yo yo" effect where the dog keeps running back to you. That's a bad habit. Don't worry your dog won't get lost if he is out of sight!! He knows where you are.

singsmom · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 10:49 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the heads up about the talking and calling. I'm new to this, but if my dog wants to work, it's best for him and I love to watch them sniff, point and those lovely muscles when they run! They are such gorgeous athletes.

h20fwlkillr · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:31 am Post subject:

MUSKIE08 · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:18 am Post subject:

Thanks i do belong to a hunt club so i can bring him out and introduce him to birds can you just clip the wing so they don't fly away? I will have to see what small birds they have other than phesant mostly i am working on crate training and potty training now

h20fwlkillr · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject:

At this point, all birds are fair game. Meadowlarks are great for pups. Most area have tons of them. They hold pretty well and never flush into a dog. They react a lot like quail, except they are usually more scattered.

Homing pigeons are the best bird economically to use for training. They can re-used over and over and are cheap.

MUSKIE08 · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:19 am Post subject:

I called my hunt club and he has chucker that i can take home for training

MUSKIE08 · Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject:

I am going to pick up some birds to train with this week how it the best way to start and how should i stop the birds from flying away so i can reuse them I have been taking him to the park and he loves to wander around and look for new things there are not to many birds around this time of year at least not on the ground. I also have been hiding wings outside and he can find and point them sometimes pointing on scent alone when he jumps at it i throw it in the air and clap loud and he will go get it and bring it to me most of the time. He is not scarid of loud noises i had to use a nail gun in the house the other day and he would not even flinch and even went to sleep. so far he seems to be a quick learner as i showed him to ring a bell when he has to go out and it only took him two days to learn now he even does it just to try and get a treat. he is now 10 weeks old. Also does anyone recommend any dvds i can try not only for the puppy but for my 4 yr old sterling he needs to learn force fetch. He will not retrieve any thing or pick a dead bird up does not like the taste he will go get a dummy or toy i throw but wont bring it back to me. he wants to go chew on it. If i call him to me he will come but will drop the toy before he comes.