Raising a gundog puppy - Totally Gundogs

Getting your puppy involved in gundog work is great fun.

This is true whether you aspire to field trials, or if you simply want to have some fun with your pet.

If this is your first time, or if it is a long time since your last pup, you will probably find it helpful to read up on raising a gundog puppy.

Like so many things, problems with gun dogs are often much easier to avoid, than they are to fix.

Here are some useful puppy links to help you.

Puppy links

More help and information

If you enjoy my articles, you might like my new book: The Happy Puppy Handbook – a definitive guide to early puppy care and training.

If reading is not your thing, do at least check out the Helpful Puppy Guidelines. These will help you think about the basic behaviours you need to establish in a gundog puppy.

Don’t forget to take a look at my Youtube channel where you can find some useful videos. And check out the forum where you can chat to other gundog puppy owners.

Good luck with your puppy!

Mike Ozanne says

February 10, 2015 at 8:13 pm

Hi Pippa.
I would first like to say how grateful I am to you for providing such a fantastically informative website. The many articles I have read and your book “Total Recall” are beautifully written, with a wealth of knowledge and excellent humour. Thank you.

We lost our springer of 12 years in December due to illness. Needless to say we were devastated. But life must go on and so must the company of a dog, hence our new arrival two weeks ago of a working springer pup by the name of Fly. Now 10 weeks old.

I am in the very fortunate position to have all my time to give to the training of Fly. He will not be worked, but will be trained as much as is necessary gundog style, as befits his breed. Having found your website a little bit later than I would have liked, I find myself soaking up as much information as possible, as after two weeks with this little chap and seeing his hunting instinct and confidence growing daily, I can see that things could go very wrong if I don’t get it right.

We live in a very small cottage on a working estate in North Wales. There is no garden to speak of, however we do have a very quiet footpath running past our house leading into woodland and mountains. This is where I must take him for toilet duties and further up for short training sessions and play as there is no space at home. I have discussed this with our vet and he agrees that the risk of disease is very small in this area.

I have a clear and simple gameplan for the next few weeks. To continue training him some basic obedience in the house and in the area behind the house to practice your puppy recall and follow my leader games.

My problem is this. He is coming on very well and is following me nicely, but on at some point in every session, he will catch a game or rabbit scent and trundle off hunting without a care in the world for me. I know this is typical springer behavior, but I didn’t expect this confidence so early on. Obviously I wouldn’t attempt a recall at this point and clapping etc doesn’t shift his attention on to me when his nose is on the floor. I have been forced to chase him down and pick him up. I just know this little fella is going to be a nightmare if I don’t succeed in keeping him close and not allowing him to self reward. I realise that the area is scented but I have little other choice of location. Training lead perhaps? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
Mike Ozanne

Comments

Mike Ozanne says

February 10, 2015 at 8:13 pm

Hi Pippa.
I would first like to say how grateful I am to you for providing such a fantastically informative website. The many articles I have read and your book “Total Recall” are beautifully written, with a wealth of knowledge and excellent humour. Thank you.

We lost our springer of 12 years in December due to illness. Needless to say we were devastated. But life must go on and so must the company of a dog, hence our new arrival two weeks ago of a working springer pup by the name of Fly. Now 10 weeks old.

I am in the very fortunate position to have all my time to give to the training of Fly. He will not be worked, but will be trained as much as is necessary gundog style, as befits his breed. Having found your website a little bit later than I would have liked, I find myself soaking up as much information as possible, as after two weeks with this little chap and seeing his hunting instinct and confidence growing daily, I can see that things could go very wrong if I don’t get it right.

We live in a very small cottage on a working estate in North Wales. There is no garden to speak of, however we do have a very quiet footpath running past our house leading into woodland and mountains. This is where I must take him for toilet duties and further up for short training sessions and play as there is no space at home. I have discussed this with our vet and he agrees that the risk of disease is very small in this area.

I have a clear and simple gameplan for the next few weeks. To continue training him some basic obedience in the house and in the area behind the house to practice your puppy recall and follow my leader games.

My problem is this. He is coming on very well and is following me nicely, but on at some point in every session, he will catch a game or rabbit scent and trundle off hunting without a care in the world for me. I know this is typical springer behavior, but I didn’t expect this confidence so early on. Obviously I wouldn’t attempt a recall at this point and clapping etc doesn’t shift his attention on to me when his nose is on the floor. I have been forced to chase him down and pick him up. I just know this little fella is going to be a nightmare if I don’t succeed in keeping him close and not allowing him to self reward. I realise that the area is scented but I have little other choice of location. Training lead perhaps? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
Mike Ozanne