Training Pudelpointer Pup

[jlw0142]

Whoa just means stand there and don’t move until I release you. Using the command while the dog is on birds is part of steadiness training and I believe it’s best to wait until a pup has had a full year hunting wild birds before completing steadiness training. You should prepare yourself to not shoot many birds the first year. For steadiness training I like the method developed by Jeff Funke which is outlined in Chuck Johnson’s book. I like this method because it transitions easily to the field with a neck e-collar for reinforcement rather than a second e-collar on the flank. I’m also fond of this method because I’m now on my third dog bred by Jeff Funke at Three Devils Kennel, she was a started dog and his foundation work easily transfers over to this method.

As far as general training I personally like a lot of the techniques the Smith family uses (Rick and Ronnie) and how they teach dogs without verbal commands. I think their command lead is one of the best dog training tools one can own. It’s amazing how fast a dog learns to heel with that thing being properly used.

Thank you very much - that's very helpful! I'm going to look into the Smiths' methods also.

 

[406flyfish]

Really enjoying my PP pup. Not even a year and she pointed 8 different coveys of Huns & Sharptails today.

 

[Zak406]

Take this for what it’s worth.

I’ve trained 3 short hairs and they all have been progressively better than the last.

I also like you have a pp coming (mine is next spring 2027). If you don’t mind me asking what breeder are you going with? @jlw0142

I am a bit nervous switching from short hairs as they have been good to me but life is like chocolates. Gotta try them all.

Now for the advice.

My next pup I will focus on obidience from the day it comes home until 7 months or so. I will then start introducing birds. My dogs are pretty obidient but I believe if I focus more on that first it will be easier than rushing into birds.

To train gun fire I have always given the dog a bird to familiarize with it. Usually a chucker with its flight feathers clipped and I have also used quail if I could get them. Once that was done on another day I would plant a chukar and have my dad stand 100 yards away while we searched. Once it was located and the bird went up I would have him fire a 410. If there was no reaction I would work closer that day. With my female and my buddies male I was shooting a bird over them that day. I have used this method on 4 dogs ( 2 mine 2 not mine) and have never had the slightest issue.

 

[TSAMP]

Group training days to learn from people with experience. Enjoy the puppy phase they are like a sponge. Little manners like not busting out the front door or shooting out of the kennel are easy to teach now with treats and praise . Exposure to everything except gun fire that’s one you don’t want to mess up. Dogs are not born gun shy they are made.

When I start another puppy I will be following pat Nolan’s program. It ls retriever centric but will work for any dog. He uses it when he is training his bite dogs also.

Training days can be nice, but as a novice. Don't take it all as gospel. Looking back on my first versatile the training days were probably a 50/50 on usefulness. Sit back and watch people's dogs before you take advice from them. Most folks expect different things from there dogs, that comes in spades with versatiles.

 

[KurtR]

Training days can be nice, but as a novice. Don't take it all as gospel. Looking back on my first versatile the training days were probably a 50/50 on usefulness. Sit back and watch people's dogs before you take advice from them. Most folks expect different things from there dogs, that comes in spades with versatiles.

That’s for sure . Watch the people who have dogs like you want. Some one who has put there hands on 100’s of dogs is the one you want to learn from.

 

[jlw0142]

Really enjoying my PP pup. Not even a year and she pointed 8 different coveys of Huns & Sharptails today.

View attachment 1027349View attachment 1027348

That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing!


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[jlw0142]

Take this for what it’s worth.

I’ve trained 3 short hairs and they all have been progressively better than the last.

I also like you have a pp coming (mine is next spring 2027). If you don’t mind me asking what breeder are you going with? @jlw0142

I am a bit nervous switching from short hairs as they have been good to me but life is like chocolates. Gotta try them all.

Now for the advice.

My next pup I will focus on obidience from the day it comes home until 7 months or so. I will then start introducing birds. My dogs are pretty obidient but I believe if I focus more on that first it will be easier than rushing into birds.

To train gun fire I have always given the dog a bird to familiarize with it. Usually a chucker with its flight feathers clipped and I have also used quail if I could get them. Once that was done on another day I would plant a chukar and have my dad stand 100 yards away while we searched. Once it was located and the bird went up I would have him fire a 410. If there was no reaction I would work closer that day. With my female and my buddies male I was shooting a bird over them that day. I have used this method on 4 dogs ( 2 mine 2 not mine) and have never had the slightest issue.

Thanks for the advice - that’s great! I’m going with Ripsnorter out of Ohio. It kind of fell in my lap, it was a stroke of luck to be getting her this early.


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[jmez]

The others explained it pretty well. It simply means stop and don't move. No different than teaching a puppy to stay. When you start using the command in conjunction with birds it is different and that is where the pressure comes. IMO it is fine for a young dog as long as you are teaching the command and nothing else.

I do not do any training on birds for the first year. I just leave the dog alone and let them do what they are going to do.

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[sndmn11]

@jlw0142 training whoa young is a good idea, but it doesn't mean you need to or even should use it in the field the first year. Train it for meals, at doorways in the house, before exiting the kennel (if they can stand). Whoa just means stand I til released at that point.

After your first season of letting your dog run amok and the birds teaching it, you can use the whoa it already knows to ingrain whatever level of steadiness you want. Whoa shouldn't be needed to get your dog to hold a point, the birds teach that and you reinforce it by only shooting at brilliant points that only you flush.

 

[johnnycake]

Now I will turn Heel....

If you have limited "opportunity for wild birds"......what did you buy the dog for???

What's it to you why somebody goes and has fun with a dog however they may choose to do so?
And I say this as a guy that has a +9 month long season to hunt multiple species of wild, native upland birds in vast wilderness as my dog.

Don't forget there's plenty of waterfowling, varmint/fur chasing, and blood trailing opportunity in Alabama. Limited wild upland bird chances is only one part of the versatile hunting dog's potential fulfillment.

 

[Deeker]

I'm going to be bringing home a pudelpointer soon and I'm looking for any training tips for versatile dogs. I am planning to test the dog in NAVHDA and she will be my hunting buddy for everything from ducks to pheasant to squirrels. I have read Bob Farris's book, as well as the NAVHDA Green book and Chuck Johnson's book. But, I have never trained a hunting dog before so I guess I'm a little nervous about it. At this stage in my life, I have the time to train her myself, but I just want to make sure I'm doing it right. I think I have a good plan, but any practical tips would be very helpful. I am deep in the money hole on this one, so I'm not gonna buy any online courses. Thanks in advance - any advice or tips, no matter how big or small, are helpful!

Best piece of advice I have ever gotten about bird dogs was from a trainer. I was asking him how he takes a pup from a house dog to a bird dog. “Birds make bird dogs”. It was honestly the best piece of advice I have gotten as far as training bird dogs. It has taken me a few dogs, but I am getting the system more dialed in each time. Spend the time getting the basic commands drilled into the pups head, and then birds birds birds.