Training Your Hunting Dog

Whether you are a first time dog owner, a seasoned dog owner or even a trainer, a brand new puppy in the home means you now have the responsibility of providing training.  This can feel like it’s an overwhelming responsibility for you – but you’ll soon discover why dogs have earned the title of man’s best friend. 

No matter what method you choose to train your dog, they all have two things in common: patience and praise.  Have patience when he does things wrong, and give plenty of praise when he does things right.  And remember that training starts the moment he’s yours and you have the leash in your hand.   

Alpha

One of the first things you need to do is make sure that your dog understands that YOU and you alone are the top dog.  Dogs are accustomed to being in packs and each pack has an Alpha dog.  You must be that alpha dog for your pet.  We do this almost instinctively and it’s not as difficult as it might sound, nor is it harsh. Since dogs are naturally inclined to be part of a pack, and they understand the hierarchy of a pack, you should be establishing your place as well as the place of your dog in the family pack. This means that members of your family and other pets will develop their place in the structure.  For homes with multiple dogs, you’ll soon discover what they have decided is the proper ‘pecking order’.

Become the alpha dog by demanding your dog’s full attention and giving firm commands.  Always stay calm and in control.  Be consistent with your command words so that everyone in your family uses the same ones.  Use the leash as a tool to tell your dog that you mean what you say.  Set boundaries that he cannot cross and make his limitations clear to him.  Use noises such as claps and loud vocalizations to get his attention, but never yell in an angry tone.  Above all, give plenty of praise and reward when he does the right thing.  Positive reinforcement is the best way to get your dog to obey your commands and earn your trust.

Crate Training

As the owner of a brand new puppy, your first goal is to house train them.  This will usually entail the use of a crate – especially given that this is one of the quickest and most effective methods.  You might see it is inhumane to lock your pup into a crate, but the reality is that allowing your puppy to run free without supervision is potentially more damaging to your dog over time.  Even if you use a crate, it’s important that you ensure that your dog gets plenty of play time, socialization and that you allow sufficient time for his bathroom needs.  Crating your puppy while you are not home, or when you are getting ready to call it a day will help him understand that this is his den.

Obedience Training

You might think that all you need to do to take your dog for a walk is to put a leash on him and head outside.  You couldn’t be more mistaken!  Your dog needs to learn to walk on a leash just as he needs to be taught to sit on command and other commands.  For those who have hunting dogs, you’ll be training your dog to behave off a leash as well as on one.  This training is usually accomplished by teaching techniques such as coming and heeling.  Another important aspect of obedience training is teaching your dog to not jump up – on people, and on furniture.  This all falls under obedience training and like all other training begins the day you bring your dog home.

Training for Hunting

If you have made a decision to train your dog to hunt, this training will typically begin around the time he is four or so months of age.  Hunting dogs need to be acclimated to the sounds of guns, as well as trained to retrieve, point and other techniques that will be used in the field.  Hunting breeds do many things instinctively so your task will be to reward them for appropriate behavior and correct as quickly as possible any inappropriate behavior.  You can have a lot of fun with your retriever teaching them proper fetching and helping them learn to swim.  In fact, it should be as much fun for you as it is for your dog! 

Whatever commands you decide to teach your dog are up to you.  But remember that as long as you do it with patience, praise, and positive reinforcement, he will learn.  He has a  natural desire to please you because you’ve established yourself as the alpha dog. 
There are many types of hunting dog supplies out there on the market. If you are looking for a dog training collar the Innotek ADV300P is a great choice, and if you are in need of a dog tracking collar, Tracker Maxima is a great choice.