Puppy Training for Pet Gundogs

What does your puppy need to learn?

Puppy training for pet gundogs is the same, in most ways, as it is for any pet dog. You want your dog to be able to walk well on a lead, sit stay, come back when it’s called, have focus around distractions.

The one thing that happens with pet gundogs, is people don’t think about pet gundog training until a bit later on. By this time, you have made the retrieving process more difficult to train if you’ve been allowing your dog to play ‘fetch’ with a ball.

When people play ‘fetch’ their dog drops the ball on the floor and waits for it to be thrown again, with the dog bouncing around all over the place.

This makes training your pet gundog a bit harder when you want to start retrieving.

Puppy training for pet gundogs needs to include a good retrieve process.

Teach your pup to put the ball in your hand

Teach fetch by all means, but be aware of the danger of injury from persistent ball throwing, with no control. When your pup brings the ball back to you, get down to your dog’s level, encourage your dog to put the ball in your hand.

Start teaching your dog to sit before you throw

Start teaching your puppy pet gundog some self-control. Teach your pup to sit before you throw the ball.

Don’t Nag and Break your SIT!

Teach your pup to sit, without you having to ask, whenever they want you to throw the ball. Managed in the right way, your pup will very soon learn to sit if they want the ball thrown.

Puppy training for pet gundogs in principle is the same as training for any puppy.

• Lead walking
• Recall
• Focus around distractions
• Sit/sit stay
• Down
• No jumping up
• And so on …

BUT,

• It includes learning whistle commands early on. Your recall whistle, a STOP whistle.
• It includes formalising the retrieve process – so you don’t have to undo all the bad habits you taught your dog as a young pup, to get a retrieve later.

 

Why start now?

Is very much the same, in those very early training days, but with some added extras. Importantly, not breaking your retrieve process, but teaching it from the start, rather than just playing uncontrolled fetch.

Learning from a clean slate is so much easier for you and your dog.

Doing pet gundog puppy training will support your recall and focus around distractions. You will be meeting your dog’s needs. Nurturing their natural instinct.

Pet Gundog Training is Vital and Fun

If you have a gundog as a pet, you will need to offer far more to your dog to keep them stimulated and motivated to give you the behaviour you want.

It is such brilliant fun, watching a dog ‘work.’ Watching your dog respond to your commands, go in the direction you send them, respond to your whistle, look to you for support when it’s needed.

There is nothing like the look of joy on a gundog’s face when they are working with their owner, doing what they love most in the world.

Get started with pet gundog puppy training – then carry on and work through your Pet Gundog Grades