We went to see Jake again at six weeks old. This time we made sure to get there before the puppies had eaten their dinner. Last time they were all so sleepy that we didn’t get very good idea of the individual personalities. We took them all out onto the front lawn and watched them run and play. The true colors came out in this environment, they were all very energetic and playful. We quickly eliminated the dominant male although he was the best looking pup. Then we took all of the females inside and that left us with 2 males. Jake was the people person, he wanted to be around people more than anything else. He definately won our hearts over. We hope to bring him home next week after he has his shots.
Dog Training Journal
Today we made our first visit to see the litter of pups that we are looking at. We have pick of the litter which seems to make the decision harder – not easier. We told them we were looking for the easiest going, most mild-mannered pup in the litter. The pup pictured above is the one they claim is perfect for us. He is a good looking male, liver and white with a little white patch on his nose. He took to my kids and seemed to have a good nature about him. We will go back again next week and see if we still feel good about him.
Random Thoughts
There are wide and varying opinions on the training of puppies but all seem to agree that the first few weeks after pup comes home are crucial. Like the first few years of a childs development, the first few weeks of a pups life at home will dictate how the rest of the training goes. It is a delicate balance of love and discipline. If you screw up, then you spend the next few months or even years un-doing your mistakes. If you do it right, then the next few months and years of training and finishing the dog become much easier and cohesive. What makes a smooth transition from pup leaving his litter-mates and becoming a member of your pack? Here are a few key things I have gleened from my reading.
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Dog Training Journal
One of the biggest decisions a new dog owner faces is that of selecting a proper and respectable name for the new pup. After having let my 3 year old choose our last dogs name, this time I intend to take the matter into my own hands. As the past few weeks have rolled by I have pondered on the possibilities of a solid dog name. The first thing I had to decide was if I was getting a male or a female. At this point I am leaning largely towards getting a male this time. My wife doesn’t think having a litter or two of our own sounds like much fun at all so a female is out for now. So how do you narrow it down?
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Random Thoughts
Since sometime in the 1950’s man has been experimenting with the use of shock collars in training dogs. Although the idea of electrocuting your dog as a teaching tool is gaining popularity, is it truly necessary? Or are we just falling prey to the american way of wanting instant gratification, a free ride, a short cut. I have never used a shock collar on a dog, but I have to admit that the idea is somewhat unsettling to me as a dog owner. We have all been frustrated when the dog is just not getting it, when we wish we could just beat the lesson into them, when we want to put a shock collar on and jolt them into understanding the command being taught. This is when the lesson or training session should end and the trainer should probably take five.
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Dog Training Journal
There are more than 150 different breeds officially recognized by AKC. If you are interested in hunting birds and upland game like I am then you will likely settle on one of the many so-called versatile hunting dogs. You can break them down into four basic categories. The Pointers, Setters, Spaniels and Retreivers. But within these four basic categories of versatile dogs there are more than 50 different choices in breeds. When it comes right down to it, they are all very capable hunters and great companions so there is no right or wrong choice. There are however a few important points to consider when choosing your new hunting partner.
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Choosing a Puppy
One decision that every potential dog owner must face is that of gender. One can make a valid argument either way. I have come to the conclusion that it is mostly a matter of personal preference for the dog owner. Some would argue that a female dog is more calm and trainable because of the nurturing instinct that the title mother brings. Others would say that males generally have more spirit and natural drive. But, the question that must first be asked is what are you looking for in a dog.
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Choosing a Puppy
When I was 12 years old I learned something important about myself. I learned that I could retain new information and knowledge much better if I could see the application visually or even better – in person. Many people are this way, they need to see an example before the lesson sticks. I also learned that some people are capable of reading something technical and instantly understand the application. I am not this way. Although I am trying to develop that skill, I learn much more effectively by visual examples. Tell me how to do something and it goes in one ear and out the other. Show me how to do it and it sticks.
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Training Video Reviews
Having failed once to successfully train a new German Shorthair pup, I knew I needed to do a lot more research before I tried again. As I begin any research project I started online. I spent many hours lurking in the hunting forums and numerous dog training websites and even phone calls to reputable kennels. From all this research I compiled a list of six books that were recommended as required reading. I am sure there are many more great books out there, but this is my starting point.
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Training Book Reviews
During my youth I was fortunate enough to hunt pheasant behind a German Shorthair or two. My friend was more interested in working his dogs and I was thrilled that he would let me be his gunner. After a few such experiences I became impressed with these brilliant dogs and their nack for finding the birds. It was amazing to see a 12 week old pup track down and bring back a wounded rooster, the rooster was bigger than he was. It was at this time that I became fascinated with bird dogs. I had grown up with a Brittany Spaniel but never saw her reach her full potential simply because I didn’t know that she was indeed a bird dog herself.
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Dog Training Journal
