Gun Dog Training: How To Train Your Dog To Be A Gun Dog

Gun dog training takes a minimum of three months, sometimes four for dogs that are slower to advance or have had very little training before they arrive. The first part of gun dog training, as with most dog training, consists of basic obedience training.

The most important factor in gun dog training is to choose a puppy (of which ever breed you decide) that is from working gun dog stock. The final stage is to begin shooting over your gun dog and this is probably the most crucial stage of gun dog training. I have been involved in gun dog training from the day I acquired my first German Shorthaired Pointer puppy named Maggie.

Gun dogs are divided into three primary classifications based upon method of work: Retrievers, Flushing spaniels, and Pointing breeds. Gun dogs from these lines can be expected to hunt upland game birds as well as be capable of competing in field trials at Local, Regional and National levels.

We believe dogs are individuals, not robots, and therefore should have training programs that are individually structured for each gun dog. We also believe that it's important for the owner to be involved with the dog's training and evolution into gun dog status.

Hunting dogs should be trained with live birds such as Quail, Chuckar and Pheasants to further replicate a true hunting environment. Hunting dog ownership is far too costly in time, money, effort and study for those who are not committed to a partnership with their pup, and I have never known anyone unwilling to commit who truly enjoyed living with and following a gun dog.

Most breeds of bird dogs today are being bred with more bird finding and hunting talent than ever before. All you have to do is spend alot of time with your dog to get him to apply that talent for YOU so that the two of you will be a solid bird hunting team. Countless wild game birds are legally taken each year as a result of highly trained hunting and gun dogs.

Because the dog remembers, it soon learns to avoid pressure and quick obedience to commands becomes an incentive unto itself. The gun dog training sessions can cover a variety of aspects, including basic obedience, basic marking skills, basic handling and blinds, upland game training, advanced marking and blinds, and other areas needed for a skilled hunting dog.