Peg/Picking up dog training

[Willowthewhisk]

Hi All! I'm wanting to bring home a new dog to come shooting with me as a peg/picking up dog. We currently have a Working cocker X poodle whom I love but she doesn't want to pick up (Bought as a pet, so no working lineage) and started gundog training way too late. She enjoys retrieving dummies, but it won't translate to cold game.. All that aside I'm essentially asking for tips on bringing on a young gundog, when to start taking her out and just anything else people have found useful! I'm not worried about the basics, it's the gundog aspect I'd like to make sure I'm nailing straight away!! Thanks a lot, Will

 

[Tim.243]

Hi All! I'm wanting to bring home a new dog to come shooting with me as a peg/picking up dog. We currently have a Working cocker X poodle whom I love but she doesn't want to pick up (Bought as a pet, so no working lineage) and started gundog training way too late. She enjoys retrieving dummies, but it won't translate to cold game.. All that aside I'm essentially asking for tips on bringing on a young gundog, when to start taking her out and just anything else people have found useful! I'm not worried about the basics, it's the gundog aspect I'd like to make sure I'm nailing straight away!! Thanks a lot, Will

I like to keep them back and let their bones grow and gain strength, my youngest pup was on the marsh in the week picked a good teal, thrashed around in the Essex black mud swam in the river, today he has been with me as I moved a high seat (by a pond) went in working the edges swam across a few times then I walked along a couple of ditches and he kept good contact. Did him the world of good.
One bit at a time make it fun then repeat, at a young age they just need it to be safe fun.

 

[Scotty99]

Which breed are you thinking of going for, if it’s to be a peg / picking up dog?

 

[Willowthewhisk]

Which breed are you thinking of going for, if it’s to be a peg / picking up dog?

Sorry yes, lab is my preference for the whole package (With being a working pet)

 

[Scotty99]

Sorry yes, lab is my preference for the whole package (With being a working pet)

I was going to suggest a Lab but didn’t want to preempt your choice.

All dogs are different and everyone has a different approach to gun dog training. First off I would say get to know your pup, spend as much time as possible and bond with him or her. Get to the point where hopefully they are watching your every move. Play retrieving games with a tennis ball and make it fun. While all this is going on factor in obedience training sit, wait, come, leave (pups explore everything with their mouths). Wait will become a key training area for a peg dog and for picking up, steadiness will be key. Start with voice commands and then factor in the whistle. So after time get to the point where you are throwing a tennis ball or small dummy while they sit and wait patiently, while you go and pick it up. They have to learn that not all retrieves are for them and to only go out and retrieve it went sent by you.

Later on you can introduce the stop whistle and arm directions for left right and go back.

See if there is a gun dog training club you can join nearby to help you along.

Above all be patient, let the pup come along at their own pace, always make it fun, have endless patience and perseverance.

I haven’t said anything about making sure that the pup comes from good working lines, it helps but is not essential most gun dog breeds can be trained to a good standard irrespective of lineage.

 

[Scotty99]

Not sure if this will help but this is what I use to train my gundogs, they are hard hunting WHVs so not everything will apply to your situation.


Verbal & Whistle Commands

Obedience Commands

“SIT” – Sit beside me. Use “SIDE” to reinforce positioning, close to left side.
“COME” – Come to me.
“HEEL” – walk beside me. When turning use “CLOSE” to turn right and “BACK” to turn left.
“STAY” – Do not move until I come back to you.
“WAIT” – Do not move until I call for you.
“NO!” – Stop, major transgression.
“DOWN / GET DOWN” – Used to stop jumping up.

Working Commands

“GET ON” – Release / cast out to start hunting.
“FIND ‘EM” – Encouragement when hunting.
“STEADY” – Hold on point
“IN / GET IN” – Get in and flush
“FETCH IT” – Go out for a retrieve. For blind retrieve also crouch and indicate direction with body, arm and leading foot.
“GO BACK” – Go back in a straight line and retrieve further out. Arm held mid height and then moved quickly to straight up as you say Go Back.
“HOLD” – Hold the bird, do not release.
“DEAD” – Release the retrieve into my hand.

Whistle Commands
4/5 short pips – Come to me. Repeat if required.
1 Long pip – Stop / Sit. Reinforce with arm straight up in the air. Which arm depends on which way you want the dog to go. Left arm to go left. Right arm to go right. Full arm movement away from the vertical to indicate where and when to go.
2 short pips – Change direction when hunting. Main use is when hunting open ground.

Obedience Training for a Puppy

SIT Command Weeks 1-8
HEEL Command Weeks 1-8
COME Command Weeks 1-8
FETCH IT Command 1-8
STAY Command Weeks 5-8
WAIT Command Weeks 5-8

That’s what I tend to do for the first 8 weeks, training a bit every day. After that work on what needs improvement but keep up with the basics.

 

[BenBhoy]

Not sure if this will help but this is what I use to train my gundogs, they are hard hunting WHVs so not everything will apply to your situation.


Verbal & Whistle Commands

Obedience Commands

“SIT” – Sit beside me. Use “SIDE” to reinforce positioning, close to left side.
“COME” – Come to me.
“HEEL” – walk beside me. When turning use “CLOSE” to turn right and “BACK” to turn left.
“STAY” – Do not move until I come back to you.
“WAIT” – Do not move until I call for you.
“NO!” – Stop, major transgression.
“DOWN / GET DOWN” – Used to stop jumping up.

Working Commands

“GET ON” – Release / cast out to start hunting.
“FIND ‘EM” – Encouragement when hunting.
“STEADY” – Hold on point
“IN / GET IN” – Get in and flush
“FETCH IT” – Go out for a retrieve. For blind retrieve also crouch and indicate direction with body, arm and leading foot.
“GO BACK” – Go back in a straight line and retrieve further out. Arm held mid height and then moved quickly to straight up as you say Go Back.
“HOLD” – Hold the bird, do not release.
“DEAD” – Release the retrieve into my hand.

Whistle Commands
4/5 short pips – Come to me. Repeat if required.
1 Long pip – Stop / Sit. Reinforce with arm straight up in the air. Which arm depends on which way you want the dog to go. Left arm to go left. Right arm to go right. Full arm movement away from the vertical to indicate where and when to go.
2 short pips – Change direction when hunting. Main use is when hunting open ground.

Obedience Training for a Puppy

SIT Command Weeks 1-8
HEEL Command Weeks 1-8
COME Command Weeks 1-8
FETCH IT Command 1-8
STAY Command Weeks 5-8
WAIT Command Weeks 5-8

That’s what I tend to do for the first 8 weeks, training a bit every day. After that work on what needs improvement but keep up with the basics.

Don't mean to highjack- picking up a pup next week. She's already 15 weeks old. Recommended I still just start as you have from week 1?

 

[Willowthewhisk]

Don't mean to highjack- picking up a pup next week. She's already 14 weeks old. Recommended I still just start as you have from week 1?

No probs! All helpful for everyone, I'm currently looking at a 6 month old. I'd start with the bonding/fun training then proper training after a few weeks following what the above have said!

 

[Scotty99]

Don't mean to highjack- picking up a pup next week. She's already 15 weeks old. Recommended I still just start as you have from week 1?

What I do with my pups is obviously give them a week or so to settle in, making sure they settle and sleep through the night, eating their food ok, starting toilet training etc. Then I start with simple fun training making a game of it as much as you can,

 

[Willowthewhisk]

Not sure if this will help but this is what I use to train my gundogs, they are hard hunting WHVs so not everything will apply to your situation.

Verbal & Whistle Commands

Obedience Commands

“SIT” – Sit beside me. Use “SIDE” to reinforce positioning, close to left side.
“COME” – Come to me.
“HEEL” – walk beside me. When turning use “CLOSE” to turn right and “BACK” to turn left.
“STAY” – Do not move until I come back to you.
“WAIT” – Do not move until I call for you.
“NO!” – Stop, major transgression.
“DOWN / GET DOWN” – Used to stop jumping up.

Working Commands

“GET ON” – Release / cast out to start hunting.
“FIND ‘EM” – Encouragement when hunting.
“STEADY” – Hold on point
“IN / GET IN” – Get in and flush
“FETCH IT” – Go out for a retrieve. For blind retrieve also crouch and indicate direction with body, arm and leading foot.
“GO BACK” – Go back in a straight line and retrieve further out. Arm held mid height and then moved quickly to straight up as you say Go Back.
“HOLD” – Hold the bird, do not release.
“DEAD” – Release the retrieve into my hand.

Whistle Commands
4/5 short pips – Come to me. Repeat if required.
1 Long pip – Stop / Sit. Reinforce with arm straight up in the air. Which arm depends on which way you want the dog to go. Left arm to go left. Right arm to go right. Full arm movement away from the vertical to indicate where and when to go.
2 short pips – Change direction when hunting. Main use is when hunting open ground.

Obedience Training for a Puppy

SIT Command Weeks 1-8
HEEL Command Weeks 1-8
COME Command Weeks 1-8
FETCH IT Command 1-8
STAY Command Weeks 5-8
WAIT Command Weeks 5-8

That’s what I tend to do for the first 8 weeks, training a bit every day. After that work on what needs improvement but keep up with the basics.

Just realised you said you had WHV's, my mate's got one awesome dogs

 

[Dickie]

Have a read of the Pet gundog by Liz Graham, it's about the working pet.

 

[Willowthewhisk]

Thanks Dickie. Will give it a read