West Scotland Dog Training

[countrryboy]

My point is that he is only 10 weeks old, its fairly irrelevant what he is showing interest in currently. I'm sure he would show great interest in a carrier bag if one blew across the garden.

Let him be a puppy and train the basics/obedience. Later, take him to wide open ground and see if any of the pointer trait for running wide show (in moderation as he is still growing).

You will be wasting your money taking him to a trainer until he is 12 months old.

While that might be right if u were going to send a dog of for residential training.

I'd say pretty bad advice if the Op is unsure exactly how to install the basics for a working/hunting dog.

As someone said earlier not a lot of retrieving instinct in the dog.
I'd do as much as u can do to nature that, not snatching anything off it, no playing tug off war.
Plenty of praise when it's carrying something to u.

I'm out of touch a wee bit with the hpr scene but a lot of the breed clubs were quite active with training days.
Used to be monthly training above stirling/Dunblane area.
I think that was the gwp club.
With something like that u might be as well leaving ur dog at home and just going to watch, learn and ask questions.
I dunno if much further west?

I'm always very careful with introing shot to dogs, I thought it was even older when there membranes were strong enough, I usually wait till 8 months or even 1yr, although still using clapping loud noises etc before that.

 

[countrryboy]

Just to add wot do u actually want the dog to do?
Wot type of shooting do u do?
Do u go rough shooting, wild fowling or beating?
Do u have access to ground it can range and point?

U also talk about tracking, even that has variations if u want a dog to stalk with u and indicate or more of a dedicated cold scent tracker.

U really need to figure out exactly wot ud like ur dog to do in an ideal world.
U may have to make compromises along the way.
But depending wot ur plans are will alter how u go about ur training.

There could be other gundog clubs, while a ' normal' gundog club may not be ideal for some of ur training basic retrieving is pretty standard for all breeds, with a wee tweak here or there.

 

[timneji]

While that might be right if u were going to send a dog of for residential training.

I'd say pretty bad advice if the Op is unsure exactly how to install the basics for a working/hunting dog.

As someone said earlier not a lot of retrieving instinct in the dog.
I'd do as much as u can do to nature that, not snatching anything off it, no playing tug off war.
Plenty of praise when it's carrying something to u.

I'm out of touch a wee bit with the hpr scene but a lot of the breed clubs were quite active with training days.
Used to be monthly training above stirling/Dunblane area.
I think that was the gwp club.
With something like that u might be as well leaving ur dog at home and just going to watch, learn and ask questions.
I dunno if much further west?

I'm always very careful with introing shot to dogs, I thought it was even older when there membranes were strong enough, I usually wait till 8 months or even 1yr, although still using clapping loud noises etc before that.

Thank you for this helpful replay, Stirling is about 2h-2,5h from me, so definitely in reach to go and check with them and they may also know some local people.

As you said I have no experience with gun dogs and think I would feel more confident if i would at least hade the option to have somebody to talk to locally that could help me from time to time, even if its not on a regular basis.

I will try to get in contact with them so thank you so much.

 

[Mickeydredd]

While that might be right if u were going to send a dog of for residential training.

I'd say pretty bad advice if the Op is unsure exactly how to install the basics for a working/hunting dog.

As someone said earlier not a lot of retrieving instinct in the dog.
I'd do as much as u can do to nature that, not snatching anything off it, no playing tug off war.
Plenty of praise when it's carrying something to u.

I'm out of touch a wee bit with the hpr scene but a lot of the breed clubs were quite active with training days.
Used to be monthly training above stirling/Dunblane area.
I think that was the gwp club.

Well I'd disagree it is bad advice.

Firstly of course, this particular dog has no "HPR" genes in it - it is a cross pointing/herding dog, and as such will probably not fulfill any of the requirements the OP wishes from it. I doubt very much it will retrieve.

Turning to HPR's, an HPR does not need massive "HPR" training until at least 10 months old I'd say. The dog is very much still growing then and if it has decent breeding of course it will be displaying lots of those natural HPR traits by this age. As I said, the key is to get the basics into the dog, which of course will include some basic retrieving of dummies etc (not game), and trying to encourage it to run wide where it should naturally run into wind etc. Only once it is showing good prospects then he should consider an HPR trainer, IMHO. it will be a huge waste of money paying to take this to an HPR trainer before 1 years old, and only then if it shows any promise, as then the trainer could add to the training.

It is the Scottish branch of the GSP Club that holds monthly training at Argaty, near Stirling. You need to join the Club and tbh I doubt this dog would be welcomed as it simply isn't an appropriate breed/mongrel.

The OP may well need the occasional help of a trainer over the next few months, but not an HPR trainer.

Lastly, a good HPR is made through good genes and good ground and game. The OP does not have the former, I have no idea with regard to the latter two.

 

[countrryboy]

Well I'd disagree it is bad advice.

Firstly of course, this particular dog has no "HPR" genes in it - it is a cross pointing/herding dog, and as such will probably not fulfill any of the requirements the OP wishes from it. I doubt very much it will retrieve.

Turning to HPR's, an HPR does not need massive "HPR" training until at least 10 months old I'd say. The dog is very much still growing then and if it has decent breeding of course it will be displaying lots of those natural HPR traits by this age. As I said, the key is to get the basics into the dog, which of course will include some basic retrieving of dummies etc (not game), and trying to encourage it to run wide where it should naturally run into wind etc. Only once it is showing good prospects then he should consider an HPR trainer, IMHO. it will be a huge waste of money paying to take this to an HPR trainer before 1 years old, and only then if it shows any promise, as then the trainer could add to the training.

It is the Scottish branch of the GSP Club that holds monthly training at Argaty, near Stirling. You need to join the Club and tbh I doubt this dog would be welcomed as it simply isn't an appropriate breed/mongrel.

The OP may well need the occasional help of a trainer over the next few months, but not an HPR trainer.

Lastly, a good HPR is made through good genes and good ground and game. The OP does not have the former, I have no idea with regard to the latter two.

I'd agree with much off that

No doubt the Op will have his work cut out and even if he does everything correct his dog may still not be fit for work purely due to its genetics.

But likes of the gsp club while I'm sure u may be right about his dog.
But I'd imagine they wouldn't mind him going to watch and learn without his dog?
Atleast then u can see wot u should be doing.

To be quite honest a general puppy obedience class in local village hall is no bad thing for socialising a young pup.
I used to take some of my early dogs along

Surely with a pup/young dog ur getting it to sit for food, come to recall whistle, even getting it used to the turn whistle just when it's playing.
Even letting it run with ur older dogs and doing wot they do all helps a bit when the time comes and it's familiar with many of the commands.

Just if ur coming from a complete novice standard if ur not looking for advice till its a year old u could of been playing tug of war with it for a year.
U could have made an awful lot of mistakes by then.

 

[Mickeydredd]

Absolutely, I’m just saying that it doesn’t need to be an HPR trainer that he goes to in the first year.

Socialising is also very important as you say.

 

[timneji]

Thanks both of you there is a lot of input for me. He is actual registered for a puppy class, and yes I’m aware that there is a good chance that He will never be suitable and that’s fine, if not than not.

I just try not to ruin the dog.

Lots of help and impact already here on the forum.

 

[bigkimbo]

Where about in Argyll are you?

 

[timneji]

Where about in Argyll are you?

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