Gundog Training 101: Teaching Your Dog to Retrieve and More

Teaching your gundog to retrieve is a crucial skill that requires patience and consistency. According to the article, a gundog's retrieving ability is developed through repetition and positive reinforcement, with the average gundog learning to retrieve within 6-8 months of training.

Gundogs are bred to work closely with their handlers, and building a strong bond is essential for effective training. By following a structured training plan, you can develop a strong working relationship with your gundog.

Our training programs are designed to help you raise a well-behaved and skilled gundog. We offer a range of programs to suit dogs of different ages and skill levels.

For young puppies, our Puppy Starter Gundog Training program is a great place to start. This program costs $1,350 per month and covers essential skills such as sitting, staying, and basic obedience.

One of the key benefits of this program is that your puppy will remain on-site for the duration, allowing our trainers to focus on building their confidence and personality. Some of the specific skills your puppy will learn include intro to feathers, intro to water, and intro to retrieve.

The Started Gundog Training program is designed for dogs aged 6-12 months and costs the same as the Puppy Starter program. This program builds on the skills learned in the Puppy Starter program and introduces more advanced skills such as live and dead birds, gunfire, and water retrieves.

We've seen great success with clients who have completed this program, as it puts them in charge of their dog's training and allows them to add their own personal touches. Some of the specific skills your dog will learn in this program include land retrieves out to 120 yards and running doubles.

Our Advanced Gundog program is for dogs that have already completed a Started Gundog program and have hunted at least one season prior. This program is a custom package that helps your dog become a proven hunter, great in all public circumstances, and excellent in the home.

The specific skills your dog will learn in this program include gunfire, water retrieves, and land retrieves, as well as more advanced skills such as running triples and running blinds.

Here's a quick summary of our training programs:

Teaching your puppy to retrieve is a fun and essential part of gundog training. You'll want to start with a natural canvas dummy and a check cord to guide your puppy when needed.

Make the early stages of learning to retrieve quick, fun, and unstructured. This means playing with your puppy and getting them interested in the dummy by moving it back and forth and letting them bite it.

The key is to keep training sessions short, lasting only a few minutes with a seven- to nine-week-old puppy. This will keep your puppy engaged and wanting to go retrieve more dummies.

Griffin & Howe Gundogs is a premier kennel on the East Coast, specializing in training and breeding British labs. They focus on creating a companion that can thrive in various environments, from the lake house to the upland field.

Their training philosophy emphasizes developing a dog that can meet a family's needs year-round while still having the drive to hunt. Griffin & Howe Gundogs is conveniently located on the grounds of Hudson Farm in Andover, NJ, where their dogs can experience different hunt environments and bird exposure.

The property features a beautiful indoor kennel facility, which is a great advantage for the dogs. Their staff is ready to help new or experienced bird hunters, making Griffin & Howe Gundogs a great resource for anyone looking to train a gundog.

Intriguing read: Gundog Breeds

Teaching a puppy to retrieve is an essential skill for any gundog. Make learning to retrieve quick, fun, and unstructured in the early stages of your puppy's life.

You'll need a couple of natural canvas dummies and a check cord to get started. Attach the check cord to your puppy's collar, step on the other end, or keep it in your hands to guide your puppy when needed and maintain control.

Get your puppy interested in the dummy by being playful and moving it back and forth. Let the puppy bite it, then toss it five to 10 feet in front of you and let 'em run. Focus on making retrieving fun for the puppy.

Once your puppy is returning the dummy to you, show it some love and be excited! Tell it "good dog" and give it a loving scratch behind the ear. The key with these sessions is to make them quick.

Throw the dummy two or three times to begin, and increase throws and distance as you progress with your dog. Training sessions should only last a few minutes with a seven- to nine-week-old puppy.

As a professional trainer, I've seen countless owners make the same mistakes with their gundog puppies. Owners of puppies make countless training mistakes.

One common mistake is not knowing when to let a 6-month-old puppy have its way. At this age, a puppy's energy and curiosity can be overwhelming, and it's essential to establish clear boundaries.

A 6-month-old puppy needs structure and routine to thrive, but owners often don't provide enough physical and mental stimulation. Without proper exercise and mental stimulation, a puppy can become destructive and develop bad habits.

Professional trainers like myself have spent countless hours undoing bad habits in puppies, and it's often due to a lack of clear communication. A puppy needs consistent and clear communication to understand what's expected of it.

By being aware of these common mistakes, you can take steps to prevent them and give your puppy the best possible start in life.

Crate training is an essential part of gundog training, and it's crucial to make it a positive experience for your puppy. The crate should be your puppy's new home, where it will sleep, ride on hunting trips, and feel safe.

Your puppy needs to love its crate, so make sure nothing bad happens to it inside. Give your puppy a word to associate with getting inside the crate, such as "kennel", to eliminate any confusion.

Every dog is different, and your puppy's unique personality will influence how you teach. If your puppy is bold, you'll need to be firm, while a sensitive one will require calm and simple commands.

Remember, keep training simple, especially in the early days, and build a relationship with your dog.