Yes!!!
What is the right or wrong way to start a young Brit??
Passion and hunting from babies onto game to develop the passion
or: obedience in the field with drills of steadiness and progressing exercises???
This is first and foremost a hunting dog, retrieving comes second, it is not a Spaniel or a Retriever.( or get one of those!!)
French way or English way???
Pointing high on the priority!!! Robot???
Food for thought!!!
I always tell my puppy buyers to instill basic obedience from the start, and rightly or wrongly I also tell them the pup doesn't need any free running till it is 4/5/6 months old, that a large garden or yard is plenty till then. A flexi gives them plenty freedom till that age. Just wish I'd followed my own advice
Well I am the opposite. I take my pups out free( they are never on a lead until 4 or so months old) in the fields. one or two of them. they will always follow because they know their security zone.
They use their nose and develop their hunting senses. smells, experience all sorts. Even paddle in shallow water when young. Introduce them to quails when little too though they are not allowed to " have them".Always short walks. Switch " brain" onto game mode.
Training starts at 8 months properly depending on nature of pup.
I am not talking about you in particular, Patricia - you know how to train them. Many people buying a Brittany for the first time will not have your facilities and if they let them start hunting right at the beginning they will never gain control over them. Not all Brittany pups will be worked or live on a farm, so I still believe they have to ensure the pup will sit, stay, recall before being allowed off to hunt freely. It has worked fine with all the pups I've sold. Each new owner has been given this advice, and seem to be happy with it.
A
"Not all Brittany pups will be worked or live on a farm,"
Fair comment. I still say it is easier when they are baby puppies to take them out as they readily follow. Once they can run much faster it gets harder. Puppy socialisation and training classes.
I think people have them too much on lead and when they are older, they run off!
For what it is worth, I think most new owners want to know what makes a Brittany "tick" and the best way to get on with their dog.
Regardless of what the future plan is for a pup, we tell all our new puppy owners to instill basic obedience at an early age. There are two reasons for this:
1) If you want to show your puppy, it needs to be taught correct behaviour so that it is a biddable, friendly puppy that gets on with everybody. I think an out-of-control youngster in the showring and on the show grounds is asking for trouble - bad habits will be hard to get on top of later.
2)If you want a good companion dog who will be part of the family or will be your best hunting mate - it needs to know who is the boss/leader right from the start. Being under control in a hunting situation could save your dogs life. Same as control in the city streets could save your dogs life.
By all means, free running is fine - so long as it is in a confined,safe area and is not for a prolonged period.
I think a section on handy hints for show training and field/hunting training is a great idea.
_________________ Home of the canine "Spice Girls" - Spice, Sophie & Kip - and Lou the sheepdog.
I may be absent in mind and body but always addicted to man's best friend.
A dog doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care.
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Robot???
