Patricia
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puppy trainingThis is a field which leads to controversy...I see it many many times on the French Forum ( which I really love reading)
At what age can I take my puppy shooting? Is 4 months too young? Is an hour's walk too much for a 3 month old  
The dog will last you and give you a good 10 years service in the field, what is the hurry?
I am interested in seeing what are people's thoughts at to WHY and HOW they train their pups. And maybe some won't run into difficulties.
Do you put the passion first, the brakes later, or like Bill Allen say, the yard work in? Should a pup be allowed to be a baby? Or not?
Over to you lot I hope...
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guy
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go first brakes later - is ok if you can indeed train on those brakes :-) The safe bet with a Brittany is to put the brakes in place as the go is almost inbuilt. Mind you the best dogs GO.
I think many (and I would include myself here) fall into the trap of doing some good training but then because we cannot 'read' the dog or the terrain or the wind correctly we let situations arise that undo in an instant all our hard work.
Puppies need to be puppies and chase butterflies  IMHO a puppy should be encouraged and taught to work to commands, an adult dog must work to them.
Training is ongoing, keep revisiting everything.
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johnhod
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This subject came up in the pub last night, when Keith, Dave and I got together to "talk Brittany".
I was, and still am, of the opinion that I would want to know early on if a puppy would retrieve (what it retrieved wouldn't matter too much neither would delivery, as long as it picked it up), but would then be happy for it to learn through play and to slowy tune its natural skills into working in partnership with me.
Well that's the theory anyway.
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Patricia
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Some Brittanys are natural retrievers, some are not.
The French way is to introduce them to game young and catch" things". The passion is awakened...
Manners should definitely be installed in the young Brittany. As Guy says previously, no barging past doors, no pulling on lead, no taking off and no coming back. I consider field work to be an extension to obedience and respect shown to the owner( bit like kids) by the pup.
So, like a young child, basics need to be taught. ( Sit properly at the table, learn to use a knife and fork correctly) etc 
The rest surely just follows...
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Ghilliegumdrop
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Must admit that I don't like to see pups [under six months] walked for miles on a lead. I went to see a young one last week and was told that the owner walked her, on lead, about 1/2 mile to school and the same back twice a day....well in the afternoon she only did one way, but thats nearly 2 mile a day for a young dog who is the equivilent of a 9 month old child. When I put this to the owner she was a bit shocked and said she hadn't thought of it that way. Training can take place in the back garden and in an enclosed field, but at the puppy's pace, not that of an adult who can and does move a lot quicker than a pup.
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kandjt
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Many years ago whilst in America I learned from a lady who trained Pointing Labs about something she called 'the walk'. Basically this is introducing the pup to as many different environments, ground surfaces etc that you can find. From a very early age all of my pups are taken for a walk, off the lead, and encouraged to follow me for a few minutes to start with and building slowly up to more challenging ground and a longer time as they grow stronger. Over the past few months I've been thinking on how to enhance this and have been encouraged by the French view and especially by the writing and videos of Derry Argue and my next puppy, (next year hopefully) will be introduced to game at a much earlier age. I heartily recommend Derry's video 'The Pointing Instinct.
It's a generally accepted fact that all HPRs tend to mature later than most other working breeds. A friend who has far more experience of all the HPR breeds than I have reckons that HPRs don't mature until they are six and are over the hill by eight. A bit extreme, but I think he has a point. I think that in the past I have expected too much of my young dogs than they have been mentally capable of. I now endeavour to ensure that any training is fun and I'm quite happy to change activities at the first sign of boredom.
Keith
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guy
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I remember taking Topaz down a farm track when a pup - there was a section of tarmac in the middle of nowhere - he dug his paws into the mud and just would not step on that tarmac.
When I first had a spaniel puppy she would just not do stairs.
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Patricia
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As I am lucky enough to have a meadow and other fields of various crops, I take the young pup for a "5 mns" wander. To expose it to smells etc..Also in shallow water to get it to paddle. Introduce them to quails in cages to get the brain " to switch" into game mode. If one dies...or any bird for that matter, I let them sniff and play with it. If not interested,I let a young pup chase it.( French style  )
As they are unsecure when young, I walk away if they go off, then soon follow. I make sure I carry tit bits and praise.
Never had any problems. For a slightly oder pup, change in voice tone is essential. They must realise if you are cross or pleased with them...
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