How do I prepare my dog for hunting?

Teaching your pup to avoid bad habits while instilling obedience basics will ensure your new hunting partner realizes his full potential.

1. Socialization: Play with your Pup. Play with your pup!
2. Invest in a Quality Carrying Crate.
3. Let Them Run.
4. Keep Commands Basic.
5. Introduce the First Bird.

How do I keep my hunting dog busy?

Run, run, run You can also get your hunting dog to run by throwing or launching a dummy or bumper into the woods for him to retrieve. This will keep him fit and also test his eyesight and scent acuities. Be sure to do this while incorporating training commands.

How old should a dog be before hunting?

Hunting dog training age 7-11 months. By the time your pup is 7-months old, he/she should have adult teeth. This is where the real hunting training begins. This is also the age, if you are considering having a professional train your dog that you would want to make that decision.

How do you play with a hunting dog?

Hide and Seek. One game that is great for scent hounds (and most hunting dogs have a superior sense of smell, even more so than other canines) is hide and seek. Generally, one would play this game by hiding a treat under pillows or blankets, under a cardboard box, or even, if you happen to be outdoors, on a patio step.

How much is a hunting lab puppy?

They are giving you the best shot at having a healthy dog that is great in the field. Most hunters should look for a pup that is in that $500 to $800 range. This should give you a good price range to look in for a quality puppy that will share your hunting adventures with you for the next decade.

Should I keep my hunting dog inside?

Having a hunting dog inside isn’t going to ruin its sense of smell, as many old-timers will tell you. Keeping your hunting hound indoors allows you to bond with him and it gives him the opportunity to learn what makes you happy, as well as unhappy. It can learn its place in the pack and how it fits in with the family.

What age should you start gun dog training?

to eight months
If your gundog puppy is confident you should be able to start at about seven to eight months of age. If she is timid then leave things until she is a year old. Gundog trainers usually wait until the dog is eight months old when hearing has developed properly.