This year at Duckdogtrainer.com we trained a large number of young dogs that will be experiencing their first ever duck season and many of them are not even a year old! I always like to encourage the owners of young dogs to remember that even with many months of training when it comes down to it, sometimes puppies will be puppies. There are some things that require a little age and experience to handle. I know this because I am about to turn 40 and I go about things differently than when I was 20. I simply needed to mature! Our season is in the split so there is no hunting for two weeks which gives plenty of time to brush up on any weak areas our puppies might have developed. By this time of the season our dogs should be looking in the sky for ducks, getting comfortable chasing cripples, learning to stay calm for hours of hunting, and exhibiting a confident attitude around other dogs and hunting buddies. If these things are not taking place, then now is the time to address the issues. Usually it is an easy fix if taken care of early in your pup’s life. An example of this is a dog that retrieves ducks but shys away from larger geese. Usually a little work with dead geese will do the trick. Dog training is not rocket science but your pup won’t become the pup it can be without the help of an experienced trainer! Dogs usually peak around 5 years old so if your pup is on the right track now just imagine his future! A split season puppy tune up, just might be what your dog needs.
Happy Hunting
Brian Johnson – The Duck Dog Trainer