Brittany

[ctwiggs1]

Picking up my Brittany pup in about a week!

I'm a little nervous because I've never trained an upland bird dog, only a waterfowl dog.

any tips for the newb?

[Stilly bay]

congrats on the pup, how bout a few more details?

I would find a local club or training group to get involved with, you would probably make better progress than training by yourself for the first time.

also start looking for training birds now if you haven't already.

[jetjockey]

Biggest thing I could say is don't go too fast and be careful teaching sit before the pup is put on birds and learns how to point.  Second, spend the money and purchase the video series "perfect start/perfect finish".  Easily one of the best training videos and it's very easy for the beginner to learn with.  Good luck. 

[KFhunter]

I picked up a Brittany pup 3 years ago - never trained an upland dog myself either.  Now I'm 1000's of dollars into gear and ended up with a family pet.
 
Where did I go wrong?  Pretty simple I didn't show her enough birds.  I under estimated how many birds it takes to make a dog - birds and time of which I had neither.  That and living in town really really sucks. 
 
I'll be moving though, then it's game on!
 

[10Key]

All great advice. My two cents would be to first define what your goal is...Do you want a trialing dog that is a machine in the field and in the fall or a dog that does a decent job when you hit the field a few times for the upland season and is a great family dog the other 9 months of the year. Once you decide that, you can better hone in on what you will need to do, as either goal or somewhere in between will require dramatically different commitments of time and $$$

Oh and I agree, the more birds the better for whatever type of  hunting dog you want to end up with

[ctwiggs1]

Meh, I doubt I have the mental capacity to train a dog to be a machine in the field.  I want to make sure it has the ability to find birds and not run off?

LOL - checking into that video now.

Thanks all!

Curtis

[johng]

Hi,

Well, I know what you guys are talking about.  I got a new Brittany pup 5 months ago when he was 2 months old.  Opie comes from a good line of hunting dogs and one of the best things I think I have done so far was getting him from a well recommended breeder / trainer of dogs.  If you live on the "wet side" of the state I couldn't recommend Jim Lallas of Acme Hunting Club more... He came recommended to me from this site as a matter of fact and I will also say Jim is great.

He has the land, the knowledge and the birds to help you and your pup along the way.  I don't have a lot of time to spend with Opie either so we try and get up to Jim's place every so often so Jim can teach us both some stuff and get us out into the field with some live birds.  It has helped. 

Good luck man!!! Brittany's have a LOT of energy but I love my little dog.

Let us know how it goes!!

-jg

[Stilly bay]

  If you live on the "wet side" of the state I couldn't recommend Jim Lallas of Acme Hunting Club more... He came recommended to me from this site as a matter of fact and I will also say Jim is great.

He has the land, the knowledge and the birds to help you and your pup along the way.  I don't have a lot of time to spend with Opie either so we try and get up to Jim's place every so often so Jim can teach us both some stuff and get us out into the field with some live birds.  It has helped. 

Jim is a great guy to work with.

[johng]

Oh!  And another thing both Jim and in "Gun Dog" they talk about is playing fetch, which is a great game of cooperation, between you and your pup all the time.  We started playing fetch right at 2 months and he loved it... now he is a bit rebellious at times but I pray we will work through it. 

[wildweeds]

And the line of dogs you have is double bred Nolan's last bullet,I've hunted with your pups grandsire who was a son of NLB.Quite frankly the best brittiany I've seen to date,and I've seen quite a few.I've got a littermate to Jim's setter Drummer.

Hi,

Well, I know what you guys are talking about.  I got a new Brittany pup 5 months ago when he was 2 months old.  Opie comes from a good line of hunting dogs and one of the best things I think I have done so far was getting him from a well recommended breeder / trainer of dogs.  If you live on the "wet side" of the state I couldn't recommend Jim Lallas of Acme Hunting Club more... He came recommended to me from this site as a matter of fact and I will also say Jim is great.

He has the land, the knowledge and the birds to help you and your pup along the way.  I don't have a lot of time to spend with Opie either so we try and get up to Jim's place every so often so Jim can teach us both some stuff and get us out into the field with some live birds.  It has helped. 

Good luck man!!! Brittany's have a LOT of energy but I love my little dog.

Let us know how it goes!!

-jg

[johng]

"And the line of dogs you have is double bred Nolan's last bullet,I've hunted with your pups grandsire who was a son of NLB.Quite frankly the best brittiany I've seen to date,and I've seen quite a few.I've got a littermate to Jim's setter Drummer."

I know!  Jim told me about Nolan's Last Bullet and "Op" has good instincts for sure.  He is already pointing pheasants and did pretty good on retrieves at such a young age.  I really should spend more time working with him on my own but I am looking forward to grouse season big time with him!!!   

Jim has mentioned you Ernie.  Maybe see you up there sometime!

-Jg

[ctwiggs1]

Picking Henry up tonight - expect pics soon!

[jetjockey]

Have fun.  A buddy of mine bred directly to Buddy several times, including a breeding from my Brittany's dame.   He still has two different pups from two different litters directly from him.  I think you will enjoy your pup. 

[johng]

Where are those pictures of that Britt pup???

[ctwiggs1]

what a hassle - had to start a photobucket!