Age to send Puppy to Training

[Ruger]

What is the most common age recommendation for when to start sending a dog to training?  I know alot can depend on maturity, but there has to be some recommendations... 

[Wingin it]

What type of dog? Pointer or flusher? How old is the pup now?

[jetjockey]

For formal training with a pointing dog, a year is about right.  Much earlier than that and your just wasting money.

[Ruger]

Pup is 4 months  and a pointer

[asmith]

Good luck getting a strait answer here.  The couple professional trainers I spoke with while searching to get training for my pointer ALL said they would prefer to have the dog as soon as possible, to get them started on the right path.  It's easier to train right than to re-train the problems out. 

I've noticed two schools of thought when it comes to this very question.  1) wait a year and let your dog be a puppy.  2) start right away, 8-12 weeks, to lay the correct base foundation. 

Ultimately it's your decision.  I didn't get my GSP in till she was around 5 months for her first session and I feel I waited too long and should have got her in right away.

[jetjockey]

Why not just ask the Pros?

http://www.ronniesmithkennels.com/blog/at-what-age-should/

[asmith]

Or

http://www.valhallahuntclub.com/three-stages-professional-gun-dog-training/

[JDHasty]

I sold literally hundreds of pups back when I raised labs and reccomended that if a pup was nine months or older that they go to a trainer the weekend following July fourth.  That gave the dog three months and then straight into the bird field with no break in between.  It worked very well that way.

[jetjockey]

Training a pointer is different than training a flushing dog.  That's why most trainers won't start formal training for pointing g dogs until about 1yr old.  A dog has to be mature enough to take the pressure, if they aren't, you can easily ruin them.  I know of dogs who still essentially can't be corrected because the trainer started putting pressure on them too young and they shut down.  They were never given the opportunity to grow, mature, and gain the confidence needed for formal training.

[Happy Gilmore]

Training a pointer is different than training a flushing dog.  That's why most trainers won't start formal training for pointing g dogs until about 1yr old.  A dog has to be mature enough to take the pressure, if they aren't, you can easily ruin them.  I know of dogs who still essentially can't be corrected because the trainer started putting pressure on them too young and they shut down.  They were never given the opportunity to grow, mature, and gain the confidence needed for formal training.

sounds like a trainer issue.

[jetjockey]

Training a pointer is different than training a flushing dog.  That's why most trainers won't start formal training for pointing g dogs until about 1yr old.  A dog has to be mature enough to take the pressure, if they aren't, you can easily ruin them.  I know of dogs who still essentially can't be corrected because the trainer started putting pressure on them too young and they shut down.  They were never given the opportunity to grow, mature, and gain the confidence needed for formal training.

sounds like a trainer issue.

It was a trainer issue!  ;-)

[Shannon]

You can start training retrievers earlier IMO but I'm in the school of thought a year old or after there first hunting season with pointers. Let the pointers be pups that first year and have some fun. I think to much pressure shortens up there range and I want a dog that will get out there some.

[Colin]

A question from ignorance... but are pointers softer dogs than labs or is it the training is higher pressure or is it that they just mature that much slower than labs?

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[jetjockey]

Two totally different jobs that require two totally different outcomes.  With pointers, you want independence, cockiness, and drive.  I'm not sure what you want with retrievers since I don't own them, but from the trials Ive seen, independence isn't a necessarily a good thing with retrievers.  With pointers, if you put pressure on too early, you kill the independence and the drive.

[Wingin it]

As already mentioned you have to be very careful with the amount of pressure you put on a young pointer. If it were me I would stick to the basics for this year. Have the trainer get the pup some good exposure to birds, and get the dog gun broke. Work on basic commands. Take the pup hunting this season without high expectations and just let the pup learn. If the dog doesn't point the bird don't shoot, etc. Then before next season the dog will be old enough to apply some more pressure and you'll see a big difference next hunting season. That is my opinion, that and a buck we'll get ya a cup coffee so take it for what it's worth! Just keep it fun this year and take whatever the dog gives you.

[Happy Gilmore]

Nothing said here isn't also true of retrievers. Too much pressure early and they are sulky little *censored*s and lose all their style. My 7 month old puppy is doing multiple marks and stretching out to 200-300 yards. just starting handling in yard work. She is a heat seeking missile. I force fetched her right at about 6 months not because of age but maturity and desire for birds. It is a balancing act and reading a dog, regardless of breed is the key.

I've personally worked with pointers and retrievers. Dogs are dogs.

Train the dog, not the breed. If you think you know a breed really well and can make generalizations about it, you simply haven't been around enough of them and are still novice.

[jetjockey]

Regardless of what anyone tells you.  In trials, you can run AKC Pointing dogs as puppies until 15 months old, and Derby until 24 months old.  Let that be your guide when people start telling you they can train your pointing dog at 6-7 months old. 

[Happy Gilmore]

I consider puppy training to be simple obedience and bird exposure for any brand of bird dog

[jetjockey]

There's no reason to pay a pro for that as its not formal training.  Anyone can introduce a pointing dog to birds and teach "whoa" and "here" in about 5 minutes a day.   

[Ruger]

I would agree, I already taught whoa and here...
That is no problem at all, but having a place to everyday be able to have touches on birds is the obstacle.

[jetjockey]

You don't need touched every day.  Every couple weeks is probably ole th at this age.  All your doing is building confidence and letting the dog have fun. 

Out if curiosity, what do you want from the dog?  Do you want a fully broke dog that is FF'd, broke, collar conditioned, and fully finished?  Or is a dog that's broke to wing that may or may not retrieve be OK?  Also, what's the dog like?  Is it an All Age field trial bred dog that will be comfortable at 500+ yards, or is it a foot bred dog that will rarely push 100 yards and not need as much handle trained into it?  These are all questions you will want to ask yourself, and the trainer you pick to train the dog.