Here is my arm chair quarterbacking 2 cents. Marbleyez post above is spot on about being in a hunt with someone who is yelling at their dog all the time...that just tells me the dog is NOT TRAINED.
I only upland hunt now so my comments are more so for that. I think a trainer CAN be a positive...especially to start off right or rid a dog of bad habits or fine tune them..maybe bring from a "C" grade to a "B" or above. Having said that, I have never brought a dog to a trainer. I am on my 4th dog.
Like was mentioned earlier...if you have the time...well ...make the time..even 1/2 hour you should be able to bring your pup from bone headedness to at least a "C" grade in no time at all..and..with any luck..an even better grade over time.
I would recommend a few basic items for a basic do it your self training session that you will see results within a few weeks.
50ft check cord,whistle, and an electronic correction collar, preferably one with a vibrate mode.
What has worked for me is when out walking with the pup in a field(well before hunting season I might add), hook him/her up to that check cord ..then..every so often when they are out there 50 ft...blow your whistle and immediately give a tug on check cord. Proceed to do this every 5 minutes or so..whistle..then tug..whistle then tug..gets them thinking they have gone far enough and need to not go further. I also get in the habit of changing MY direction while walking so they get in the habit of looking back to make sure where I am. Then I add the e-collar and do the same thing..using correction if she doesn't listen to the whistle. You will find your student picks up on this fairly quickly...at least it has on the 4 dogs that I have owned. Then..once she has it down good after a few weeks of training..undo the check cord and on your walk abouts..keep that e collar on her and whistle when she gets out to far and correct if necessary. You will find out you have done a good job with her and don't need correction much at all. FINDING the time to do this simple but effective training will all but eliminate the need to holler at your dog as you have effectively trained your dog from being a bone head to at least a "C" grade in that she listens to the whistle and comes back. Same thing if a rabbit or deer or whatever gets up, I shout no bird and whistle.
Disclaimer: do not expect this to work after one session..you need to take and make the time.
Heck.we make time for other things..shouldn't be a problem making the time to get your dog to at least a "C" student.
My .02 anyway.
I only upland hunt now so my comments are more so for that. I think a trainer CAN be a positive...especially to start off right or rid a dog of bad habits or fine tune them..maybe bring from a "C" grade to a "B" or above. Having said that, I have never brought a dog to a trainer. I am on my 4th dog.
Like was mentioned earlier...if you have the time...well ...make the time..even 1/2 hour you should be able to bring your pup from bone headedness to at least a "C" grade in no time at all..and..with any luck..an even better grade over time.
I would recommend a few basic items for a basic do it your self training session that you will see results within a few weeks.
50ft check cord,whistle, and an electronic correction collar, preferably one with a vibrate mode.
What has worked for me is when out walking with the pup in a field(well before hunting season I might add), hook him/her up to that check cord ..then..every so often when they are out there 50 ft...blow your whistle and immediately give a tug on check cord. Proceed to do this every 5 minutes or so..whistle..then tug..whistle then tug..gets them thinking they have gone far enough and need to not go further. I also get in the habit of changing MY direction while walking so they get in the habit of looking back to make sure where I am. Then I add the e-collar and do the same thing..using correction if she doesn't listen to the whistle. You will find your student picks up on this fairly quickly...at least it has on the 4 dogs that I have owned. Then..once she has it down good after a few weeks of training..undo the check cord and on your walk abouts..keep that e collar on her and whistle when she gets out to far and correct if necessary. You will find out you have done a good job with her and don't need correction much at all. FINDING the time to do this simple but effective training will all but eliminate the need to holler at your dog as you have effectively trained your dog from being a bone head to at least a "C" grade in that she listens to the whistle and comes back. Same thing if a rabbit or deer or whatever gets up, I shout no bird and whistle.
Disclaimer: do not expect this to work after one session..you need to take and make the time.
Heck.we make time for other things..shouldn't be a problem making the time to get your dog to at least a "C" student.
My .02 anyway.
