Puppy Development

After you bring your new family member home and they have had some time to adjust to life without their biological mom and brothers and sisters, somewhere around 10 to 12 weeks old, it is time to start a puppy development routine. The routine need to be fun and needs to be short in duration. A couple of things I like to do is put them on a bench and make them stand there, that is what they will do when they are pointing, I have a cable that runs the length of the bench with a trolley attached overhead and an adjustable chain attached to the trolley that can be attached to the collar. In the beginning a second is long enough and increasing the duration over time. As the duration increases start handling, that is pick a foot up, look in an ear, get them used to standing while you are checking them out. This will not happen over night but if you are persistent it happens quicker than you might think. This will teach them to stand still to get brushed or let you look at an injury that may have occurred.

Another tool I use is to put them on the chain gang with the other dogs during training, this teaches them to be still, they'll fight it at first. The chain gang or stake out is right out of Delmar Smiths book. The pup may protest vocally at first, let them complain and figure it out on their own. After they accepted the new environment pet them up, be sure the have stopped the protest otherwise they may learn complaining gets your attention. Never leave the dogs on the chain gang or bench without supervision.

I also like to put a short check cord on them and make them come to me, I don't say anything

I just want them to come to me when I stoop down. Stooping down or getting on one knee gets you on the same level as the pup, doing this is less intimidating to the pup. Give them lot of love so they relate coming to you as a good thing. Later somewhere around 6 months I start playing fetch with them while they are on the check cord, this seems to help develop a natural retrieve.

I also use the check cord to introduce the pup to pigeon, I fix the wings so the bird can't fly and let the pup have the bird to play with, this will instill a great prey drive. Don't worry what happens to the pigeon, sometimes you will lose one. After the prey drive is set I like to take the youngster out in the training field on the check cord and flush a pigeon for them to chase. Make the activities on the check cord as fun as possible for pup, over time you'll see your pup get excited when he sees the check cord.

All of this, the bench work, chain gang and the check cord all goes to establish a point of contact on the neck.

Hope this discussion helps, for more info please give us a call or come by and see us at J&S Kennel - The Home of 100% Field Bred Gordon Setter.

And remember 1 Cor. 10:31 .......... "what ever you do, do all for the Glory of God.