Traditionally training of gundog, or really all, pups start when you fetch the pup at about 7 weeks of age. OK, I buy that.

But studies in humans have shown that babies are affected even long before birth by music, stress and other situations that the pregnant mother is exposed to. Many parents, and grandparents like me, will know that the very early 'training' or 'learning' of a baby is all important in shaping behavior in later life. I buy, and know that too!

But what can, should, could be done very early in a pup's life, say from 3 to 4 weeks of age to 'start' doing the right things. I've known for many years that pups raised in a kennel placed on lawn are simply orders of magnitude easier to 'potty' or house train than pups bought from breeders where the pups were raised in a concrete-floored pen. My own experience show that a pup, even at a very young age, crawls out of the kennel, and as soon as those feet hit the cool grass a puddle is made. Now, if the kennel is placed on a concrete floor, as soon as the pup gets outside, its feet feels a smooth, hard concrete surface on which a puddle is made. When you want to later teach the pup to "Go outside before making a puddle" the experience of the pup raised in a kennel on grass seems to assist with associating “outside” with “grass underfoot”. The pup raised on concrete does not seem to be able to distinguish between “house floor” and “concrete”, and is much more difficult to house train. I will never again buy a pup from any breeder raising them on concrete.

I recently started in all earnestness looking for a new GSP pup. One of the potential breeders that I have visited made a remark about "In USA they are now starting with training of pups as soon as their eyes are open." I initially ignored this remark as everyone knows that you only start training a pup as soon as you get it.

But I have been thinking about this lately. The pup I'm going to get is now 4 weeks old; is there anything that I, during visits to the pup, or the breeder, can or should do to 'give early stimulation' that will assist in later training and hunting behavior or desire? In the subject I called it "Training", but it should perhaps be called 'early stimulation' as it can hardly be called training at all. I can think of quite a number of "for examples" actions and stimulations that IMHO 'could' be usefull, but would rather not do that now, I will rather just ask the forum for it's collective wisdom about this matter. What early actions done to/for a very young pup do you think could, or better do you know 'will', assist in bringing out the best from the genetic makeup of a very young GSP pup?

Any references to studies in this regard? Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Andrew McLaren

Andrew we breed our own military dogs where I work and as soon as they are born they are exposed to noise/bangs/sounds of gunfire on CD etc. We have some enviromental sheds with obstacles that the pups are encouraged to go over/under and all that. They are also taken out in the field as a group to investigate every thing around them. We never make a fuss about them, never help them over an obstacle, never pat them if we tread on them by accident.I don't think at such a young age they can learn a hell of a lot (gundog training wise) BUT by exposing it to a lot of different experiences you'll have a more grounded and bolder dog. (thats a basic run down mate. I don't work in the pup development area so I know only a small part of it)

I would start by writing down what you want the dog for or to do. Then come up with easy exercises for the pup. Remember the pup must never fail at something, always end any training on a win.

the book: Best way to Train your Gundog, the Delmar Smith Method , has some neat methods of pup liter mate self training methods.

Bakes is right about exposing the pups to noise and different smells when the pups are very young. You should also expose them to birds at a very early age. I use wings to get them used to the sent and when they get a little older I take a live pigeon and truss it up and let the pups play with it. I think that exposing the pups young will help in the long run.

I don't do a lot of training the first year sit come stay, but I do do a lot of playing so they can have that first year to bond to me, but I also always have had a finished dog to hunt & help train pup with. Works amazingly well every time the pup balks at something I'll tie pup out & work the finished dog on the same thing making a huge fuss over how well they do while pup has to sit & watch someone else getting his action. Never had to force fetch & having a dog steady teaches pup what is expected of him.
Be prepared GSP's are often very stubborn but mine have made great hunting dogs & companions for many years.

Several bird dog breeders in the US start "training" their puppies on day 1. They introduce quail wings and other scents, as soon as the eyes open, they start ing on a string training, etc.

Yes, it makes a difference in how "birdy" the dog becomes.

I would really like to get to know about any scientific study conducted on how the "birdyness" of dogs may be affected by exposure as very young puppies. I personally do not doubt at all that it can be true that getting even very young pups to smell birds can affect the degree of "birdyness" in the adult dog. However I would need something substantial to convince a breeder to expose puppies from which I may eventually choose one as my own, to make the effort. Most breeders will adopt the attitude that: My dogs have "natural" instinct and does not need any training to become natural hunters! Which is mostly true, but IMHO the natural instinct can be enhanced by early training.

Does anyone know the URL of trainers or breeders that actually expose pups to such stimulation at a very young age?

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

I would question any breeder that doesn't expose the pups to birds and would think hard about spending my money with that breeder.
Just my opinion for what it's worth

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew McLaren:
Does anyone know the URL of trainers or breeders that actually expose pups to such stimulation at a very young age?

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

www.gundogforum.com
Kninebirddog
and others there

I see it as no different than talking to a newborn or the "Mozart Effect" on learning, both of which are well documented. There is no way to quantify the effect because you are dealing with individuals and they have their own built in variables that effect the results of any test.

Our dogs become more birdy as we expose them, so there has to be some sort of accumulative effect; like an athlete that trains for quickness and reaction-time and agility.

BTW

we have a litter of Brittany pups due in a month. Let us know if you want one. We have plenty of dove, quail, duck feathers to stimulate the pups, as well as 3 covey of quail that call our yard part of their range.

Here is a recent thread discussing "How early to put pups on birds"
One guy has 5 week old pups retrieving, check out his photos, the puppies are having tons of fun.

http://www.gundogforum.com/for...pic.php?f=89&t=20850