American Hunter – August 2019

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GUNDOGS

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f you want a bold, inquisitive, confi-
dent dog ready to tackle new situations
and environments, mix it up. Avoid
routine. The more of the world puppies
encounter safely, the better they’ll adapt
to accept and handle it. Carry the little
fur ball into your car for short rides. Put
her in the pickup bed to play. Give her a
ride on your bicycle, AT V, tractor, skis,
boat .... Have her sleep in a different
room each night, you with her at first if
necessary. Ship her out to your buddy’s
place for a day or two. Get her used to
sleeping in a travel kennel in various
buildings, cars, boats, even outside. Put
her on leash and let her sniff and inves-
tigate chickens, house cats, cattle, horses
and especially other dogs. Strap different
collars on her, particularly any e-collars
you plan to use down the road. Let her
drag the leash, then a 30-foot check cord.
Have her play around a pile of decoys,

splash in puddles and small streams. Get

her into warm, calm lakes and swim with

her. Show her how to calmly approach

fences and either duck under or wait for

you to help her over.

When it comes to loud noises, like

gunshots, you can teach your new pup

to appreciate the sound with a bag of bal-

loons and a little reinforcement.

In rural America I start my pups by

calling them to dinner with a .22 Long

Rifle fired on the back side of the house

while he’s wagging at the door out front.

Then I whistle and call Pup’s name. His

reward is the food he’s been craving. In

town just pop a balloon from a reason-

able distance so as to alert Pup without

startling him. It’s simple Pavlovian condi-

tioning. Soon those loud pops will mean

“bird down” and Pup will be racing in to

find it. Mix it up. Show Pup the world

and guide her safely in it and you’ll have

a lifetime partner willing and able to go

with you anywhere. ah

Build a Dog with Mettle

By Ron Spomer, Field Editor

Photo: Dale C. Spartas / SpartasPhoto.com

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