introducing to the field?

[wingslocked]

When do u guys usually introduce your hunting dogs to the field at what age is 8 1/2 to 9 months to early?

[hoosierhunter]

Are you talking training or actual hunting? Training will begin as soon as they loose their puppy teeth (retriever training that is), obeidience training can begin around 4-5 months old. Actual hunting will start after retriever training has ended, and even then you'll need to introduce them to actual hunting, probably need to sit with your dog and help him to see and watch for birds, help him to learn to start watching, and let your buddies shoot for a few times out, and by then your pup should start to get a clue what to do. So to answer your questions they can start as soon as they are ready, it won't hurt to be hunting by 8-9 months old if he is ready, again you'll need to sit with him and use your first few times out to help complete his training. I had my dog trained, he was with the trainer for 9 or 10 months, so he missed all of the 1st season (with me), but the trainer took him out a few times in his blind and sat with him while the others were shooting, so he would have been about 10 or 11 months old then. His 1st season in the blind with me he was about 19-20 months old. I hope this helps alittle.

[MinnesotaMike]

I had my dog out shooting pigions with me as soon as she could, i like to get em' gun broken asap

[njhonker]

I start introducing pups to the field as early as 8-10 weeks....I let them romp around and soak everything it....no formal stuff just exposier training....basically....everything you do with them is training......

they need to run in the grass....sniff everthing....get their feet wet, muddy....let them explore....this will pay big dividends later on...

they will follow you around and you can become the pack leader...

[wooziegoose]

i had my dog in the field at 9 or ten months. i didn't let him retrieve the first 8 or 9 times out though. i let him watch the other dogs. this not only teaches the dog what he's supposed to be doing (by watching other dogs), but it also helps teach steadiness. when it was his turn, at about 11 months he was ready, and retrieved his first goose no problem. after that he knew what his purpose in life was. steady as a rock too.