Question: I have just purchased a ten-week-old German Short-haired Pointer. My last dog was a big-running Brittany that I could never control in the field. He eventually ran away and was never recovered. How can I prevent this new dog from running too big while we are hunting?

Tom K., Grosse Point.

Answer: Tom, there are several things that can be done to prevent either self-hunting or a dog that ranges further out than the handler wants. The first thing you should be doing with your new pup is getting acquainted. Spend a few days together having fun. This is your bonding time. After a while of this bonding and getting to know each other, start taking the pup for walks. Your walks should be done away from other dogs and in an area where you and the pup can be alone. These walks should be done off-lead and where the pup can run free without danger. A park or a field with short grass would be ideal. This is an activity that should become part of your weekly routine for the life of the dog. After all, going hunting is basically going for long walks with the dog. It isn't important to find birds during your walks at this time.  With these walks, you are setting a pattern of behavior with your pup that will last a lifetime. You will find later in the dog's life that she will be more responsive to where you are and to staying in touch with you in the field.

When the pup is about twelve weeks old, you can start some leash work. Fit the pup with a collar and buy a six-foot-long light lead. Start by sitting down before you attempt to walk. Let the pup discover the limitations of the lead before you attempt to walk her on-lead. Once this is done, take her for walks on-lead. When the pup starts pulling on the lead, either by trying to get further away from you or by trying to pull away from the lead, gently tug her back while saying ‘stay close'. Allow the pup the full length of the lead before you start your ‘stay close' work. After a week of this, start varying the length of the lead that the dog is allowed to use. Give the pup six feet of lead to work with for five minutes, and then shorten it to three feet for five minutes. When the pup pulls the slack out of the lead and starts pulling on you, give a ‘stay close' command and tug the pup back, but not violently. A ‘stay close' command can be transferred to your off-lead walks and later used during hunting when the dog is working further away from you than you feel comfortable with. A ‘heel' command shouldn't be taught until after the ‘stay close' command is set.

Charlie Linblade

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