Question: I have a three-month-old Brittany pup and my friend has a three-month-old Golden Retriever pup. We'd like to train together. When should we start and can we train and hunt these two pups together?

Paul R., Traverse City.

Answer: Start by running the two pups together now. Let them play and have fun. First and foremost, going hunting is going for a long walk together off-lead. Now is the time to start this. Do not let either pup dominate or bully the other. Work on ‘sit,' ‘stay,' ‘heel,' and ‘come' with the retriever, and ‘whoa' and ‘come' with the setter. Pups at this age have an attention span of only a few minutes, so keep your sessions short and try to do them twice a day. Introducing dead birds, preferably quail or pigeons, at this age is also good. You must work with the pups separately on birds. Keep the pup on a check cord while working with birds until the pup shows you it will bring birds to you. This early play training can help you later on, but please remember that these are little puppies and serious training will come later when they're seven to eight months old. Contact me then for more help.

Charlie Linblade

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