My new pup, any training thoughts wanted?

[3Kids-0Hawks]

I,ve just picked up a 16 week old wirehaired Viszla(bitch). She's absolutely gorgeous(will post some pics when camera fixed).
I want to train her myself and have dog training experience from over the years but nothing like this.

I want her to fill the role of family pet(good with Kids etc) but primarily be their to work with a Gos/Broadwing(most likely a male Harris).

I intend to spend probably the next 12-18 months on the dog before getting the bird (season 2006) my thoughts are that I want the dog to be ready first and I don't want to rush her (maturity wise).This also suits my personal circs(hence the 3kids-0hawks thing!)

At the moment I'm looking at getting her (obviously house trained) coming, sitting and working on the stay and intend to stick with this till shes totally cracked it and then repeat it till the shes sussed it to the whistle.

I'm not planning on putting any time constraints on her just letting her progress at her own pace which so far seems very fast.

MY concerns are if I go too slow will she forget how to hunt/point/use her nose as at the moment every time we go out shes all nose and yesterday froze sniffing madly at some bracken. When I mooched into it 2 rabbits bolted out.. This is my first pointer so was this a point? either way I was well chuffed.

I intend to walk her around loads of game and let her do what she wants to keep her keen. This is the bit thats new to me so I'm keen to know peoples thoughts or what they'd do.

I've read more about HPR type pups being over controlled than the opposite so I'd like to know how others have found it.

Cheers Rob.

[Hawkmaster]

Best to ask Derry, I am doing my Brittany now and having loads of fun. Will pop somepics on my gallery soon.

[HawkMan69UK]

seem to me you got everthing in the right order including the time its gonna take. let her be a pup let her mature physicaly and emotionly vislas are an excelent faconry dog but you need to be strong with them in the early stages but not heavy handed gaz has a mate who uses one and i am told it is superb... good luck mate and enjoy cause its saves are legs when ya got a good dog :lol:

[3Kids-0Hawks]

cheers its just reassuring to run any ideas with more experienced folks . Thanks

[Varmint]

Yep agree with Hawkman, let her be a pup! have her fun try to avoid any bad vices with the kids like towsing toys and over possesion of food, keep the ankle biters ( i dont mean the dog) away from her at meal times.

Let her know she has a safe place in the home, a bed or basket or even large pet crate so that you can control the situation and she can retreat when she likes too.

Start out with some simple games of coming on the re call whistle for her dinner, reward etc then move this game outside.

Get her used to walking on a lead, with choke chain correct ment held in left hand (with one hand) whilst she walks to the right, only correcting her (with right hand) when she pulls and make sure there is always slack pressure on the lead. (unless your gonna shoot with her and do it the other way round?)

Then move on to a few directional games, like find the sock?

Get a toy she likes and start to ask her to retrieve it to you (this is where you might need a bit more indepth advise?) then start to make her sit and stay whilst you throw it, allowing her to retreive it on command.

Then start to hide it and play the game of hunt the sock/toy, eventually she should start to respond to yor body direction or jesture which will eventually become a directional command when she's older.

Its important to not get a pup bored with a game so keep it fun! your voice has a lot of bearing on this excersise?

God, this could go on forever??

I'll stop at that for now, Jack Merlin is really our forum expert so im sure he'll have something to add!

Last bit of advise, keep her out of harms way, dont take her to any game area's too soon, let her play, interract and grow up and then think about introducing her to game at 6 or 7 months.

Thats when the fun really begins?

I enjoy working my dog more these days than i do my Hawks, hope you get half the pleasure i've had over the years from your new pup mate!

[3Kids-0Hawks]

Thats great stuff thanks. I,m using a crate for her bed which she's really happy to go to when she wants a rest, it's also making housetraining a lot easier and I can really recommend it for anyone else housetaining a pup.
Thanks again I'll no doubt be up with a few more queries in the next few months. In the meantime I should have my hands pretty full. Cheers

[BlackHawke]

so u can start using a dog whistle early on? is the recall whistle a few short bursts? sit is one longish whistle? any others?

picking my springer up tomoz already got her booked into socialisation/basic training classes and have enquired about gundog training. owt else i should be looking at?

[Darren]

socialize the dog as soon as you can with other dogs

[BlackHawke]

i've got a rotti so it will have to get used to him!! i will be taking her out as soon as i can. been reading up on it early socialisation is important, guide dogs begin their training at 6 weeks now. as long as you carry your dog whilst your out n about n dont let it come into contact with other dogs or areas that dogs may have been (basically putting in down in public) take it out as much as possible letting it get used to everything i can. safely before her jabs.

my rotti is quite well trained (when he wants to be!!) so hopefully some of that will rub off on the springer

[Spudy]

hi rob glad to hear you get her tomorrow ...perrys going to love her mate
ps sorry not been about just a late but been working the little socks of haveing a few days recovery time now lol...spud

[BlackHawke]

i aint been around that much. on here in background most of day though,but doing other things. my essasy is in and i finish family placement today! result!

tell ya what perry aint gonna know wots hit him when Tess comes home. hes used to taking things nice n easy! spends most of the day on the settee with me. hes not gonna get a minutes peace!!lol

[Spudy]

lol yeh poor perry eh rob...spud
catch you on msn later mate if you are on right peeps outta here got stuff to do even if its not work lol!!!

[Lee Slikkers]

Being from the US I've never seen any pics of a wirehaired viszla...I 'd love to see pics of the pup when you get a chance. i have my heart set on a draathar right now. I used to have a GSP and absolutely loved her but have been leaning towards a wiredhaird something to help with the colder temps we get in north of the us.

Lee