Picking a PuPPy

“When picking a puppy to train as a gun dog, ideally one is chosen that comes from working stock,” says Rob Hardy. “Such dogs will have come from generations that are responsive and easy to train. A good breeder or trainer will always try to improve on this, so the dogs continue to get even better further on down the line.” Rob’s current gun dog is Dee, a six-year-old black Labrador. She is from working stock. Her father was the 2010 retriever champion. “All the usual socialisation rules apply with puppies. This includes meeting people, other dogs, getting used to the car, traffic and so on,” he says. “Living with the family is fine. It is, however, important to always remember that this is a gun dog and certain games are to be avoided. There should be no tugging games, which can make them hard-mouthed. This is the term used when a dog grips an object too hard. In the case of game for the table, it could damage it. “The only retrieving should be done in a controlled situation, so that also means no ball throwing by the children. “The dog should not be allowed to run wild outside in a field or wood. He does not know the difference from a weekend walk in the woods and a day in the woods shooting. If the dog is to run free, it should be at a location totally different from a shooting situation, on a beach for instance. This way it holds no connection to the dog’s ‘work place’.” Labradors tend to mature quite quickly compared to other gun dog breeds. By six to nine months, they can be ready for their formal training, but it depends on the individual dog. It is possible to have a Labrador trained as a gun dog by about 18 months of age.