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Training Steady to Wing and Shot |
The first step in our dog training involves a consultation with the owner and an
evaluation of the dog. This results in two important findings. The first is an evaluation
of where the dog is in its training. The second is to establish the expectations
of the owner. Not every owner wants the same things from his or her dog that we
do. And, at the same time, not all dogs are capable of doing what the owner wants.
It is important for us to know what the owner wants – and it’s just as important
for the owner to know if the dog is capable of getting to the desired level of training.
Once we understand what the owner wants and the owner understands if it is possible,
we develop a training program tailored to the dog’s needs. The most difficult part
of that program is helping the owner understand what’s involved. Many owners call
in September, hoping to get the dog ready for gun season. This is not likely for
two reasons. First, the dog generally does not have the foundation completed to
begin the training that the owner wants completed. Thus, we need to go backward
before we can go forward. Second, THE DOG IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
If the dog is not crazy about birds, we must make it bird crazy before we can apply
the pressures of formal or advanced training.
Another aspect of our dog training is exposure to wild birds. Many clients cannot
get away for a long enough time period to expose their dogs to enough wild birds.
We can solve that by taking the dog on our truck for a season to be hunted and exposed
to wild birds. This gives the dog the critical exposure needed to gain confidence
in many types of cover, to trust its nose and to take moving birds. The result is
superior bird dogs.
Our entire dog training program is on a monthly basis and the number of months is
dependant on the training required and how quickly the dog progresses. UNDER
NO CIRCUMSTANCE WILL WE MOVE AHEAD UNTIL THE DOG IS READY. Our monthly
dog training fee is $700, plus the cost of birds and veterinary care. |
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