nitrogen wrote:How do you teach a hunting dog to, ya know, do huntin' dawg things?
With patience and repetition. Most folks are not dedicated enough to properly train a dog, but it depends on what level you want to take him (assuming he has "some hunt" in him).
I am completely clueless here.
No problem, there are plenty of resources for you to learn from, but your first dog won't be nearly as good as subsequent ones. You can just figure on that.
I hope to be able to take Hank duck hunting, or quail hunting.
You will be "cross training" him here... and I would suggest you stick with training him for quail...as English pointers are not especially hardy water dogs. That doesn't mean...you can't train him to retrieve downed ducks, but he's gonna be pretty miserable after a few ice cold jaunts.
How do you train a dog like this to point, and retrieve?
You don't. If properly bred...he already knows how (and has the instinct to do these things). What you will be teaching him is: To point and retrieve when and how YOU want him to (and not on his own terms).
And i'm completely stupid in this matter. so I assume whatever training the dog needs, I'd need too...
No problem, everyone had to start somewhere. You'll need to get some reading material and educate yourself. I don't know how old the dog is, how much "pointer" he has in him...or if he even has the instinct, but in any case....you'll need to start with basic obedience. Until you have a good "handle on him" there is no point in proceeding with any other formal training.
You'll need to decide just how you really intend to use him...and then let us know. I am sure there are several of us here that have trained dogs for hunting purposes that can help.
I am still heart broken over losing my last Lab to a hidden heart problem. He was an exceptional dog with an incredible willingness to learn. I didn't start his formal training until he was nearly 1-1/2 yrs. old, but I worked with him everyday that I could. He earned his Senior Hunter title and we were working on his Master title when he died. Although he came from a duck hunting lineage, he was equally adept at upland hunting and would instinctively "quarter" a field from the time he was a pup. So, you can have multipurpose dogs.
You will no doubt discover that "training" a hunting dog is both rewarding and frustrating at the same time. If you are not a patient man....then
do not do your dog the disservice of training him yourself. Every dog is an individual...and the "trainer" must be smart enough to find out what motivates each animal.
Keep you basic obedience lessons short, be consistent and allow your dog learn through repetition and positive reinforcement. He needs to be socialized as well. After that...just let us know when you're ready.
