Pointing Dog Pointers: Qualities of a Good Trainer

What makes a good bird dog trainer?

In May, we introduced you to what we call our “Bird Dog Bible” – Wing and Shot, written by Robert G. Wehle and published in 1964. Though our own program of bird dog development differs somewhat from Wehle’s, following his training philosophy has given us invaluable guidelines for many successful years of training.

So, what does Wehle have to say about training a bird dog?

“Training a dog is actually quite a simple feat to perform if it is approached in an organized manner and the simple steps set forth here [in Wing and Shot] are followed,” he says. “Anyone with a desire to learn and a love of dogs can accomplish it without difficulty … The truth is that the problem at hand is more one of training the trainer than training the dog.”

Wehle especially notes the importance of “mental attitude, patience, affection, consistency, self-control, understanding, and tolerance,” adding that “it is true some people do ‘have a way with dogs’ but it is nothing mysterious. It is merely the result of mastering these qualities and applying them in your work with the dog.”

So, if you’ve been feeling a little intimidated about whether or not you’ll be able to do a good job training your bird dog, these words should help you feel more confident. We know that the bond you’ll develop with your dog as a result of training him yourself will make your years afield together even more satisfying.

Last month we talked about the importance of having a training plan and following it while using simple training tools, first in the yard and then in the field as pup is introduced to birds. And now that you’ve got your pup loving birds and hunting with enthusiasm, let’s focus on those attributes of a good trainer that are so important to the development of your bird dog.

 

Patience

We’ve all heard that patience is a virtue, but no more so than in training your bird dog! Your pup is first a baby, then a headstrong juvenile just learning the ropes and maybe even challenging you. Finally, after months of training, he’s a started dog ready to learn even more lessons as he hunts with you and gains maturity and experience.

Take all the time you need to make sure pup learns what it is you want from him as you progress in your lessons. Don’t set timetables – training takes as long as it takes, period. If pup is having problems, it’s usually something we are doing that is causing the problem. Stop, step back, and review what you’re doing. Consult videos, books, or a professional if need be. Like the doctor’s oath, we always say, “First, do no harm.” Training should be fun and good training takes time. Wehle wanted his pups to be “bold and unafraid.” He says, “So many dogs are permanently ruined because of the impatient trainer who chooses to discipline a dog before the dog is conditioned for discipline, the end product being a dog that is shy and lacking confidence.”

 

Consistency

A pup can’t learn his lessons if we aren’t consistent. He relies on us to act and react in the same consistent way each time he responds to something. Praise and treats (“dog candy,” as Wehle calls them) let him know he’s done a good job – and gentle, firm discipline helps him learn what NOT to do as well. If we let him jump up on the sofa one day and scold him for it the next, we confuse the pup. In yard work, it’s important to show pup what you want and then always insist that he do it once he learns. As Wehle says, “Probably the most important point in yard training is consistency. When you are sure he has learned the meaning of a command, be sure he complies each time you use it. This applies all through his training and ever after.”

 

Temper

Wehle emphasizes, “A young dog can be ruined forever in a moment of anger. This, above everything else, is to be avoided.” If you are prone to impatience and a short fuse, print these words out on paper in large letters with a marker and put the paper where you will see it each time you train. If you can’t mellow out when training your pup, the work is best left to someone who can. If you feel yourself losing it on occasion, heed Wehle’s words: “If a situation develops that tempts you to lose your temper, stop right then and there. Take up your dog and put him away without displaying your temper – perhaps even give him a little dog candy.”

 

Mood

It’s also best to choose good times for your training sessions. Make sure you and pup are rested and in good spirits, and the weather is not too hot, cold, windy, or rainy. Wehle says, “If … you are not in the best of spirits or feel a little short of patience, do not try to work your dog. If you do, you will probably lose ground and may even undo some progress you have already made.”

Lessons

Longer is not better – especially when it comes to training sessions. Pup’s attention span is like a child’s and he’ll learn more from a short session that ends on a successful note, along with a little playtime and petting. In the early stages it helps to let pup work off a little steam with a short excursion in the field or a ramble around the yard before his training session. “When you begin the lessons, keep them short and interesting. For young dogs, 15 or 20 minutes is plenty long enough per lesson,” says Wehle. It’s especially tempting to keep repeating a lesson to “instill” it in the pup after a good performance. This can weary him and backfire on you. Short, sweet, and successful is the name of the yard work game.

 

Commands

We’ve always said in our articles to “Never give a command that you can’t enforce!” It’s crucial to give a command only once! If you give your pup a command and don’t enforce it immediately, you’ve taught the pup that it’s okay to ignore a command. As Wehle says, “If at this tender age, you can accomplish nothing more than teaching him that there is no compromise with your commands, that they must be carried out, then you have won a tremendous victory.” He also offers the advice to use commands sparingly, but make them stick – and to use good judgment before giving commands to help ensure that your pup will respond.

 

Training Progress

Wehle emphasizes that pup should be at the “right stage of development” as you begin yard work. He says, “He must really love you and love hunting. He must be bold, well-acclimated, fearless, and, of course, physically fit.” We’ve always developed the bird dog part first, before putting any control in them. In training pups, we want the whole experience to be positive and the pup to be nearly dragging us to the field in excitement. Then we can start yard work. And once we do, we want to make sure that pup understands each lesson thoroughly before going on to the next one. Wehle suggests that you review the commands pup has learned before introducing a new command – to get pup into a serious frame of mind – and also, not to confuse him with too many words, too soon.

Whatever particular training methods that you use, if you commit to the training philosophy of the Bird Dog Bible, you won’t go wrong! We wish you good training and good luck as you develop your own special bird dog.

 

Pointing Dog Pointers features monthly training tips by Bob and Jody Iler, who operated Green Valley Kennels in Dubuque, Iowa, training pointing dogs for 50 years. Bob and Jody have written many articles for The Pointing Dog Journal.