Hunting Dog - Family companion and partner
Do you enjoy small game hunting? Or do you prefer hunting ducks in blinds? Do you like to hunt birds? Are you looking for a family pet, but would also like it to have a function? Maybe you can combine both in a hunting dog!
A hunting dog can be a great family pet as well as your companion in the field. The breed you pick will depend on what you like to do in the field. Begin by looking up all the different breeds in the hunting dog arena. There is a lot of free information to be found on the Internet. There are hundreds of different breeds available for different hunting methods. There are Spaniels, Labrador retrievers, coonhounds, and the ever-popular Beagle. Whichever breed you choose, make sure it will also make a good family pet, and that it won’t have habits that are not conducive to inside life. You may prefer to keep your hunting dog outside in a kennel. Some hunters feel that this makes them more focused on their job to get game in the field.
Once you decide on a particular hunting dog, make sure you choose a reputable breeder. There are a great many breeders that specialize in a good hunting dog. You will most definitely want to see at least one of the parents and make sure that the puppy comes from good stock.
The training of a hunting dog starts very early. At a very early age, you will want to shoot the gun around the animal to make sure it doesn’t get “gun shy”. This can be as simple as doing some target shooting with the puppy outside with you. If you have chosen a Retriever, the fetching instinct should also be started at any early age. Throwing a toy and getting them to chase it outdoors, will be a fun experience for them. Always make the training experience a good experience for them. Positive reinforcement for a hunting dog is key for their success later on! Teaching them obedience from an early age will also ensure when it comes time for them to bring back the bird you shot, that you would definitely trust them to do this!
No matter which hunting dog you choose, make sure you work with that dog often! Developing a loving, trusting relationship with that dog, will graduate into many hundreds of hours in the field, and at home, of fun!