Getting Started

Those new to hunting (and even experienced hunters) may be intimidated at raising a working animal, but starting out is not as difficult as it seems. The most important thing when training a hunting dog is to choose a single training regimen and stick with it. There are dozens of philosophies out there for teaching obedience and hunting skills, but trying multiple techniques, especially as a beginning trainer, can confuse your dog. Dogs thrive on consistency, so finding a single philosophy and training method to practice will ultimately save a lot of time, and keep the dog confident in fulfilling your requirements.

Obedience and training are incredibly important to create a suitable hunting dog, but without exposure, a dog can never fully develop as a hunter. Young dogs must gain experience throughout the first two years of their life, and they must spend ample amounts of time actually hunting. You must be willing to spend multiple days a month in the field, as well as ensuring your protégée interacts with game as much as possible. Young dogs must learn to hunt in the wild, not a backyard. Running through briars, swimming across creeks and rivers, and being exposed to the harsh elements are all part of a day’s work in the life of a hunting dog, and it is the trainer’s responsibility to help the dog become bold throughout these lessons. So, in order to build a bold, experienced hunting dog, expect to spend at least an hour in the field, 2-3 days a week, during the first year of its life.

Raising a dog from a puppy requires a lot of time, energy, money, and patience, so another option for first-time owners is to buy a young, started dog. Many breeders and trainers will have 1-3-year-old dogs that have been trained in obedience and have had one or two hunting seasons of experience. Buying one of these dogs will require you to learn how they have been handled by their current trainers, and bonding will take a little longer than with a puppy, requiring you to work at building confidence and trust. These dogs are also much more expensive than a puppy, but all their initial training has been completed and you will be able to take the dogs hunting as soon as you get them.