how old..

[Bow Huntr]

do you start training with your dog?
and start to shoot around them???

[fi8shmasty]

As soon as I get them home. I dont shoot over mine untill they are 16 weeks old. Feed them some little snac ks and play fetch with them and start them f with a little cap gun. make a Fun game out of it for them. Nice and easy.

[ngaduck]

Don't start anything formal until about 6 mo. Let him be a puppy. Keep everything light and fun. Don't shoot directly over the dog until you have exposed him to some distant shots. The cap gun is also a good idea, but not right over the pup at first.

[fi8shmasty]

At a distance while he/she is playing around with the cap gun. Make a fun game of it. By the time my Dogs are 6 monthe old they are obediience trained, and can blind can blind retrieve. Minimum of an hour and a half in the morning and an hour and a half in the evening everyday for the 1st 6 months. I try to take them everywhere I can with me. it will let them see and be around a variety of experiences and helps to make them accustomed to things.

[Bow Huntr]

when do i start to use the cap gun around it?
mine is only about 8 weeks old.

[ebb tide]

You need to get some books and read up on it. There are plenty of good retriever training books and DVDs out there. "Water Dog" is a good start.

[Alaska]

Though I wouldnt recommend it to someone, my springer went on his first hunt at around 10 weeks (curled up in my wifes coveralls!) went hunting this year at 14 years and now totally deaf. I believe him to be an exception to the rules though. I started him with noise by hitting two pots together softly then gradually louder. I began this at three months or so, not too much just once or twice evey other day. Most important is the abillity to read the dog, knowing if you are training or hurting the dog is a very fine line.Unemployed at the time I got him we spent every day(all day) together. I believe this made a huge difference in our bond. Having used hand signals as well as verbal commands throughout his life he is now the most well trained deaf dog I know.

[fi8shmasty]

I have started several Pup in the little pocket of my hooded sweatshirt. They Love it!! Just let them be around it,. once they smell blood and see Daddy is very happy they(and YOU) are Hooked.