Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Tips to Remember While Training Your Young Bird Dog


Jeffery S. Fraser has spent the last six years as owner of the Tsaina Lodge in Alaska. From 1991 until 2009, Jeffery Fraser served as chief executive officer at software company NIC, Inc. Beyond his various professional interests, Jeffery Scott Fraser spends time field training bird dogs.

There are several simple tips dog owners should keep in mind before setting out on a bird dog training session. First, owners should always pack drinking water for their dog before taking to the field. Dogs will require water as they engage in training and hunting activities, and drinking freestanding water may lead to illness or even dehydration.

Additional supplies that can help during a training session include forceps, steroid-free eye ointment, and a supply of hydrogen peroxide. Dogs, particularly inexperienced puppies, may encounter a variety of obstacles while searching for birds or other marks in the field, including broken glass or briers. The forceps can be used to remove harmful materials from a dog's face or snout, while the eye ointment can be used to treat an eye injury until a veterinarian can be seen, which should be as soon as possible. Also, a mouthful of hydrogen peroxide will cause a dog to throw up any dangerous substance it may have ingested, but do not induce vomiting if the dog has swallowed sharp objects, such as chicken bones.

Finally, for young bird dogs, socialization is as important as proper field training. Socialization is an important process for all puppies, but it can be of particular importance for hunting dogs. The more exposure a young dog has to different people and kinds of animals, the less likely it is to be distracted by external stimuli during training or while on a hunt. Owners may consider taking multiple dogs out on training sessions, even if they intend to hunt with just one dog.

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