Scott Linden Outdoors

We are a team, but. 1) We need to maintain a a primarily-positive relationship with our dog built on trust, respect and consistency. 2) But sometimes, you just gotta use some force, correction, punishment, “stimulation.”

So how do you shape an obedient and fired-up hunting dog without impinging your budding relationship?

Keep #2 as far away as possible from #1. The bonus to this approach is a puppy that to some degree teaches himself. Great trainers know this and use it without much thought. We mere humans, on the other hand, without benefit of capes and tights or magic dust, must make a conscientous effort.

Pup walks at heel for four steps, then strays far left. We simply head a different direction and let pup think the lead did the dirty work of yanking him into line again. Pup rushes the gate to get out. The gate closes on his nose. He knows what “here” means,  but today there’s a deer skull that’s more fun than paying attention … until his neck is nicked electronically.

In all three cases, he thinks in his little puppy way about what happened. Action – reaction. Him and an inanimate object and he lost each time. A few more repetitions and it starts to sink in.

And we are still his best buddy.