Dog Training: Getting Started With a New Puppy
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We are happy to announce we are launching a new blog about dog training. The blog will be posted every Monday, and will follow the progression of the two newest additions to our HB Gun Dog team, Honey Brake’s Running on a Full Moon (call name Moon) and Honey Brake’s Louisiana Troubadour (call name Speck). Both of these pups will be under the care and direction of Jared Mophett, our head guide and we will be looking forward to keeping you posted on their progress as they develop. We will outline a little bit about each puppy, and then tell you what you need to get started with your new hunting companion.
Honey Brakes Running on a Full Moon (Moon)
- Sire- NFC-FC-AFC Hunter Runs Booboo
- Call Name- Boo
- Dam-HRCH Broussard’s Louisiana Long River MH
- Call Name- River
Honey Brake’s Louisiana Troubadour (Speck)
- Sire- ’14 NAFC FC AFC Texas Troubador
- Call Name- Tubb
- Dam- GRHRCH UH Hurricane Abby Cat.V
- Call Name- Abby
- Abby is part of 6 generations of Grand Hunter Retriever Champions
A proven pedigree is key to picking the right puppy, and Jared certainly did his research. A quick look at the pedigree of either puppy, and you see they were born to be masters of their craft. Both puppies have pedigrees that abound with field champions, amateur field champions, national amateur field champions, national field champions, and grand hunter retriever champions, as well as hall of fame dogs. Jared selected these two pups because of the traits prevalent in each of their lines such as trainability, disposition, eagerness to please, desire to retrieve, and health characteristics.
When you get your new puppy, there are a few things that you must have the day it comes home with you. Number one is a kennel, or crate. Your puppy will be spending lots of time in its kennel, so choosing the right one is important. We like to use a hard sided plastic or fiberglass kennel. They are generally lightweight, so they can be moved easily or loaded into your vehicle for transporting your new companion. Having a hard sided kennel instead of a wire crate provides a sense of security for your new puppy, which is extremely important because you want your puppy to be comfortable with its new kennel. Another important part of keeping your puppy comfortable in its new kennel is bedding. You should use something that will keep them warm and comfortable and that can’t be chewed up easily and ingested.
You will also need a collar and a leash for your new puppy. Chances are, your puppy has not worn a collar at the time you bring it home, so it is important to start familiarizing them with a collar while they are young. We like to use nylon collars on our puppies that we can adjust as they grow so we don’t have to buy a new one weekly. When buying a leash, it doesn’t have to be anything fancy. A four to six foot nylon leash is all you need to get started. Keep in mind that your puppy has probably not been led on a leash before and will try to fight against it at first. Stay patient and let them become comfortable with it before you start dragging them around the yard.
Obviously you will need food for your new puppy. Choose an appropriate puppy formula. It is not a bad idea to ask your vet, or several vets, what he or she recommends. A couple of the more popular foods for sporting dogs are Loyall and Purina Pro Plan, both of which have been used by us at Honey Brake with good results. Have a food and water bowl for your puppy and follow feeding recommendations from the bag or from your vet.
Your puppy will be developing puppy teeth, and then adult teeth for up to 6 months after you bring it home. This means your new puppy will want to chew on just about anything it can get its mouth on. With that in mind, you may want to provide your puppy with chews. Find puppy safe chews that don’t splinter and cause choking hazards. You may also want to go ahead and get treats to begin rewarding your puppy for appropriate behavior and beginning their training.
The most important thing you should do when you get your new puppy is take it to a vet. If you do not already have a veterinarian you trust, take your time and do some research. Your puppy will need a full checkup, its puppy shots, and will need to be put on preventatives for heartworms, fleas and ticks. Do not try to save money by administering vaccines bought from a local feed store. Vaccines are very fragile and can go bad if not stored or handled properly, and as feed store employees are not trained pet health care professionals, you run the risk of causing problems for your dog. You want your dog to be a healthy companion for a long time, so let the professionals handle its veterinary care.
Next week we will discuss crate training. We will provide some how to’s as well as some updates on the newest members of the Honey Brake hunting team. Remember to check back every Monday for our dog training tips. Also, feel free to email us your puppy / dog training questions at dogs@honeybrake.com if you have any and we will follow up with you.
We will soon be carrying Avery Sporting Dog products in our online store. In the meantime, check out these websites for all of your dog training needs.
Good luck with your gun dog!!!!
