A great bird dog is the result of good genetics and an optimal set of learning opportunities, but genetics alone are not enough to create a confident, polished, steady, and proficient bird dog. A dog’s life experiences are responsible for much of how that dog views events in its life, and therefore how it will react to different situations that arise. Optimally, every bird dog should be afforded the highest degree of genetic potential, but every bird dog should also be given the opportunity, education, and experience to make the most of that potential.

Socialization

One of the first steps in developing a great bird dog is ensuring proper socialization, and this process begins at a very young age. A puppy’s early months are its most formative, and the socialization it receives during that time has the most impact.

So, what is proper socialization? At Ronnie Smith Kennels, we define socialization as proper exposure to new people, environments, and experiences. But proper socialization can be broken down into even more detail.

The most helpful socialization is derived from positive or beneficial stress experiences, also referred to as eustress.

Positive stress builds confidence and resiliency. It occurs when a dog encounters new situations, is forced to assess and approach the unfamiliar, experiences success in those situations, and gains confidence from the ordeal. Just like in humans, some stresses can lead to positive change that help promote the learning process. When fears and insecurities are routinely overcome, both humans and dogs become more resilient, and more adept at handling new situations and fears.

Proper socialization for dogs provides just enough positive stress to desensitize and build confidence. To be of the most benefit to a developing bird dog, those intentionally designed stress scenarios should be presented in a way that will create a solid foundation for learning, and that foundation will in turn benefit a bird dog throughout the course of its life.

Experience in the Field

A range of experiences in the field provide healthy minor stressors. Dogs encounter tall vegetation, new scents and sights, terrain that is difficult to navigate, and situations that require cognitive reasoning. A dog that is going to be proficient performing in that environment needs to be confident in and familiar with the different types of challenges that may occur.

A dog that grows up learning how to navigate burrs, thick cover, or challenging rocky terrain is more skilled at handling new environmental challenges when they are encountered. As a dog grows, it ideally should be challenged with new hurdles that it can successfully conquer. A sterile, mowed, short grass environment of a back yard or a dog park does nothing to prepare a puppy for hunting birds. Get pups out in natural outdoor environments and give them the space to encounter and react.

Restriction

Most bird dogs need to be capable of accepting restriction to ensure their own benefit and safety. Throughout a bird dog’s life there will be times when he will benefit from being comfortable in a crate or a kennel. A trip of a lifetime rarely presents itself when there is not a need for a dog to travel in a crate or a trailer, to be crated or kenneled when it is not his turn in the field or be crated to protect him from getting hurt in an unpredictable environment.

We always recommend crate training young dogs. Crate training gets puppies comfortable with the concept of physical restriction and helps develop their ability to “turn it off” and relax.

Often when traveling with bird dogs or otherwise on the road, owners and handlers encounter the need to put a dog on a tie-out while making camp, tending to other dogs, etc. There are a myriad good reasons to develop a dog that can be temporarily tied or restricted, as restraint may keep him safe and healthy in various situations. Consider the utility of tying out your dog if your vehicle breaks down on the highway. Just the knowledge that your dog is safely tethered and relaxing by the vehicle (not in the hot cab) can provide immense relief in a difficult situation. A dog that has been frequently tethered will be desensitized and comfortable. A dog that has never been restricted in such a way may fight it, elevate his fear and stress level beyond what he can conquer at that moment. Note that your stress level will be similarly raised.

Early Training

Just like kids getting ready for kindergarten, there are specific skills that bird dogs should be prompted to develop before they start formal training at a year of age. At just a couple of months old, puppies can use their cognitive reasoning skills to problem solve and begin to “learn how to learn.”

Ideally, before starting school, kids should have a grasp of their own name, basic colors, numbers and letters. These elemental skills will help them make the most of the learning opportunity to come. Similarly, it is a great benefit to puppies to have a foundation in the basic skills they will rely on as working bird dogs in the field. Some of the most important skills to develop in a puppy are the ability to come on cue, a desire to retrieve, and the ability to stand still and be composed.

Teaching a young dog to come on cue is pretty straightforward. Begin in a controlled environment (few stresses or challenges) at feeding time. Establish a bit of distance between you and the pup, and when you bend down to place the food bowl say “here.” Repeat this process every time you feed your pup. This repeated process initiates a conditioned response to the word “here.” Once your pup is confident with that routine, then increase the challenge by moving to a new, more distracting environment. Another route is to have a little drag line on your pup and wait for an ideal time when on your walks you can reach down, grab the line, and cue your dog with the rope. At the same time, say “here.” You can always reinforce this with a lot of calm petting and/or treats when the pup has come. After the puppy has a solid grasp on the concept of happily coming when you say “here,” it is a good time to begin working on developing the natural retrieve. It is important to develop a dog’s desire to retrieve during puppyhood. It is unrealistic to expect a dog that has never retrieved to magically do so when formal training has begun at a year of age.

We often start developing a pup’s love of retrieving by playing in a hall or a quiet area and providing encouragement when the young dog carries something around. Once a young dog is comfortable with the feeling of carrying the object in its mouth, it is possible to gradually incorporate a “here” cue to get the pup to come to you. We always spend time with our young pups rubbing on them as a reward when they bring something to us in their mouth. After they relax, standing calmly by us, then we ask for the delivery. We never demand delivery first, as we want the dog to have a positive association with bringing the object to us and holding it, not a focus on the fact that we will take it out of their mouth. Most mouth issues and “keep away” mindsets are developed simply because a young dog begins to focus on the fact that he will lose his prized possession as soon as he gets to his owner. We modify that focus by celebrating the success of the retrieve and only after that success is established do we take the toy away.

The next skill that we begin to develop before formal training begins is the ability to stand still in a composed manner. This may begin early on in the puppy’s development, specifically when it is time to let the puppy outside or during feeding time. Our goal is to establish that just a moment’s hesitation before getting the desired reward is the appropriate and desired response. Standing still is a foundational skill that can be built upon in more challenging future interactions. Down the line we will expect a dog to stand still before a new person interacts with them, or to stand still before being released to retrieve a ball. All of these experiences of being still and composed help to develop the ability to stand still in the greatest moments of excitement (ie: bird work) later in life. We always promote the behavior of standing in moments of excitement for pointing dogs, rather than sitting, as it transfers to the pointing scenario in the field.

Each new lesson in a young dog’s life involves an inherent level of stress. The learning process demands that a puppy learn to recognize stress and to be capable of withstanding it. Proper development of a bird dog should incorporate incremental stresses that build the resiliency and capability of the dog, in essence strengthening the dog, but also maximizing their ability to learn new skills. Dogs are set on a path of success if they learn how to learn at a young age. Those simple elements of development will prepare a dog for formal training and a lifetime of successes in a multitude of environments. Only then can a dog truly fulfill its genetic potential.