Just got my first bird dog - a 6 month old Lab. Where do I even start with training?
I'm brand new to both hunting and bird dogs. Picked up a yellow Lab pup from a good breeder, and I want to do right by him. So far we've just done basic obedience like sit and come. I've got a Browning Citori 20 gauge and usually shoot Federal Premium 7/8 oz loads. Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the training advice out there!
1 Answer
First off, congrats on the new pup! Don't stress too much - at 6 months, you're in a great spot. Focus on building a solid foundation: work on that recall religiously, introduce him to water if you haven't already, and start getting him used to gunfire gradually. I'd begin by having someone toss a bumper while you fire a .22 blank from 50 yards away, then slowly decrease the distance over sessions. Your Citori 20 gauge is perfect for a starter gun - light recoil for you and less intimidating for the dog. What's your pup's name, and how's he doing with retrieving bumpers so far?
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