Hunting Dogs: Training rhymes with play, especially when the pointer is still a puppy: among the most popular and well-known techniques, but also the most effective there is the game of the feather and the game of the sock to entertain our four-legged friend , train him and form a relationship of sincere friendship with him.
The problem of those who receive a small pointer puppy as a gift, or of those who consciously choose to give it to themselves is always the same: and now how can I train it? There are mainly two ways: either you opt for a trainer, or you choose to train him in total autonomy. In the second case, the request for time and attention is clearly higher, but as you can of course imagine, the bond between dog and owner will also be much closer and lasting: all in all if the dog is destined to become a firm and of hunting.
Above all, the relationship with the owner and with the surrounding habitat must be privileged: one should not consider one's pointer as a crystal dog, so fragile that one is afraid it will break; on the contrary, it is good for the dog to interact to begin with the hunter, but also with the greatest number of situations, habitats and of course people as possible. The role of the owner in the first 12 weeks is to ensure the dog that the experiences are all positive: otherwise you could risk insinuating fears in the dog that will hardly disappear.
In these first weeks it is likely that the hunter will become the main point of reference for the puppy: everything in the norm. This bond will make future training much easier. This is the period of vaccinations, deworming and the more than conscious choice of the veterinarian: the health of the dog first of all, and health clearly also means a healthy diet. What really matters to remember is that the training of the pointer is inextricably linked with the game and the fun of the animal. Understanding training as a game your puppy is likely to learn more quickly simple commands such as "here", "no", "sit" or "down", but also much more complicated commands.
One of the best qualified games for pointer training is that of the feather: it is not only simple to make, but offers numerous benefits.
To put it in place, all you have to do is tie the feathers of a bird to a string or a reed and move them constantly. The canine instinct stimulated by movement, smell and even the instinct to play will help the puppy's training. Remembering that this is a game - training will be important: overdoing or repeating this practice for too long will be counterproductive. Normally this exercise is recommended for pointers who have not exceeded 14 weeks.
Another important training game that you should always start practicing during the same period is that of the padded sock.
The dog will have to bring back the chosen object on command (it could also be a tennis ball), thus developing the very important instinct of retrieving from a puppy. The important thing is to play the game in a place well delimited by a fence or walls so that the dog cannot escape and never leave the sock to the dog as an object for his personal game: the effectiveness of the training would be less. .
An owner who proves to be a good trainer will soon be considered by his dog as a pack leader to follow: it is a role that is earned with trust, patience but above all with constancy.
It is important to remember that with violence and bullying you really don't go anywhere and that a well-trained dog, which has established a relationship of complicity with its owner, will be an excellent hunting dog. Finding out when the puppy will be ready for the first experience in the field is very simple: if he responds to commands and gestures immediately, well, it's time to put him to the test.