Thread: training program for a gwp pup

hi everyone
I am about to become the owner of a gwp pup and I'm trying to find a training program to follow.
I plan on having her as a duck/bird dog mainly but i want to teach her to track and blood trail deer as well.
I have looked into the deer dog blueprint and don't think it would be the right fit. I am hoping for a program to follow that is more tailored to a versatile dog
Are there any recommendations on an online program worth following

If you're looking for a program the blueprint will give you a foundation to build on. Very little of it is deer-specific - it's all about control/relationship etc.

Go back to suggestions made in book question.... Online is not always better.... Read book three times and gain more insight each reading...

Originally Posted by lucasS270

hi everyone
I am about to become the owner of a gwp pup and I'm trying to find a training program to follow.
I plan on having her as a duck/bird dog mainly but i want to teach her to track and blood trail deer as well.
I have looked into the deer dog blueprint and don't think it would be the right fit. I am hoping for a program to follow that is more tailored to a versatile dog
Are there any recommendations on an online program worth following

I looked at the deer dog blueprint but personally don't like the 'dog ahead of rifle/shooter' concept.

A dog can indicate just as well if it's standing next to you or just off to the 2 or 11 o'clock position.

Also, no amount of 'training' is going to simulate finding a shot deer. Just take them out and bowl enough over with positive reinforcement (not with treats but attention).

Also make the decision regarding whether the deer is fatally wounded or not. If you train your dog to take down a deer then make sure it's recall/stop is rock solid otherwise there will be problems!

Personally make the decision and don't just set the dog off and allow it to chase something down for the sake of it (otherwise survivable wound).

A better shot means less work for the dog

The training and care of the versatile hunting dog .
By Sigbot Winterhelt and Edward D Bailey.

cheers i will look into this book and add it to the order of gun dog books i am ordering

That booklet is very good, but IMO the very best book is a record of methods of a famous trainer named Delmar Smith, a man of ameican indian decent. His methods were transcribed into a book
authored by Bill Tarrant. It is titled Best way to train your gundog.