Do you have a new puppy who you plan on training as a hunting or gun dog? If so, you will need to know what kind of supplies you will need to get your puppy off and running. To prepare for your new puppy, you’ll need some supplies to get started.
The fact of the matter is, puppies aren’t born housebroken. Sad, but true. This means you’ll need to housebreak puppy and the best way to do that is through create training. A lot of other benefits come from this as well and crate training utilizes puppy’s “denning” instinct to make it all happen. Crates also keep your dog (and your house) safe while he’s unsupervised.
Fortunately, regardless of the size of your dog, crates are easy to use, they come in a variety of sizes and some can even be collapsed and put away once you are done using it. Some dog owners only use a crate until a puppy is housebroken and then only for rare occasions.
Most dogs enjoy the crate because their instincts are to “den” in a quiet, comfortable, almost-confined space. It helps them feel protected, secure, and safe. Whether you get an aluminum or metal-wire dog crate, you will want to make sure it’s the right size for your dog. For puppies, get one with a divider to put inside so you can let the crate grow with your puppy. It should be just large enough for the dog to stand up straight, turn around in, and lay down flat.
Dogs don’t train themselves—another sad fact. Luckily, they have us to do it for them and the process is usually fun. Training hunting dogs is even more of a challenge with greater rewards. Training collars can really help with this, especially the long-range electric collars. Whether you choose one of those or a simple choke collar for obedience training, make sure it’s the right one for you and your dog.
Training collars are designed to serve a purpose. You’re obviously attempting to train your dog not just to become a great hunting dog, but also so that he will listen to your commands and remain safe. Using training collars will help fulfill these goals. Find out what kind of system works best for both you and your dog, and start early while your dog is still a puppy.
Other Hunting Dog Supplies
When you first bring your puppy home, you will want to start working with him early to train him to be the most effective hunting dog possible. There are a number of products that are available wherever you shop for your hunting dog supplies that will help you train your dog effectively. Some of these products include:
1. Dog whistles: both obedience (call) whistles and water fowl imitation whistles are available and useful in training.
2. Dog training bumpers/dummies – for teaching retrieval and flushing, they simulate the bird to be hunted.
3. Launchers – for sending the dummies into the field or from hidden positions to better train your dog for outdoor hunting and retrieving.
Your new puppy will be a part of your home and hunting experience and will become your best friend for many years. Make sure you have the right hunting dog supplies and tools to make your training effective and fun!
