Written By: Zach Miller
"The road to a successful well-trained and confident gundog begins from day one with exposure. I can write a book on how many dogs have just had failure to launch syndrome from lack of or no improper exposure."
As a duck hunter, having a well-trained gundog is essential to a successful hunt. However, training a gundog puppy can be a daunting task and tends to test anyone's patience. One of the most important aspects of training a gundog puppy is proper exposure. Exposing your puppy to different environments, people, and animals will help them become well-rounded and confident dogs. Here are some tips on how to properly expose your gundog puppy.
"The Greenhorns" Courtesy Of Jim Kellin
Start Early
The earlier you start exposing your puppy to different environments, the better. Puppies are most receptive to new experiences between the ages of 3 and 14 weeks. During this time, they are more likely to accept new experiences without fear or anxiety. It is important to expose your puppy to different environments, people, and animals during this time to help them become well-adjusted and confident dogs. I still recall bringing home a puppy from the airport, it was 4am and we went straight from the plane to the training grounds. Never wait on exposure training. The absolute worst thing you could do is smother your puppy and not introduce him/her to the world. This will fester over time and you will have a “one trick pony” in terms of what this dog can do confidently.
Introduce Them to Different Environments
Exposing your puppy to different environments is important to help them become comfortable in new situations. Take your puppy on walks in different areas, such as parks, beaches, and busy streets. Introduce them to different surfaces, such as grass, sand, and concrete. Expose them to different sounds, such as traffic, sirens, and fireworks. This will help your puppy become comfortable in different environments and reduce their anxiety in new situations. A lot of times this is where I use the phrase, “doing nothing is doing something”. In these early stages, taking your dog to a busy area or a bird-filled field and just letting him/her take in all the smells and bells is really adding to their exposure. This is the period where I am out and about going to every spot I can think of, taking my dog to soak up everything that environment has to offer.
Socialize Them with People and Animals
Socializing your puppy with people and animals is important to help them become well-rounded and confident dogs. Introduce your puppy to different people, such as friends, family, and strangers. This will help your puppy learn how to interact with other dogs and people in a positive way. Now, this is where we lose a lot of people due to incorrect exposure. There is a correct and incorrect way to expose your dog to things. I always start on leash, it is your best friend as it limits your dog’s urge to take things too far. For example, bad exposure is letting your dog meet your neighbor's dog by simply unclipping the leashes and letting them go at it. Good exposure would look like letting them pass-by on the street. Always remember, dogs greet with their noses, their eyes just happen to follow.
Expose Them to Water
As a professional gundog trainer, this is one of the top things I see owners mess up in a gundog puppy. Your puppy will need to be comfortable in and around water, plain and simple. Expose your puppy to water early on by taking them to a lake or pond, you want somewhere with calm water and not a lot of current. Remember, when it comes to exposure, first impressions are everything. Start by letting them play in shallow water and gradually increase the depth. Encourage them to swim and retrieve toys in the water. This will help your puppy become comfortable in and around water, which is essential for a duck dog. The concept here is take things slow and keep it fun. Far too often we get caught up in timelines and meet certain time hacks with training. Understand, dogs do not have the same concept of times and schedules as humans do, we should not subject them to it if it sets them up for failure.
Get Them "Birdy"
Birdy is a split between what drive the dog is born with and how they are introduced to what feeds that drive. Your best friend in the exposure stage of training is get feathers in their mouth early! I save a bunch of wings from hunting season for this purpose exactly. Vacuum seal them and put them in the freezer for when a new litter comes in. When I introduce the pup to feathers/wings it is mid-way during retriever training. So when I am building a retrieving drive, I will toss out an assortment of items for the dog to bring back to me. In this case, you will introduce a wing and they won't look back. Let the dog retrieve the wing and lick it, but divert or re-try the rep if the dog starts chewing or plucking the feathers. Remember, first impressions are everything.
Another way to increase a dog’s bird drive is to have them chase some ducks. Depending on the breeder, we will see this happen before the dogs go home. Imagine if you will, a pen with a bunch of puppies and adult ducks. These ducks will naturally want to distance themselves from the dogs and the dog will want to give chase. The ducks will give off feathers in the pursuit and after some unsuccessful attempts from the puppy, we pull them apart. Leaving a dog wanting more is the best thing for a young pup. If you want to get your dog birdy, start early!
Proper exposure is essential to training a well-rounded and confident duck dog puppy. Start early by exposing your puppy to different environments, people, and animals. Socialize them with other dogs and people to help them become well-adjusted and confident. Expose them to water early on to help them become comfortable in and around water and help them get birdy as ever! With proper exposure, your gundog puppy will be well on their way to becoming a successful hunting companion.
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