Picking Your Puppy

• 1). Pick a puppy that comes from a breeding line of strong, experienced trackers. Avoid obtaining animals from pet stores. These puppies often come from puppy mills and have untraceable parents, making it difficult to predict the health or temperament of the puppy.
  
  
• 2). Choose a dog that is neither dominant nor submissive from the litter you're interested in. Dominant puppies will run to the front of the litter, push other puppies out of the way while eating and be aggressive toward the other puppies. Submissive puppies will be "shy" and hide at the back of the group or avoid contact with you when you approach the litter. When you stand above a submissive dog, he will keep his tail between his legs and keep his head lowered. A puppy that is neither dominant nor submissive will be easier to train.
  
  
• 3). Inspect the puppy for any noticeable injuries, skin conditions or hernias. When you've decided on the puppy, purchase him and bring him home.
  
  

Training the Puppy

• 1). Train your new puppy as soon as he comes home with you. Basic obedience training is the structure. Teach the puppy to sit, lie down, roll over, and so forth using rewards. When the puppy sits (pressing on the hind quarters to do so is the best place to start), give the puppy a treat. Use beef sticks (or similar treats) and tear them into small pieces so the puppy doesn't get full during the training process and lose interest in the treats.
  
  
• 2). Continue the training until the dog understands and obeys the commands, though obedience training does not have to be complete when hunting/tracking training begins. Decide on the signals you want your dog to learn. One syllable commands or one motion movements are preferable to avoid confusing the dog. "Fetch" is a good word to use for getting the dog to retrieve. "Heel" is a good word to indicate to the dog to walk beside you should he become sidetracked.
  
  
• 3). Use an animal carcass (such as a pheasant or quail) for throwing. Most breeds with a retrieving background will have the basic instinct to retrieve. Most dogs with a pointing background will point automatically and will not have to be taught. Throw the carcass away from you--close in the beginning, then farther away. This will help train the dog to obey the commands at different distances, similar to the situation in which you'll be when hunting. Use your command as you would in a field or hunting situation. When the dog brings the animal to you, reward him with a treat. Do this several times every day, but when the dog begins to appear worn out, stop. You do not want the dog to become "burnt out" on retrieving.
  
  
• 4). As the dog improves his ability to retrieve, work on his ability to track. Hide the carcass under leaves, beneath a fallen tree, in a wood pile or anywhere similar to what the dog may come across in a field situation. Yell your command for retrieval and the dog should search for the carcass. Often a dog will point to an area if he cannot reach the animal, which still accomplishes the task. Reward your dog often with either a treat or lots of praise.