Solving the Gun-Shy Problem Early

EDITOR'S NOTE: Many different philosophies exist on how to train a bird dog puppy. But John Cameron of Cameron's Hunting Preserve and Bird Dog Training School in Panola, Alabama, considers instilling in a dog the desire to find, chase and catch quail at an extremely early age the quickest and most-efficient way to train a bird dog puppy. Cameron never has known a time when he hasn't trained and hunted with bird dogs. His father, Bubber Cameron, trained and hunted bird dogs all of his life and had his two sons, Rush and John, always at his side. This week, John Cameron will explain why he believes the old way of puppy training is the best way.

Question: What happens during the final week of puppy training?
Answer: During that final week, the puppies are learning to point and hold on their own, and they're learning to back. You'll see pups that are less than 3 months old pointing, holding and backing -- just like a grown dog will. At this point, I'll walk in and flush the birds. I carry a .22 blank pistol with me. I shoot the pistol so the puppies get used to the sound of a gun going off when the quail are flushed. This tactic helps to ensure that the pups won't be gun-shy. At this point in the training, they've seen and experienced just about everything they'll need to know to be top-notch bird dogs. By that last week, the pups are accustomed to ...
* having people around them so they're not man-shy,
* following the hunter out into the fields and moving out in front of the hunter to hunt the quail,
* hunting with a hunter and checking back in and
* hearing the report of a gun when the gun's fired.

Question: How long does puppy training usually last?
Answer: We usually train them for about 4 to 6 weeks. By the end of the fourth week, we'll usually see the dogs pointing and backing. Their natural instincts will have kicked in, and they're beginning to show the qualities of their breeding. During the early days of bird dog training in years past, this technique is the one that most hunters used to train their dogs. The pups were born under the porch. Then as soon as they were weaned, they'd follow their mother into the field to chase birds. Back then, there weren't any fences or pens and dogs were free to roam and learn naturally how to hunt quail. Their instincts kicked in, and they became bird dogs.

For more information about puppy training, contact John Cameron at 1001 Rockway Rd. # 4, Aliceville, AL 35442; or, call (205) 455-2420 or (205) 455-2268; or, email cameron@froglevel.net.

TOMORROW: Choosing a Bird Dog Puppy and Finishing a Dog