Training Your First Working Dog: Iris at 12 Weeks

I’ve blogged about the training journey my client Charlie is starting with his Springer Spaniel puppy, Iris, to train her up as a working dog. After virtual pre/post puppy training, they have now had their first practical lesson.

Iris is proof that you don’t need to bribe or buy your bond with your new puppy. Following The Tessleymoor Way, Charlie hasn’t used any treats to reward her for good behaviour. Instead he has spent time with her, building up a consistent routine with lots of praise for good behaviour. Dogs are like sponges absorbing so much information everyday, so why not capitalise on it?

Charlie and Iris already have a great bond which can only get better. She is following sit wait commands and working on basic retrieves. Of course there is a long way to go. I was able to work with Charlie on keeping his pup’s attention, not overusing her name and making training fun. Lead work is so important and there’s lots of work to do to get her walking nicely to heal. The family also have two English Pointers so we’re working hard on ensuring she’s not looking to the other dogs for direction.

Along with Iris’s sister, Wren, who I am also training, I look forward to seeing how these puppies destined for the shooting field progress.

Posted: March 11, 2021