Training Your First Working Dog: Iris at 8 Weeks

You may remember I have blogged about the son of a friend of mine who is pursuing a career as a gamekeeper. After lots of discussion and a house move, the time has come for him to get his first working dog.

Finding The Right Pup

I recommended to Charlie that he get a Springer Spaniel bitch as his first dog. They can be more biddable than a Cocker and with the right training, become a solid dog for him to work in the field. Charlie beats on several shoots but of course opportunities have been limited in the last season. Getting the pup now means she could be introduced to the shoot environment in the 21/22 season. The idea would then be that he could work her fully in the following season.

I have been on the lookout for a suitable litter. With demand for puppies so high, it’s been a challenge to find the right dog as so many working litters are going as domestic dogs. The new owners were also concerned to get a good pedigree, with the option to breed from the pup in a couple of years time. Eventually, a litter came up in Skipton. I thoroughly checked the pedigree for them. The sire is a field trials champion and what I call a Ferrari dog. However, I reassured the new owners that with the right training, a pup from this litter would be good for Charlie. He was given the pick of a couple of the girls and chose Iris.

Preparation Is Key

I prepared Charlie for training with a pre-puppy pack that included the right slip lead and whistle. We had a long chat before Iris arrived. The family are experienced dog owners but they are aware that training a working dog is very different from a family companion. What is essential is that Iris bonds with Charlie. Time spent with other family members and dogs must be limited, so that Iris seeks out Charlie at every opportunity. This behaviour starts from the moment the pup arrives home, creating a calm environment and a safe and quiet area for the pup to live.

The First 72 Hours

A few days in and Iris is settling well. Despite extremely low temperatures and snow, Charlie has been taking Iris out regularly for a few minutes at a time. He has established a good routine with her and she is settling herself in the crate during the day. She has learnt her name and is responding to basic recall exercises. She is also sleeping through the night in her crate and is dry in the morning. By following my instructions exactly, Charlie is fast tracking the training of his first working dog. She is learning to be focused on him and to listen to his commands.

I’ll be posting regular updates on Iris’s training and look forward to seeing her at my training grounds in the very near future.

Posted: February 10, 2021