Getting an 11 Month Old Bracco - Where to Start

J

Jhuff8181

New member
I have a great opportunity to get an 11 month old Bracco Italiano. She has had some general obedience training but no hunting training. Has anyone had any experiences in training a started dog? How is it different from training a new puppy? Thank you for your suggestions.
 
I adopted a German Short Hair Pointer when he was about 9 months old. He did not have any training and I just started him like he was a puppy. Because your dog has basic obedience you are in a little better spot than I was but I would do an intro to birds and guns just to really jump start the hunt drive and go from there.
 
If you get the pup, make it fun.

No harsh rules, no loud guns, no rigid reinforcement...just FUN.

She'll be teaching her self how to hunt for a bit; give her a chance to
get used to the new environments, and the new human behaviors.

Play fetching, with lots of reward. Use pheasant wings if you can. Just let her
genes kick in as they choose to.

Obviously, you want her to come back to you, but even that can be sloppy until she "gets" it.

I'm pretty sure humans give directional commands, but the dog and the birds teach hunting.

Should be fun.

Best wishes.

P.S., if you want, search for the Young Bert stories in the forum. He was 2.5yrs when I got him.
 
Jhuff8181 said:
I have a great opportunity to get an 11 month old Bracco Italiano. She has had some general obedience training but no hunting training. Has anyone had any experiences in training a started dog? How is it different from training a new puppy? Thank you for your suggestions.
Click to expand...

I would start by re-enforcing the obedience commands she has already learned and teaching any new ones needed. Whoa being an important one. Play some fetch with her getting her to bring the bumper to hand. Like someone else said, just make it fun. If she hasn't been introduced to gun fire now would be the time to do that. If you can, buy some birds and give her some exposure to them. Don't worry right now about being real steady on point. And them I'd get her in the field as much as possible. Let her explore and do her thing but yet make sure she is obedient and will come back when called. I'd work in a whistle to the "come" command. She is still really a pup, let her have some fun. If she has the "Hunt" bred into her you will be fine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top