timing on a new pup

mckinzie75

New member
I'm ready for a new dog, I checked with my breeder and he's not planning a litter to whelp until September. That puts bringing my new pup home in November. All my other dogs have been spring pups. Any opinions on bird introduction, potty training, not hunting until they are 1, ect would be appreciated.
 
Being that your from Minnesota as I am, spring pups are just a lot easier to deal with IMO because of the weather. It's just so much easier to spend time outdoors with them. Lets face it this winter so far has been the mother of all winters. It's certainly not impossible to deal with a pup during the winter months, it's just a lot easier in spring/summer.

That said... your kind of behind the eight ball because of the breeders schedule. I'm lucky in the fact that the breeder that i use normally has spring pups only.
 
I just produced my only fall winter litter. Born sept 28th. I have a pup from it. My dog has her cycle when she wants not when I want, so it is what it is. If you want a pup from 2 certain good dogs I would go for it. I have found that I like it now. Working on the basics and retrieves. Come thaw he will be ready to start puppy field work and all will be on schedule. People tend to rush toward the field before they get basics down any way. I think you will find it will work out just fine.:thumbsup:
 
House dog?
Potty training is a bit tougher, but far from impossible. obedience and basic retrieving is best done indoors. No reason bird intro and gunfire etc can't be done in the winter. I would look into a puppy community ed class for socialization (something to do at night). If you like the breeding, go for it.
 
It seems it would also be an issue with NAVHDA testing.

What do you perceive the issue is with NAVHDA testing? You could run NA in the following fall well within the 16 mo window after a summer of training and exposure.

If you're getting a dog from a JGHV registry, a September pup makes your spring puppy test a bit rough because you'll have a young, potentially underexposed pup, but not impossible.

While "not fun" to potty train a pup in winter, it can be done. And, as others mentioned it gives you time to work on the basics in the house in a more controlled environment then hit the fields & water when it warms. You'll also have a more mature dog come it's first hunting season. If it's a breeding you want, get it.
 
My GPS was born Sept. 3rd 2009. I kind of liked the timing of getting a pup born in September. Picked him up in December and worked with him on the bonding and beginning obedience stuff. Took him on short trips and to the park. By February started expanding his training and trips to the field on nice days. By spring birds and gun fire on field trips. By the fall he was ready for hunting, big enough to handle cover, advanced enough to handle birds pretty well and old enough to hunt longer time periods. Let him have the first year to figure things out. I used to always want spring born pups but now I prefer fall pups. Gives both the dog and you plenty of time without pushing to hard.
 
got my weim last december he was 12 weeks when i picked him up, had him for a week then we got hit with a blizzard lol, other than standing out in the freezing cold with a pup trying to get some training in,,, it didnt really bother me much plus by spring he was well ready to be worked on birds and so forth. he was well ready to hunt by september and i had a very good 1st season with him this year. he was 13 months old on the opener here in iowa and pointed well and held his birds nice and tight, i have bought pups at just about every time of the year and personaly i kinda like the winter pups, just cause i know they are gonna have a good head on their shoulders the 1st season and it helps if you get a pup that is alittle slow to develope it will give ya alittle extra time to work through issues, im picking up another weim at the end of febuary from a repeat breeding and he to will be about 12 weeks old, i will have to get on the stick quick with this one.
 
My preference (especially if you have another dog/dogs) is not to have a pup in the house until after hunting season is over. The primary reason is that you don't feel "rushed" to get the training done before the next season starts. The secondary reason is that by the time the dog would start truly hunting, he's probably 9-10 months old and is ready to get a complete season of bird hunting under him. My last puppy was completely steady before he was put in his first true hunting situation. He had pigeons and pen raised quail shot over him and he was backing. He was responding to my commands completely and had been collar conditioned. Essentially, I had 7 months to get him to the point where we could just go hunt. I think that puts him light years ahead of the game. Equally important was that there were not a lot of "training" moments that we had to go through in that first year. That first year we shot quite a few quail, a bunch of pheasants over him and even a sharptail grouse. He had a full season of hunting and that's the best training they can get.

Oh and being a January whelp date, he qualified as a derby for a little while longer.
 
Doing great with my 15 week old right now. I ain't having any trouble potty training. Hard to get him to come back in the house LOL. Loves the snow and playing. Absolutely get your pup.:thumbsup: I am still working on obedience and retrieves so I do all that in doors here any way. Cold has nothing to do with training puppies. You have all that time you waste on puppy crap, may as well get that done during crappy weather. Then come spring you can let her rip on the bird and field work.
 
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A lot of great responses, thank you. I decided to wait till the spring 2015 litter. It will be worth the wait for a pup coming out of 2 versatile champs. My wife isn't happy about listening to me obsess for the next year plus. Lol
 
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