LABEL HUNTING
PRACTICAL PUPPY PREP How to strike the balance between a hunting dog and a family pet BY JASON CARTER
76 HUNT & FISH | 2021
you set, including how to settle and control its emotions. Jerry Holden Jr., director of operations for the southern region of Ducks Unlimited, refers to a hunting dog’s transition from field behavior to home life as “The Switch.” Inside, the dog becomes an extension of the family. Focusing too much on field training while neglecting home training puts a strain on the household and can be problematic for both the family and the animal. The more refined and reliable the pup is with basic commands and socialization, the more rich its life will be because it will get to do many things with the family that are not associated with field work.
PICKING THE BREED AND BREEDER In the wing-shooting community, the Labrador retriever is revered for its tenacity and versatility in the field. Combined with its house-friendly demeanor, it makes an ideal choice for many hunting families. German shorthaired pointers, German wirehaired pointers and the wirehaired pointing griffon are other fine hunters known to have an “off switch” in the home. If it’s a smaller dog you’re after, many would agree that the English cocker spaniel will steal your heart in the field and at home. Among >
NANCY ANISFIELD
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well-bred hunting dog is much like a Ferrari in overdrive. So how do you get your hunting dog to idle quietly in your home? The answer lies primarily in your own preparation and mental attitude. The pandemic-related changes to many of our daily lives meant less time commuting, less time in the office and more time pursuing our passions in the field. The stay-at-home lifestyle undoubtedly brought a rush of new puppy owners. For sportsmen and women, this raises an age-old question: Can you live with your hunting dog? Does bringing your hunting dog indoors steal the hunt from it — and can hunting dogs make good pets? In the hunting community, it has only recently become generally acceptable to cohabitate with our field dogs. The results have been exceptionally rewarding. Inviting dogs into the domestic setting strengthens our fundamental understanding of how they think and act, allowing us to adapt training to the character of that puppy. The home environment helps establish the trainer as the pack leader and fosters a trusting partnership. With the pup spending more time with its trainers, learning becomes ongoing. The animal gets used to living within the boundaries
