Board and Train Pre-Training
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Thank you for trusting me to train your pup! A board and train program is a valuable investment in your dog’s future. To ensure they get the most out of their experience, here are some key tips to help you prepare and set them up for success. A confident, well-adjusted dog that works for food with get the most out of their training experience.
A Well-Adjusted Dog
A well-adjusted dog that is environmentally stable will show signs of calmness, confidence, and emotional balance in both familiar and new situations. This means a dog isn’t easily rattled or upset by changes in the environment. A dog that is nervous getting out of the car at a new park will likely be nervous getting out of the car at my house for the first time. To make the transition to my home smoother, it’s helpful to expose your dog to various environments in a way that fosters positive experiences, allowing them to build confidence, resilience and adaptability. The more comfortable they are with new environments, the easier it will be for them to adjust to life with me during their board-and-train program.
Areas to assess a well-adjusted dog:
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Is your dog excited or curious to go up to new people? Or are they reserved/recoil when new people are around?
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Will your dog eat kibble in new environments? Or do they find it challenging to focus on food?
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Can your dog be content in the crate anytime (not just bedtime)? Or do they find certain contexts of being crated stressful?
Feeding Schedule
Using food (kibble or treats) to introduce new behaviors is my favorite way to work with new dogs! Not all dogs are comfortable taking food from hands (especially if they have only ever been fed in a bowl) or while under stress. In order to set your dog up for success, teaching them to take kibble from your hand will be a huge benefit! Food drive and weight also come into play here: a dog that has been coddled with food ("When my dog doesn’t want to eat I mix bacon in his food then he will eat”) or overweight dogs are often not motivated to work for their food. This means that using food during training with these dogs will be ineffective. While these dogs can still be trained, it is always my preference to be able to use the power of food whenever possible.
Tips for creating a successful feeding schedule:
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Feed your dog meals instead of free feeding to encourage consumption
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Hand feed meals periodically
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Get your dog comfortable working for food, even just sit or luring (see video below)
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Keep your dog at an appropriate weight
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Use a high quality food
Leash Time
For your dog’s safety they will be on leash at various times throughout their program. This might include potty time before they can safely be off leash or walking on leash through Tractor Supply. Dogs who have not been on leash prior to training can take time to adjust. This can be especially stressful for dogs who have never had to potty on leash before. A dog that can comfortably go potty while on leash and is familiar with leash pressure will have an easier transition.
Commands
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Here: Recall (come to me)
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Place: Get on an object with defined edges
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Sit
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Down
Sit/Down
Sit is defined as bottom o
What To Expect
While your pup is with me, you can expect updates every 2–3 days, including a photo or video along with an explanation of what we’ve been working on. When you pick them up, we’ll go over everything they’ve learned in detail, but please feel free to ask questions at any time during their training.
I prefer to send updates via WhatsApp, as it allows me to share longer videos. If you don’t already have the app, I’d appreciate it if you could download it!
By the time you pick up your pup, I would recommend having 3 products:
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A reputable brand e-collar. I use the E-Collar Technologies ET-300. I am a dealer, if you would like to order one through me, I offer them to clients at the dealer price ($170). Please let me know your color preference and I will have it for you at pickup.
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A prong collar. It is very important to have the correct brand and size: Herm Sprenger 2.25 mm
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A place cot. There are a variety of place cot options. Choose something that is elevated and large enough for your dog to comfortable lay down. A medium or large K&H Brand works great!
Here is a link to all of my recommended products. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Field Work Follow Up - Field and Family Graduates Only
Your bird dog is home, how exciting! The most important thing to consider is that your pup has had relatively little (just 4 weeks) of exposure to gunfire. In the big picture of their life, this is a very small amount of time! Therefore, it is imperative to take precautions when continue to expose your dog to gunfire until they are a seasoned pro. It only takes one bad experience to make a dog gushy and there is no situation that would be worth that! Always, always error on the side of caution with gunfire and never put your dog in a situation where they might be spooked.
For their first season, only shoot over your dog when they are in drive. That means they are excited and actively hunting. Whether you have a pointing or flushing dog, ONLY shoot over your dog if they are chasing a bird that they produced. If your dog isn't aware that the bird flushed and doesn't see it for whatever reason, do not shoot at that bird! It is extremely important that the dog see the bird that is being shot at so that they are in drive and aware of the situation. Shooting at a bird that the dog does not see could surprise them and scare them.
For your first few hunts, I recommend putting out 3-5 birds and going alone or with one other person. I would not put out more than 5 birds and I would not take multiple people to shoot so that it isn't overwhelming. When it comes to training, less it's more. Too many birds could get your dog too excited (we call that Bird Drunk). Quality over quantity!
Continuing to develop their natural retrieve is an important skill to build at home! The better your recall is outside of the presence of birds, the better your retrieve will be. Keep recalls snappy and sharp! Practice retrieving with your place cot and bumper. When your dog has the opportunity to retrieve a bird, it is so important to not just snatch it away from them. Recall them to you and love them for a bit before taking the bird. To get the bird from your dog, pull up on their collar until they drop it. Do not ever try to pull the bird away from them! This will create bad habits that are difficult to fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my dog have to wear this ecollar?
The ecollar is not a “temporary” fix. It is not something to be outgrown like training wheels. Especially when it comes to having dogs off leash, it is a safety measure. So just like we will never drive carefully enough to not have to wear our seatbelts anymore, it is always the safest to keep the ecollar on for the duration of your pup’s life.
Inside, the ecollar should be worn for at least the next 3-4 weeks until your dog is consistently, reliably and willingly responding to your cues. If you have to nag your dog or constantly remind them to stay on place, you aren’t ready to try place without the ecollar! Always error on the side of caution and use the ecollar as much as necessary. Remember, it’s a communication tool! You should be using it to communicate well with your pup!
What do I do if my dog breaks their command before I release them?
Anytime your dog leaves a stable command, such as a sit, down or place, before you release them, immediately put them back into the command! With repetition, they will quickly learn that they might as well stay in their command because if they get up, you’ll put them right back. Be sure to use your ecollar when getting them back in the command. If they keep leaving their command, increase the level on your remote a little each time.
I know we have covered a lot, but with practice and consistency, you will be confident in working your dog! The best way to get good at using the ecollar is to use it frequently so put in the work up front, that way you’re comfortable using the ecollar whenever you need it. If you ever have any questions, always feel free to reach out. I am always available for calls, emails or meeting up in person!
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