Where to Find a Dog with the Right Stuff - Part 3

I talked about getting the pick of the litter in Part 2 of this article series. Now you have to decide whether you want a started dog or a finished dog.

So now you know what you’re looking for in a puppy, but what if you do not want to deal with puppyhood? Started dogs are sold on a regular basis and can make good gun dogs. The first question that needs to be asked of the seller is, “Why are you selling this dog?” People do not sell good dogs without good reasons, so be sure to get the right answers from the seller before you make your purchase. Most started dogs are sold because the owner has made serious training mistakes or the pup simply does not have what is necessary to become a nice dog.

When you are looking at a started dog, there is no way you can properly evaluate the dog in one or two sessions. Therefore, insist on a 30-day trial so that you and the pup can get to know each other. You may expect this dog to live in the home with you and the seller may have lied to you knowing full well that this pup spent his entire life in a kennel. During this 30-day trial, try to find as many faults as possible. You'll probably need to visit a professional trainer and enlist his services. A pro can find most dogs’ faults in a short amount of time and save you lots of headaches. If you and the pup are compatible and his faults are acceptable, write the seller a cheque.

If you want a trained dog from a partly trained dog, there is a great deal of training to be done. Gain as much information as possible from the seller about how the dog has been trained and what exercises it has been conditioned to perform. Revisit the exercises so you and the pup can be on the same wavelength before progressing with new material.

Instant gratification has been the American way and that is the choice many people make when looking for a dog. In purchasing a trained dog, you must be extremely cautious. Few dogs trained to a high standard are sold. This dog will sell for a substantial amount of money, so ensure he is worth the investment. Find a professional trainer and pay them to rigorously test this dog for a few days. It shouldn't take long to assess the training and potential in this dog.

Each time I hear someone speak of buying a fully trained dog, I chuckle and think of a story told to me many years ago. A gentleman from the city was informed he could buy a very nice fully trained dog from a trainer in the neighbouring county. So, he jumped in his car and drove out into the countryside in hopes of buying a fine dog and impressing his mates. Upon arrival, the trainer was waiting for the chap with his dog trailer. They went out into a field and the trainer brought out the first candidate and conducted an incredibly difficult blind retrieve with the dog, using eleven whistle stops and line corrections. The buyer was extremely impressed and enquired about the dog's price. The trainer replied £3,000.

He then went round the trailer and took a dog off to run the same blind. This dog completed the same complex retrieve whilst only requiring one whistle and line correction. The buyer was so excited; he could hardly contain himself, “How much for that dog?” The trainer dropped his head and explained this was his personal dog but times were hard. He only offered this dog for sale because he needed money to pay for his son’s operation. The trainer said, “I can’t take anything less than £5,000 for my dog.” The city slicker quickly took the cash out and paid the trainer. Feeling like he had stolen a nice dog at a bargain price, he then headed back to town.

The trainer returned to his farm and was met by his wife who asked how things had gone. Which dog did the man buy? The trainer replied that he had only taken one dog and ran the same blind retrieve twice with the same dog. Of course, the dog ran it much better on the second try because he knew where to go. The gentleman from town was so excited that he did not pay attention to what was happening. The trainer and his wife had a great laugh while they planned their holiday to Hawaii.

Be careful with trainers and the dogs they run, things may not be as they appear.

Always check your local and state regulations related to dog training and the use of game birds on private and public property.