Young dog dilemma

[Dave at kelton]

I recently faced the inevitable dilemma; when do you take a young dog out on a serious commercial day? Toby will be two end of March which is generally when I feel there is sufficient mental maturity to face the pressure. He is a very hot dog from top trial breeding so to date I have deemed it too early. With just a couple of weeks to go and days getting quieter I weighed up the experience to be gained, and which I cannot replicate on the training ground, with the obvious risk that he succumbed to the pressure. As it was I need not have worried. Five days out and he has come on a treat. Hopping into the back of a pickup with unfamiliar dogs, sitting tight and not succumbing to distraction of other dogs running about or picking birds while he watches. He has coped with heavy cover. Wide fast flowing burns and dry stone walls. I have had just a few retrieves, focusing on stop and recall. So when the pressure is on in September when he replaces a retired team member we will be a few steps ahead by taking the plunge.

[WalkedUp]

Glad he got on ok. Always regret bringing a dog on too early, very rarely regret doing it too late! The advantage of running a team of dogs is that you don’t feel the pressure to bring a youngster on prematurely. 

[Dave at kelton]

27 minutes ago, WalkedUp said:

Glad he got on ok. Always regret bringing a dog on too early, very rarely regret doing it too late! The advantage of running a team of dogs is that you don’t feel the pressure to bring a youngster on prematurely. 

Spot on. You are unlikely to ruin a dog by taking your time