Will my young spaniel learn from my old gun dog?

Shooting UK is your complete shooting resource. From gun reviews to shotgun licence and firearms certificate information, to clay pigeon shooting, game shooting, shooting lessons and gundog training.

| Next

Will my young spaniel learn from my old gun dog?

Things could turn messy and get difficult if another dog gets involved in the training process.

By Peter Blatch

Wednesday, 03 September 2008

I have two springer spaniels - one of 4 years old that's trained, and another of 10 months which I plan to bring on. Can I speed up the process by letting the younger dog learn from the other on the training field?

Gun dogs
PETER BLATCH says:
My first reaction to this is to say no - because a puppy needs to have its concentration focussed on you at all times during the training schedule.

Things could turn messy and get difficult if another dog's involved in the process - or there are other distractions going on.

The only time it might help is during general free-running exercise sessions when the older dog returns to you on the recall whistle; the pup will quickly cotton on as well.

It might even learn how to quarter and turn to the whistle but, after that, you're best off devoting quality time on a one-to-one basis.