First published in On the Fly Magazine

Getting your first sporting dog puppy is an exciting and crucial time. It’s in these first 90 days that you can set the stage for you and your future hunting companion. To ensure you’re on the right track I interviewed Ronnie and Susanna Smith. They are world-famous trainers and kennel owners, who shared invaluable advice on the do’s and don’ts for raising your pup during the first 90 days. Their expert strategies focus on building a strong foundation, from socialization and training basics to avoiding common pitfalls, helping you shape your puppy into a well-mannered and effective sporting dog. 

Since puppies are exciting, fast and are developing everyday let’s get into the five things that every puppy owner should be doing in the initial 90-days.

Socialize your puppy

Socializing a new bird dog puppy is essential for developing a confident and well-adjusted companion. From an early age, it’s important to expose your puppy to a variety of environments, people, and other animals. Take your puppy with you on outings, allowing it to experience different sights, sounds, and smells. This exposure helps the puppy learn to adapt to new situations, reducing the likelihood of stress or fear later in life. Proper socialization builds the foundation for a well-behaved dog that can handle the demands of hunting and everyday life with ease, making it a more effective and enjoyable partner in the field. Now common sense should apply that pet stores and other public establishments should be avoided for two main reasons. First is you don’t want your puppy to think every human is its master. Second is that you may do everything right with your puppy but you don’t know if the other dogs are sick, have parvo, or even distemper. 

Teach your puppy something

Teaching is key to your dog’s development so always be teaching something. Teaching your new puppy something new every week is crucial for building a foundation of discipline and responsiveness that will greatly benefit formal hunt training later. Simple lessons, such as making your puppy wait until given permission to eat or stand still until allowed to go outside, instill a sense of control and respect for boundaries. These small, consistent training moments teach the puppy to follow commands and develop patience, which are key traits for a successful hunting dog. By regularly introducing new commands and reinforcing them, you create a well-mannered and focused companion, making the transition to more advanced training smoother and more effective.

Create a Structured environment

The first 90 days of a puppy’s life are critical in shaping its future behavior and temperament. During this period, the structure you establish will set the tone for the dog’s entire life. Behaviors that are allowed or overlooked now will become ingrained habits that can be difficult to change later. For instance, if you allow your puppy to jump on people or chew on furniture without correction, these actions will likely continue as the dog grows, becoming harder to manage. By providing consistent guidance, setting clear boundaries, and reinforcing positive behaviors, you are molding the dog you will have next year—one that is well-behaved, obedient, and easier to train. Early structure not only prevents bad habits but also builds a strong foundation for a well-mannered and reliable companion.

Focus on the Basics

Focusing on the three basic commands—”Come with,” “Come to,” and “Stand still”—is essential for laying a solid foundation in a puppy’s training. These commands are the building blocks for more advanced obedience and hunting skills. “Come with” teaches your puppy to stay close to you, fostering a strong bond and ensuring it follows your lead. “Come to” reinforces the importance of returning to you promptly, a crucial skill for recall during hunts or in everyday situations. “Stand still” instills patience and control, helping your puppy learn to wait for your cue before moving, which is vital for both safety and discipline. Mastering these basics early on sets your puppy up for success, making future training easier and more effective.

Choose a high-quality feed

Starting your puppy on high-quality dog food and maintaining that standard throughout its life is vital for its overall health, particularly in sporting dogs. Premium dog food provides balanced nutrition, supporting healthy growth, optimal weight control, and sustained energy levels—key factors for an active dog. A well-nourished puppy is more likely to develop strong muscles and joints, essential for endurance and agility in the field. Additionally, high-quality food aids in quicker recovery times after strenuous activity, helping your dog stay in peak condition. By investing in superior nutrition from the start, you set the foundation for a lifetime of health and performance, ensuring your sporting dog can consistently meet the demands of its work.

Now that we have made it through the 5 things every new dog owner should be doing, let’s delve into the things we should not be doing, but most people do.

Do not humanize your puppy

It’s important not to humanize your sporting dog, as doing so can hinder its training and performance. Dogs don’t understand language the way humans do; they respond to your tone, voice inflection, and body language. Treating your dog like a little human can create confusion, leading to behavioral issues and reduced effectiveness in the field. Dogs have different needs and instincts, and it’s crucial to respect those differences. Remember, a dog’s job is to work with you, not to be your surrogate human.

Never shoot around your puppy just to see if its gun shy

Avoid shooting around your puppy just to see if it’s gun shy, as this can lead to a deep-seated fear of firearms that is difficult to overcome. No puppy is born gun shy—it’s a learned response that often stems from being exposed to loud, startling noises too early and without proper conditioning. 

No squeaky toys!

Avoid giving your sporting dog toys with squeakers, as this can lead to a condition known as “hard mouth,” which is problematic for hunting dogs. The squeaker in the toy encourages your dog to bite down harder to produce the noise, reinforcing a habit of using excessive force with its mouth. This learned behavior can transfer to retrieving game, where a hard bite could damage the bird or other prey, rendering it unsuitable. A soft mouth, where the dog holds and carries game gently, is crucial for a successful hunting dog. 

If you’re going to crate train be consistent

Consistency with crate training is essential, as it lays the groundwork for a well-behaved and confident dog. Crate training taps into a dog’s instinct to seek out a den-like space, reinforcing its “cave dog” tendencies. By consistently using the crate, your puppy learns that it is a safe, secure spot where it can relax and retreat. This helps prevent anxiety, as the dog comes to associate the crate with comfort and safety rather than confinement. 

Don’t focus on making a pointing dog set for everything

Finally, don’t focus on teaching a pointing dog to sit. All dogs need to understand the command sit however, too much can confuse a pointing breed as we don’t want them sitting, we want them standing still.