What age can a dog start gun dog training?

Owners worry about starting too early and about starting too late. Richard's own answer is 5 to 7 months for Puppy Camp, and over a year for a pointer's formal whoa work. What follows is that answer and the general picture around it.

Puppies

Richard likes to get pups started at 5 to 7 months in Puppy Camp, his 2 to 3 week introduction to birds and the shotgun for pointers and retrievers. To get on his books for it, send a copy of the pup's rabies certificate at 16 weeks of age. For a pointer, he likes owners to hunt the dog after Puppy Camp until it is over a year old, then bring it back for Formal Gun Dog Training.

The guide on when to start a hunting puppy goes through the stages in more detail.

Adult dogs

A two- or three-year-old that has never been trained is not too old. Ask Richard where an older retriever should start; the Basic Waterfowl Program is the foundation for waterfowl work. Richard has worked with dogs from top-level field trial and hunt test prospects to everyday hunting dogs and home companions.

One age number to know

For AKC retriever hunt tests, a dog must be registered, an eligible breed and at least 6 months old to enter, per the AKC. That is an entry rule for tests, not a training start date.