I took my weimaraner Remy to our very first bird canine training day with NAVHDA this spring (North American flexible hunting canine Association).
I was extremely anxious since I was out of my element. I’ve never gone hunting in my life, as well as I have never trained a canine for hunting or for field trials.
So today I’m composing about our experience as well as what to expect at your very first NAVHDA training day if you ever go to one. I hope this assists someone!
IN THIS POST:
What is NAVHDA?
The flexible hunting canine breeds
What to expect at your very first NAVHDA training day
Here’s what to give training
Searching for birds
Tracking as well as water retrieves
It’s okay if you have no experience
Is it as well late to train my hunting dog?
Benefits of NAVHDA
What is NAVHDA?
NAVHDA is a non-profit organization that informs people about training “versatile” hunting dogs in North America. The organization has lots of chapters across the united states as well as Canada that hold sanctioned training days, search tests, seminars, youth events as well as other activities.
In my experience, the organization has been extremely welcoming of novices like me as well as many of the people there doing the training are likewise relatively new. everybody is there to discover as well as improve.
The flexible hunting canine breeds
NAVHDA defines a flexible hunting canine as a breed bred to reliably:
hunt as well as point game
retrieve on both land as well as water
track injured game on both land as well as water
It currently recognizes 30 breeds. You guessed it, the weimaraner (my dog) is one of these breeds, together with the vizsla, the Brittany spaniel, German shorthair tip as well as all of the setter breeds.
The retrieving breeds such as Labs as well as goldens are not thought about flexible hunting dogs, according to NAVHDA’s philosophy.
What to expect at Your very first NAVHDA training Day
Every chapter is a bit different, so email the person in fee as well as ask questions.
I’ll briefly review what our NAVHDA training days look like right here in Montana.
One of my observations is that the communication is not perfect. I had to email three or four different people before I lastly got a reply about exactly how to join as well as where to go. So keep trying. likewise join your regional chapter’s Facebook group, if they have one.
In our case, the training time as well as place was noted on the regional chapter’s website, together with a general concept of what to bring. Our training days normally begin around 8 a.m. to beat the warm as well as wrap up around 1 p.m. With our regional chapters, you can go to one event without being a member, however after that you’re expected to join (about $45 per year).
What to give your very first NAVHDA training day
A great deal of water for yourself as well as your canine (two 1-gallon jugs minimum)
A long rope or inspect cord (30 ft is good) – no deal with on the end
Gloves to avoid rope burn!
Cash or inspect to pay for the 4-5 birds you may utilize (around $5-8 per pigeon)
Blaze orange hat or vest for yourself
Leash as well as training collar – I utilize a prong collar
Crate or tieout publish (or crate from your cars and truck if it’s cool)
Dog treats, if you want
Snack or lunch for yourself
Ear plugs or other hearing protection
Good shoes/boots – you relocation around a lot!
Waders if you have them (if there will be water retrieving)
E-collar for recall if your canine is already trained on one (otherwise don’t concern about it)
Training dummy/bumper if there will be water retrieves
Fold up yard chair (optional)
You most likely won’t requirement these things at your very first NAVHDA training day:
Shotgun as well as ammo
Blaze orange for your dog
Bird launcher
Birds (will be provided)
How NAVHDA training days work
I’ve went to four training days overall right here in Montana. I get the sense that other chapters around the country are relatively similar.
In our case, one or two people were in charge, however a number of of the other experienced members were assisting out. They set up a training station or two as well as all of us turned through, each of us practicing approximately the exact same thing with each dog.
We had approximately 10 dogs as well as handlers each day. many were puppies or young dogs – novices just like us. practically everybody there was training for one of NAVHDA’s tests – either natural capability for the young dogs or the utility test for a few advanced dogs.
We were the only ones not getting ready for an actual test.
A couple working with their pup at a NAVHDA training day
The handlers were a mix of guy as well as women as well as a range of ages. I state this since some younger women may feel intimidated (as I did), however you ought to not feel this way. everybody is practical as well as there to learn.
What we dealt with at the very first NAVHDA training day
We dealt with having the dogs browse for planted online birds (pigeons) out in the field put in bird launchers. A bird launcher safely holds the bird up until it is released by a remote. in some cases we shoot the released bird as well as in some cases we just want the canine to chase the bird as it flies away.
Searching for planted birds
I had Remy on a 30-ft inspect cord while he searched for birds so I might avoid him from charging the bird when he discovered it. (We want the dogs to stop as well as “point,” not charge.)
Ideally, Remy would pause as well as point for a few seconds. then one of the fitness instructors would “launch” the bird for him to chase. I let go of the inspect cord so Remy might then run. This was to develop his existing bird drive.
We did refrain from doing any type of actual shooting or retrieving birds with Remy up until his third as well as fourth training days. The goal at very first was just to get him thinking about birds as well as to assist him comprehend he was expected to be searching for them.
I’ll point with my tongue?
Tracking as well as water retrieves
At your NAVHDA training day, you will many likely work on searching, “steadiness” as well as retrieving on land, like we did.
The dog’s steadiness implies he will hold on point while the handler flushes as well as shoots the bird. then the canine is sent to retrieve the bird. Ideally, anyway.
You may likewise work on tracking or water retrieves. tracking is where somebody will drag a dead duck or pheasant a number of lawns while your canine is out of sight. then you bring your canine to the begin of the track where a few feathers have been dropped. You release your canine as well as ideally he ought to utilize his nose to discover the bird.
The water retrieves are what you’d expect. You’ll work on introducing your canine to water, building confidence as well as enjoyment as well as ideally retrieving bumpers or birds.
Remy as well as I have dealt with water retrieves on our own, outside of NAVHDA.
Take the training guidance of what it’s worth – pick as well as choose
You have to keep in mind that these are not necessarily expert canine trainers. They are definitely experienced canine fitness instructors as well as hunters as well as a few are breeders. however many do not make a living training dogs.
You will see a range of training styles as well as opinions at a NAVHDA training day, as well as this is OK.
For example, some members utilize e-collars (shock collars) as I do. Some don’t. specific fitness instructors like to keep dogs on inspect cords. Others want to let their canine just be a canine as well as figure things out.
Some fitness instructors will utilize chain or prong collar as I do. You likely won’t see numerous harnesses or treats.
You’ll see a great deal of “tough” men on their knees praising their puppies with pats as well as giggles.
Everyone is extremely proud.
All I imply is, you have to be an advocate for your own dog.
Speak up if you want to try something a bit different than what the “leader” is suggesting or if you choose to avoid a specific training drill. This is completely OK.
At the exact same time, it’s not the end of the world if you try a somewhat different training method than what you’re utilized to. For the most part, these breeds are quite durable as well as choose the flow.
It’s okay if you have no experience with hunting or training
My canine as well as I are an fascinating pair. A bit entertaining to a few of the other members, I’m sure.
Honestly, a few of them most likely question why the heck we’re even attending. I believe some members are amazed we’ve returned for a second, third as well as fourth time.
We pretend we understand what’s up
While I’m from Minnesota as well as have lots of hunters in my family, I’ve never really gone hunting.
And, at 4 years old, Remy is by far the oldest beginning canine in the group while likewise the least experienced as well as most likely the worst behaved. He’s extremely excitable. I have difficulty controlling him. He does not heel when he’s wound up, as well as he does not come when called reliably.
We’re a mess, at times.
This canine is extremely humbling. He makes me work difficult to see results.
Nonetheless, everybody is extremely welcoming at NAVHDA. They comprehend Remy as well as I are novices with actually no hunting experience.
Is it as well late to begin training my canine for hunting?
I would state no, it’s never as well late to train a hunting canine if they have the drive to do it.
Some dogs just don’t have the “drive” for birds as well as you can’t force that. however others have some major instinct for discovering birds, chasing, pointing, retrieving or flushing.
If the canine wishes to do the work, it’s never as well late to train her, in my opinion.
It’s not about age, it’s about exposure, great deals as well as great deals of patience as well as coming up with a plan that works for you as well as your dog.
Some dogs are much more difficult than others.
I waited so long to begin training Remy for hunting since I resided in San Diego when I got him as a puppy.
As you can imagine, it’s not practical to take your canine hunting in southern California for numerous reasons. There is a lack of offered land for hunting, the specify has strict gun legislations as well as it was a long drive to the training locations.
But we online in Montana now.
Hunting is just one much more sport I can finish with my active, working dog.
Remy as well as I train for agility for fun as well as we train for path marathons. hunting is one more activity we can do. as well as it’s what he’s bred to do.
Other resources I’ve discovered the most helpful
There are likewise great deals of YouTube videos as well as books that can assist you train your bird dog. as well as there’s always the choice of hiring a expert bird canine trainer.
Some of my preferred resources:
Standing stone Kennels on YouTube
Ronnie Smith book & seminars
Accidental Bird canine blog
Overall benefits of NAVHDA
Here are the benefits I’ve found so far:
Learn about training your hunting dog
Have fun with your canine & make friends
Easy gain access to to birds & launchers for training
Learn about the other flexible hunting canine breeds
Talk dogs with like-minded people
Get assist from handlers/trainers with different experiences
Observe the other handlers as well as dogs as well as learn
Get comments on problems with your dog
What concerns or guidance do you have for your very first NAVHDA training day?
If you plan to go to a NAVHDA event, let me understand if you have any type of questions. I definitely had a lot before I started.
If you are included with NAVHDA, please share your experience below for any type of new people who may be wondering.
I’m sure I’ll have an update sometime soon with exactly how our development is going!
-Lindsay & Remy