How Do You Split Hunting Dog Training & Family Dog Training w/ a Puppy?

Question: I have recently started using some of your products and really enjoy your training techniques from videos. The last 13 years I hunted behind a GSP until recently we had to put him down due to cancer. We sense then have purchased a Fox Red Pointing Lab from what I believe has some really well bred genetics. My question to you is where and how do you split Hunting Dog training from Family Dog training with a puppy? We currently Kennel the dog at night and when we are working during the day, when we are home we let the dog run around play with kids with rules and boundaries. what are your thoughts?

Answer: Thanks for the message. I think that's a good question with a pretty simple answer. All of my dogs are hunting dogs and they are all family dogs first. I think the foundation for either is the same and absolutely necessary. I think it sounds like you're doing things right. I believe that puppies should be puppies, but that simply means they have relatively short attention spans and most things should be fun. That does not mean they live without rules or discipline. I think avoiding undesirable behavior is equally important to forming desirable behavior. Play is ok provided it's supervised and functional/productive and definitely not counterproductive. No different than raising kids, we don't wait until they grow up before we think about good behavior. That being said we understand that kids are not adults and "learning" is key to their success. The cultural/environmental impacts you expose them to will shape them. I hope that helps, best of luck and have fun.
Thanks,
Jeremy

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