NDR - Any NAVHDA members here?

Nate Grace

Nate Grace

Well-known member
Hi folks,

I was a NAVHDA member about 10 years ago when I was first thinking of getting a gun dog. We are getting a French brittany pup in the next couple of weeks. We've been doing a lot of reading and research on the ins and outs of a pup. This will be our family companion, and I plan on taking her out into the grouse and woodcock woods during the fall. I've been going back and forth on what training material to get and use with this dog. While George Hickox seems to be the popular choice, the few breeders I have talked with don't really care for his methods. One or two has suggested the NAVHDA training materials. Any NAVHDA members here and have you tried the training materials they offer? What are your thoughts and impressions of it?



Thanks,
Nate Grace
 
Hey Nate,
Yup I have done the Nahvda thing and the Akc hunt tests. The Nahvda is much more involved
than the AKC.
I thought the Nahvda training program was a great one, although there were some things
I was lack about. Ex: my old shorthair loved to retrieve, I didnt force break him because
I didn't feel it was an issue. I belonged to the Maine Chapter, and I have heard good things
about the NH chapter as well. I'm sure there must be a Mass chapter around you.
If you had any specific questions I can try to help you out.
 
I am not a NAVHDA member, but have attended training days and have many friends that are members. Only reason I am not a member is because my dog breed club is very active where I live and we hold our own training days. In the different local NAVHDA chapters that I have been too, there are a lot of excellent trainers and all seemed very willing to help new guys. There are a few things I tend to do different than many of them, but overall I think its a great organization.

I firmly beleive in learning hands on because books can't cover all the nuiances of an animal. But they do have a training book, called the "green Book" a little outdated but very good reference material. I personally really liked Joan Bailey books, "helping gun dogs train themselves" I think its called.

For me, I kept a wide open mindset, I have learned and taken things from a variety of resources and differnet breeds of dogs to develop my own way and what works best for the dog and what I am asking him to do.

Good luck

bill
 
Nate,

Read Ben Williams, "Bird Dog" I am on my third Brittany and like his philosophy. Obedience training first and foremost and then spending as much time as possible in the field with the dog letting them sort of figure things out. Good bloodlines will allow this type of training as the dog already has the instincts, but just needs hours in the field sorting things out for himself. I must state again that obedience and "coming to call" are things that must be taught without any allowances for not complying.

Pointers are a different creature than a retriever that's for sure.
 
Thanks gents! I appreciate all of the information.

Geoff, I will have to touch base with you at some point about dogs, training, etc. Thanks again.



Best,
Nate
 
Nate: I will be getting a small munsterlander in jan hope to enter her in NAVHDA events. Bill
 
I have tested through NAVHDA and the VDD program for the last few years. NAVHDA gives your training a great foundation and there are plenty of people who know what they are doing that can help you through any problems that might arise.

Obedience is the foundation for sucess, BUT to much to early can and will ruin a pup and the above poster should be careful how he words his comments. One of the biggest mistakes I see new trainers make is to get upset with a dog who is confused, not disobeying.
 
Thanks Matthew. I am going to take it slow with this dog. I am starting to put together a schedule for when she will start her official gun dog training. For the first 4 months or so, it will be all puppy play, walks in the woods, basic commands, maybe get her used to the cap gun a little, and some wings or dead birds. Nothing major. This is a long-term project, at least 3 years before she will be considered "ready." I am excited though. This is my first dog.

Nate
 
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