How Soon is Too Soon

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Spunt Drag

Show me a 6 month old dog that can run a walk up indented triple, with poison bird, and diversion, and cold in and out water blinds out to 300 yards, and lunch is on me.

I have a couple that can handle it but they aren't 6 months old, I like the Darrel's Special without Mayo and japaleno chips and a Shiner Bock.

My standards are quite extreme, probably more extreme than most all hunt test trainers. I no longer run hunt test but that is where I started but became disolussioned with the pay your fees and get a ribbon mentality. My training has evolved over the course of 14 years, no different than trucks, tractors, and beer (I like beer). Dogs have also evolved to be smarter, stronger and more capable through the various breeding programs which incorporate the best of the field trial world. Every new training approach has come from the Field Trial world which has in turn been passed down through the ranks to Hunt Testers and lower level pros (me). To say there are numerous ways to train a dog is true but if fraugt with perils. I will follow the top Pros through the fires of hell because their programs have produced the best year after year. Consistancy is the name of the game in any sport or business endevor so why wouldn't you hitch your wagon to someone who is the best year in and year out? Horses are great modes of transportation but nobody would dream of saddling up and driving one to Kalifornia. Ask Braquet,Cajunforeman,Gerldat, if their ideas changed when they saw what can be accomplished by following a True Training Program and pushing the envelop. I will be training dogs long after those of you who only hunt them are done simply because teaching a dog to pickup a 300-500 yd mark or blind really turns my Crank. Bet it would turn yours if you did it too.