Residential training and new puppy

[Daftaboutthecat]

Hi our dog is going away for 4 weeks training on Monday it's the initial stages of gundog training. We are very happy about the trainer although dreading missing him. We are due to collect our new pup a few days after dog number 1 goes I am worrying that we should maybe postpone the training for a few weeks so the dogs can get used to one another rather than number 1 dog come home and there is a big change. I also worry though if we wait it will then mean the puppy will pine when dog 1 goes any advice anyone?

[Daftaboutthecat]

Bump

[Daftaboutthecat]

Anyone?

[daisydotandgertie]

Residential Gundog training doesn't help teach an owner much .... have you worked a dog before?

[Daftaboutthecat]

We will be regularly going for training alongside dog while he is away - we are not so worried about the training it's whether to introduce pup before dog goes or after he comes back it's all been a bit poor timing.

[sparechange]

How old is thr dog and how old is the pup?
Is the pup going to be a gundog as well?
Kennelled or in the house?

It is far from ideal, but they'll sort out heir dynamic and is unlikely to impact either of them long term. I can't really understand why you'd want to be so detached from the training of your dog(s) though, especially when working them

You're not going to have a good enough bond with your dog to ever make a good working pair although you'll probably get something that won't embarrass you in the field if that is your priority. Total compromise for both of you though, and frankly lazy
(I'm a gundog trainer btw)

[Daftaboutthecat]

Spare thank you for answering the part I was worrying about and I'm sure they will sort out their dynamic so that is reassuring.
Frankly lazy is very judgy and opinions on the rights and wrongs of sending our dog to training which we will also have a part in really wasn't necessary and how you can make that judgement with the little info I gave about the situation I don't know - not helpful at all

[sparechange]

How can I make the judgement?
Because from years of shooting and working with gundogs, you can spot a mile off when someone hasn't trained their dog, and has either sent them away for training, or has bought a part or fully trained dog

They work out of obligation and on autopilot, rather than ever having a proper bond with dogs. I'm not a big trialler, but I don't think I've met a single dog who has gone to be a FtCh after being sent away for training.

Like I said in my OP, if you want a dog that isn't going to embarrass you in the field in front of your friends, then you'll probably get it. But it is absolutely the definition of lazy that you can't be arsed to put in the work yourselves, even knowing that you'll get a lesser working dog as a result!

[daisydotandgertie]

We're both driving at the same thing.

Cancel the residential training - everything Spare says is right. It is never a good solution because to work a dog, in large part you need the incredible bond that training together over time brings, but primarily because it's not really the dog who needs to be trained. It's always the owner who needs the training.

Imagine sitting in a cockpit of a fighter jet and being expected to just 'work it'. You'd not have a clue where to start. Even if you'd had a lesson or two.

Your dog will be a bit like the fighter jet. Amazing, skilled, talented and responsive. Without training him yourself, you'll unfortunately probably be a bit clueless.

Sorry. It's clear that's not what you want to hear, but residential Gundog training is the lazy option. And the crappy one too. Cancelling it would solve the puppy problem.

And as a breeder, I'd not hold onto a pup for an additional 4 weeks. They need to start bonding with their new families from 8 weeks onwards. Missing that period is far from ideal. As an aside, I'd also be thinking very hard about allowing someone to have one of my pups who had created this sort of problem by not thinking things through. It's almost certain I would cancel the sale.