Springer Puppy

[dianchi]

Hi Guys,
Looking for little bit of advice here.

We have been offered a 4 month pup as owners are having to sell up the stud.
She is kennel trained but npt house trained, She will be in a kennel with a run during the day but in the house at night.
Is it too late to try and house train or will it be ok?

Also she has done no work on the lead (been living in a small pack and walked as a pack) will this be a problem or easy to get the hang of?

We have a basic handling course in mind as well as having a gun dog trainer who is going to help us go beyond the basics, as we want to do field trials with her.

Any suggestions welcomed.
Thanks

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

This is the book my OH has aways used, he's recommended it to quite a few people who've said it was helpful (We don't know the author personally BTW!). http://www.amazon.co.uk/Training-Spaniels-Joe-Irving/dp/1853104191

I should think she will be trainable, after all her pack has just changed, and you will be the leader. good luck with her.

 

[Thistle]

4 months is not old at all, I have just house trained a 8 month old rescue.

 

[kirstyhen]

We got a springer at 5 months, he had no training whatsoever, and had lived in a stable, it hasn't been easy, but he is coming along great!

 

[chevs]

Hi

We re-homed a 13month old lab bitch who lived in a kennel, only taken out of the kennel to do training then shut back in.

We used a cage for night time and just watched her like a hawk during the day. She got the hang of it quite quickly. She still sleeps in the cage now, 2 years on as she finds in re-assuring and she likes it. I would never have a puppy without a cage. They are house-savers!!!!

4 months is still a puppy so you should have no problems.

Good Luck

 

[CAYLA]

As suggested, 4 months is a fab age to begin and introduce new training, I wish all the ones I have trained, had come in this young, it makes the job far easier, as suggested above a crate, would be a great aid for the house training, esp as she has been in a kennel, she will prob take better to a crate, in regards, to no whinging, as they dislike soiling in their own space, it will teach her to hold, until she is released to the designated motion passing area(garden) by you, each time you let her out, at first she may have to spend more time in it then out, whilst indoors, till she gets the hang of her routine, but then she should be fine, when she is out of the crate, always make sure she is within your sights, so u can correct her(remove her) to the garden, and break the motion, then praise outside after passing, and maybe introduce a command.

 

[dianchi]

FAb, we have a crate as well and we have a kennel for when we are not about- we both work shifts.

Thanks!
Will update with pics when i can!

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

I had to retrain a 5 year old cocker - they pick up the idea pretty quickly and at 4 months she won't be stcuk in her ways.