Llewellin Setters Breeders Blog

A well bred Llewellin Setter will have very strong bird hunting instincts right from the get go. In fact we have often had visitors admire the “training” of dogs who in fact have never had any formal training. We can tell the story of a brood bitch that had two litters of pups before she was given the chance to experience game birds. She pointed the very first one staunchly and retrieved it to hand when shot. She went on to be one of our top gun dogs and never did have any real training. We tell this story to underscore the strong natural instincts typical of the breed which has been bred for over one hundred years only for bird hunting. However, having told the story, don’t count on getting your braggin’ bird dog this way. You are most likely going to have to work at it!

The first word in Bird Dog is of course Bird. No birds, no bird dog. So now ask yourself, “where are the birds going to come from on which I will train my dog?” This alone may be the question which steers you towards a professional trainer. You can buy birds of course but they can cost anything from $1.50 to $12 or more each. You need a place to house them. You must feed them and care for them and then you need a place to release them. Then you must comply with the laws of your state relative to released birds and may need a license. You may also be governed by seasons. If you are one of the anointed, you may have access to vast areas of land with large populations of wild birds. This is of course the ultimate. Few of us are so blessed.
It is possible to train a bird dog to very high standards on birds which are not controlled by game laws such as pigeons both homers and trapped common pigeons or in many states on Chukars which may not be identified as game birds in that state. This is the case in Pennsylvania, for example.

When you have considered all of this, and the costs involved, to say nothing of the time you will spend, you may have a different picture of the prospect of sending the dog to a Professional Trainer for a fee, which can be up to $600 per month for a good one. Of course, more to the point is what you can expect to get for the fee in terms of training and how long might it take.

My own experience has been that three months of training with a top man will usually produce a very serviceable bird dog which I can then go on to develop by showing the dog lots of birds. I like to do this training at about 9 to 12 months of age.

Another trip of one to two months at about two years of age might be a good investment to put the finishing touches on the dog if you want a real finished dog. I cannot emphasize enough however the need to show the dog lots of birds in between. With lots of bird volume a good dog will often work out his own problems. This is called experience and there is no substitute.

There are numerous well written books on dog training and quite a number of well presented practical courses put on across the USA which can be most helpful to the new owner determined to train his own dog. It really isn’t a big trick but it does need a commitment of time on a regular basis. Doing it yourself can be very rewarding and strengthens the bond between dog and handler which in of itself helps with further training. One word of caution would be not to go immediately to the electric training collar as a crutch. These collars are of immense value in the right hands at the right time but please be very careful if you own one.

I am absolutely dismayed when I page through magazines such as Pointing Dog Journal for example to see that in some issues there is not a single photograph taken in the hunting field in which the dog is not wearing an E-collar. The collar has gone way beyond a training aid and has become standard wear. We must assume therefore that these dogs are not capable of working independently, or they are uncontrollable by the handler. Therefore they are not legitimate trained bird dogs, they are fakes. You paid good money for first class potential so that you could have a dog you enjoy and are proud of. Don’t fake it!

We can introduce you to trainers of reputation in various regions of the USA who do not lean on the Electric Collar for results. Yes, they use them wisely to reinforce certain training but would not dream of sending a dog back to you who needs to wear one all the time to be under control. What we should strive for in the trained Llewellin is a dog who will work with the very minimum commands. A dog who understands objectives and cover and does not “potter” or waste time hunting ground which will not hold a bird. This dog would not quarter across a golf course he would head straight for the boundaries. He will hold his head high and work the air currents not always looking for foot scent. He will display his outstanding nose by pointing staunchly when he finds positive scent. He will be happy to work for you and show you his abilities if you have trust and confidence in him. Don’t crush the fantastic natural ability of your Llewellin by giving him an electric shock every time you think you know more than he does.

Happy Hunting,

KHS. Dec 2005