Life Kennels
Started Dogs
Started Dog Program
SLK Started Dogs
Through the years, SLK has trained many Started Dogs. We are always trying to find new and better ways to improve all our programs.
We begin training at 8 weeks old and from the beginning we use positive reinforcement through “Marker” training to teach the puppies to be focused, happy and bold. We call it “Learning To Learn”, meaning from an early age they look forward to training and are so used to learning new things that as they age they tend to understand new concepts and behaviors quicker than dogs with no early training.
In other words, they have been set up to succeed in life and with their new families going forward.
Early Puppy Development Includes:
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Marker training for Sit, Stay, Lay down, Place, Heeling.
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Retrieving both bird wings and bumpers.
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Swimming
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Lots of physical attention including holding and petting and praising.
Once they are 6 months old and begin formal training, they will learn:
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Fully obedience trained
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Sit
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Stay
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Here
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Heel
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Down
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Place
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Here whistle
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etc.
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Steady to shot
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Multiple retrieves
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Working out of a boat & on land
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Working off of a portable dog stand
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Working out of a duck blind on water
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Working out of our duck pit
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Force Fetched... We force fetch lightly with a lot of praise thrown in.
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E-Collar Conditioned: We collar condition lightly. Our goal is a bold happy dog.
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Exposure to decoys
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Picking up simulated cripples
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**Upland Training is an option, as well**
But most importantly they will have tons of human interaction and exposed to new environments.
We have chosen this over traditional started dog programs where the puppy is raised in a kennel setting and can but not always have quirks when they get out into the real world. Much like a child raised in an orphanage as opposed to a home.
Our Started dogs are expected to be Happy, Bold, show self control, and be crazy about hunting and loving people. In other words we want them "Calm but Ready".
