For those of you who would like to finish a dog on their own, I offer Started Shed Antler Hunting Dogs. These puppies, by 5 and 6 months of age, can be out with you shed antler hunting. With my started dogs, I will provide continued support on what to do to make sure you are successful with your shed antler hunting partner.
Since all puppies mature and learn at different rates, this list is only a guideline of what the average puppy learns at these ages.
Updated 8/3/2022
- 2-3 months old:
- Puppy has been introduced to the antler, the word “SEARCH”, and running after it, a few will be bringing it back to you. A few know the word “SIT”.
- 3-4 months old:
- Puppy knows the word “SEARCH”, some will be bringing it back to you. Tosses with the antler are getting further.
- 4-5 Months-Old:
- Puppy will retrieve antler to hand, sit on command while on the lead, and knows the word “SEARCH”. They are finding antlers in wooded area and starting to use their nose to find them. Most pups this age are going through the teething phase, therefore basic obedience training begins.
- 5-6 Months-Old:
- Puppy will have more obedience training, will be exposed to vehicles, water, crate, unfamiliar noises, new people and some will kennel on command. Puppy is now searching for hidden antlers when told to “SEARCH”, using sight and nose.
- 6-7 Months-Old:
- Puppy is getting more of the above, antlers are getting bigger and harder to find. Puppy is now finding the shed instead of having them tossed. Some have learned to sit at an open kennel door until given the command, OKAY.
- 7-8 Months-Old:
- Puppy is building confidence and learning to range out further in his search for shed antlers in unfamiliar areas. Obedience is getting better, and he now most come back to the whistle.
- 8-9 Months-Old:
- Puppy is maturing and smoothing out rough areas of his training. Learning to be more obedient and getting more exposure to noises, people, vehicles and water. He comes back to a whistle and most will SIT, KENNEL and LOAD UP on command. Most will sit patiently at an open kennel door until you give them the command, OKAY. He is ranging out further in his search for sheds. I do not enforce the stay command at this age except to stay calm for the door of the kennel to open.
- Puppies over 9 months of age are considered finished.
As a professional Breeder/Trainer, I strongly recommend all hard working ,athletic hunting dogs be on the NuVet program. It’s an all natural supplement, made here in the U.S.A . It will provide your loyal, hardworking companion with a strong and healthy immune system to help ward off all kinds of bad illnesses and disease that a poor immune system will prey on. Ponds that we know our dogs love, carry all kinds of diseases that prey on a week immune system. Ear infections are sometimes caused by that same murky water your dog loves to play in. Why not protect him as much as we can, by building up his immune system with the NuVet Supplements.
Click NuVet for more details and remember to use code 16871
