Training your Gordon Setter
The first few days and weeks in your home are very important in your Gordon puppy's life. Early training, learning the rules of your house and socialisation can never be replaced. In other words the work starts right from the day you bring your puppy home. It is essential that your puppy is able to meet a great variety of situations without being fearful or timid. To achieve this you need to expose your puppy to new experiences in a calm and reassuring way.
It is important that all puppies learn the basic commands - sit, drop (down), stay and, most importantly, to come when called. Puppies should have been handled before they left the breeder. Ask your breeder to show you how to lead your puppy into a sit with food in your hand and shape behaviours as sit, drop and stand, and to follow and come when called, this training is called positive reinforcement training and teaches the puppy what words and actions please you, and will be rewarded. At this stage you should ignore errors - remember house training is your responsibility, you must put your puppy out when he wakes and has eaten, and learn to read the signs so you will quickly have a clean pup.
Puppy pre-schools offer good early training and socialising with other puppies and people, in a safe environment. Some pre-schools wait until after the final vaccination, but some will take puppies before this so the puppy does not miss out on those vital early weeks. At pre-schools the basics of training are shown to new owners so they can practice with their puppy.
Once the puppy has finished its course of vaccination it is eligible to join an obedience class run by your local obedience club. Obedience clubs offer opportunities to take part in many dog-related activities. The instructors are usually very experienced and can show you how to train your dog to respond to the basic commands of 'sit', 'stand', 'come' and 'stay'. In addition they will teach you how to walk your dog on a lead without it pulling or lagging behind. All this is done at a pace appropriate for you and your dog and all the while the dog is meeting other dogs and people in a controlled environment. It is through this basic training that a wonderful rapport is built up between the owner and the dog.
Formal training can be ongoing or can be terminated once the dog has reached an acceptable understanding of basic obedience. Obedience classes also provide a good source of socialisation. You can enhance this by walking your dog on a lead in noisy and bustling places such as busy streets or in the local park and so on. Teaching your dog not to jump up on other people, not to rush through the door first when it is opened, not to steal food left on a kitchen bench and so on are all part of the training and socialising process, but the main rule to remember is to be consistent and make sure that every member of the family does the same thing where the training of your dog is concerned.
The easiest way to train your Gordon Setter to be a good dog is from day one be top dog of the household, as Gordons do like to be the boss, especially if living with other dogs. The easiest way to keep control and teach them right from wrong is to be a Gordon Setter top dog. This can be embarassing if you have friends or family over, but when your Gordon oversteps the boundaries and will not settle or is doing something that is unacceptable, you need to learn to growl and tell them off like Gordons do.
The Gordon Setter is a very vocal breed, they love to have a chat, which some people out and about can take the wrong way, they are not grumbling it is just them speaking!. From day one when your Gordon comes to your new home you need to be on your hands and knees playing with your puppy, when they get too rough or won't stop, give a low warning growl. If they persist then you need to do a large growl and a bark, your Gordon will back off completely as they will understand you are their mom (or dad!) and top dog, this sounds bizarre but it really does work. As they get older you can just tell them off from your chair etc but if you are always top dog you will not have any issues.
If you ever need any help or advice on any of the tips on training please do get in touch, I'm always happy to help.
A Letter from your Gordon Setter
Dear Mom and Dad
Sometimes it is hard for me to be good. I really try, but you humans can be really confusing. I have made a list of what I need to be a good dog. Please read it and don't get mad at me. I'm not perfect but I do love you.
A Gordon's Needs
I need consistent rules. I really don't mind rules, in fact, knowing rules and that you will be consistent and fair makes me feel more secure.
I need to know what you want me to do. I get so discouraged when all I hear from you is "NO" please train me so I know what to do to stay out of trouble.
I need lots of exercise. You might think I am excersing when you put me out in the garden, but sometimes I lie there and get bored. Please take me for a walk or throw my ball for me. Sometimes I need to run and play with other dogs. I like to use my nose to find things too, and love to go for a swim to see the ducks.
I need to be with you. Please let me be in the house with you. I get so lonely that I dig or bark or jump the fence when I'm outside alone too long. My favourite place is to be as near you as I can be, snuggled by your feet.
My ancestors had a job to keep them busy. Maybe it was herding, or bringing back ducks, or killing rats. What is my job now? Everyone says they want a smart dog, but us smart dogs get bored!! When I find things to amuse me and keep me busy, sometimes it makes you mad, please find something for me to do.
If I growl and talk to you, please take the time to figure out why?. I might be hurting somewhere, or maybe the kids are playing too rough with me, or I need to go out to the toilet but most of all sometimes I just need a cuddle.
I need a quiet place that is mine. Sometimes I just need to rest and have some me time too.
I need a way to release tensions and amuse myself. Chewing is one of my favourite activities, even after I'm grown up. Please give me safe chews and toys so I don't make a mistake and eat Dad's shoes and make you mad.
Please take me places with you and let me meet different people. If I stay at home all the time, the world seems like a scary place. I promise you I'll be on my best behaviour if you show me how to behave when we do go out. I need to know where I stand. I really want you to be the boss, so I don't have to make all the decisions.
Cuddles are my favourite thing, the closer I can be to you the better. Seeing you cuddle with someone else can make me want to join in, if you tell me when I can have cuddles, I will not need to jump on your lap or head.
When the front door knocks, I am always going to think it is for me. As I love people so much I will want to hug everyone that comes to visit me -please teach me to be patient, and let them cuddle me first, Auntie Mable will not end up being knocked over or pinned up the wall then, which of course I think she loves!
Most of all I want to please you and be loved, as I will love you so very much.