Courtesy of Tom Smith.jpg

Courtesy of Tom Smith

Meet veteran retriever trainer Tom Smith, Owner of Wildrose Mississippi. 

Location: Oxford, Mississippi

How long have you been a trainer? I trained my first dog in 1998 and became a professional in 2010.

Early Stages:

For new puppy buyers, what should be the training priorities in that dog’s first year?

Steadiness is my first priority. An unsteady dog is not only annoying in the blind it can be a danger to themselves and the hunters. Everything a puppy learns between 6 weeks and 6 months is there forever. Bad habits can be masked with training but if the handler ingrains the proper habits they will last a lifetime. I start working on steadiness with my pups from Day 1 just by making them wait to eat, wait to walk in a door, wait to exit the kennel. These little habits you introduce in the home translate to the field when the time comes.

What’s the biggest mistake you see amateur trainers make when dealing with a puppy?

I see two main mistakes from most handlers. Timing of praise or correction is very difficult for most people. As the handler you need to let the pup know when they are doing what you are asking and conversely when they are doing something wrong. The second mistake falls in line with first one. Too many folks let bad behavior slide and then it becomes a habit. An example would be a pup getting off place and the owner says “Oh he’s so cute, he just wants some pets.” That is telling the dog they can leave place and there are no consequences for bad behavior. The pup is always learning so as the handler we need to be aware of the behaviors we are instilling.

How significant is choosing a name? Pros and cons to different names?

Short one syllable names are preferred. I would stay away from names that sound like a command. Mack sounds like back and could be confusing for a dog in high stress or noisy environments like a blind or a high wind day.

Specific Behaviors:

What’s the most difficult introduction (water, gunfire, multiple retrieves, dog blinds, etc.) trainers deal with?

In my experience stopping the dog going away from the handler can be very difficult. If the whistle has not been introduced properly and has not become a predictable habit they will blow right through the whistle and never check up. When I raise a pup, I start introducing the whistle as soon as they completely understand a verbal sit. This goes back to ingraining behavior during that 6 week to 6-month stage. By 4 months I expect my pups to understand the sit whistle at heel and I am starting work on the recall whistle. Starting very early in the pup’s life with the whistle will pay big dividends when it’s time to move to the training field.

What is the simplest way to correct breaking and improve steadiness?

Repetition and consistency, and not letting the dog have a retrieve until I get the steady and quiet behavior I am looking for from the dog. There will be no off-lead work with retrieves until I know I can trust the dog. Another key is to pay attention to your dog. They know when you are distracted with your phone or talking to another trainer and they will make their run for the border when you least expect it. The 3 D’s of steadiness (Page 112) Sporting Dog and Retriever Training the Wildrose Way are key training tools we use to build patience and steadiness. We start with denials to ensure they understand not every bird is theirs. Delays- build in a delay and patience with every retrieve. Memory based retrieves are the foundation of The Wildrose Way. We do 80 percent memory retrieves versus marks. The more you throw the more unsteady you will make your dog. Diversions are the final step to steadiness. Diversions are used to simulate more birds falling when the dog is on a retrieve. I expect my dog to stay on the bird I sent them for either going or returning. If the handler stays true to the process, practices that repetition and consistency in all things they can have a steady and quiet sporting companion.

How do you approach correcting whining in a young dog?

First and foremost, do not touch the dog if they are whining. Pup will see that as a sign of affection such as petting. I will make a quick lead correction and move them away from the group. If the pup continues to whine, I will move farther away from the group until they are quiet. When they are quiet, I will praise them verbally. I will then start moving closer to the group. If they continue to be quiet, I will keep moving closer. But if they start getting vocal again I will move away. This process will continue over and over until they learn what the acceptable behavior is. Repetition and consistency throughout the entire process is absolutely necessary. Being included with the pack is a major motivator for the dog, so if you take that away it serves as a correction for the young pup.

What are your rules or guidelines when dealing with training in the summer heat?

We start early in the morning at daylight and use the shade and water as much as possible. As the handler you must acutely aware while watching the dog and making sure you recognize any signs of heat stress.

Hunting Focus:

What are the main training indicators that your dog, regardless of age, is ready for the fall hunting season?

The Wildrose Way uses the 5x5 rule for every major exercise. A dog does not have the behavior ingrained as a habit until they can do the exercise 5 times, correctly, in 5 locations. An example would be the switching on doubles exercise (Page 197) Sporting Dog and Retriever Training the Wildrose Way. We begin this exercise in short grass where the bumper can be easily found. As they are confident and running this exercise correctly, I will move it somewhere else still in short grass. When I am confident in the dog there, I will move again but now it may be one bumper in the short grass and one in tall grass, then into the woods. I will continue running on land until I am overly confident the dog understands what I am asking him to do before moving to water. Wildrose Law #8, get it right on land before moving to water.

Another way to know if your dog is ready is using the Seven Core Skills of the Highly Effective Gundog (Page 108) Sporting Dog and Retriever Training the Wildrose Way. Obedience, steadiness and honoring, delivery to hand, lining memories, handling, hunting cover and marking. If your dog is competent in these Seven Core Skills they are ready to hunt.

What are some of the most common bad habits dogs tend pick up during the hunting season, and how are they addressed?

Breaking and not stopping to the whistle are my top two bad habits that usually occur especially in the first season. We stress to the clients do not let your dog have every bird the first season. It’s great starting off, but like anything it should be moderation in all things. Make sure to pick up half the birds yourself or use another dog. And always remember to praise the young dog for being steady and quiet. It is easy to praise the great retrieve. But what is harder for the dog, making the retrieve or sitting quietly while another dog makes the retrieve? So always make sure pup understands you are happy and praise him for the steadiness.

Stopping to the whistle is a core skill and over time during hunting season it can degrade if pup finds too many birds on his own and decides he is smarter than the handler. This can be worked on during season between hunts. Go back to the basics and reinforce the whistle stops while training. The first season is a learning experience for the young dog and there will usually be some trials and tribulations but staying focused on the process, reinforcing the correct behaviors and correcting the bad it can be a fun and rewarding experience for both handler and dog.

What are your ideal expectations for your retriever throughout the waterfowl season?

For myself, I want to be invited back to hunt with people not because of my usually not amazing shooting, but because my dog exemplifies the behaviors of a Wildrose Gentleman’s Gundog. Steady and quiet in the blind, under control while retrieving, and then a calm companion in the lodge. There is nothing better than getting complimented on a dog you have spent so much time, sweat and energy training and for it to be recognized by your friends, clients, or guests is the highest accolade.