Deutscher Wachtelhund North America, Inc

 

Wachtelhund Training Plan

(This development plan was developed by the VDW as a training guide for Wachtelhund pups.)

(Translated by Dave Pepe, September 2000.)

(Written By Armin Kienle)

Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved.  No reproduction of text without permission.

 

Age/Months 

Training-Goals

Training Content

Pup Comes to New Owner and Home

2-4

Pup learns new owner, home, family and environment

Pup begins to think and learn rules of its new environment. Sit, stay, come, areas off limits, feeding time, etc.

Pup Begins to Associate with its Environment

4-8

Training begins to develop pups hunting abilities. Pup learns to follow scents.

Early testing on blood trailing.

Goal: Develop a good young hunting dog.

Pup learns of scents, starts following scent trails and searches through thickets. Pup learns to swim and find its way through fields and woods and different ground covers. Pup learns the sound of gun shots. Pup develops hunting drive, starts to give tongue while trailing. Pup learns to follow trails made with lung, pancreas, or spleens. Pup learns to follow trails on the lead, and begins following overnight trails.

Dog Begins Independent Hunting Giving Tongue

8-15

Training begins for juvenile hunt test and to further develop hunting aptitudes.

Goal: To pass the JP, juvenile hunt test.

Dog works through trails made by dragging a hare (or pheasant) through field and woods. Works trails on long lead to develop concentration on single track. Comes in contact with game. Learns of different types of water; rivers, lakes, etc. Learns to tolerate shot gun blasts. Gains experience in hunting alone and with other dogs.

Dog has Passed the Juvenile Hunt Test

12-18

Classical Hunting Training

Goal: To pass the EP hunt test.

Systematic and consistent training in retrieving. Taught to retrieve while on a long lead. Learns to quarter and search for game while staying within shotgun range. Builds on blood trailing training begun at earlier age.

Wachtelhund Has Passed the EP Hunt Test

18-30

Master Training. Experienced on the hunt.

Goal: To pass the Versatile Hunting Dog Test.

Following blood-trails 600 meters or greater, and over night trails. Is obedient in the field. Quarters large areas in search of game. Searches deep marshes for ducks. Reliable retrieving from far distances with heavy game; hares, ducks, foxes.

Wachtelhund Has Passed the GP Versatile Hunting Test

After the GP

Specialize training, Boar, etc.

Further testing earning additional performance titles.