Always Try Before You Buy 

Buying a dog or puppy can be a daunting experience and buying a part or fully trained working dog takes it to another level. Trusting the advert at face value will not do you any favours so make sure you follow the try before your buy rules – go and see the dog and ask questions. You might think that’s obvious but you wouldn’t believe how many people don’t ask questions or ask for a demonstration and just trust all they are being told by the seller. If you’re buying a dog to work in the shooting field, there are many things you require but one fundamentally important requirement is that the dog is happy around a gun. I personally have never visited a shoot without hearing a gun – if the dog is nervous or runs off it is not and never will be a working dog – walk away.

I source many dogs for clients, both puppies and part-trained. When I visit the seller, I require the dog to be confident and happy to enable me to bring on their training ready for the client to handle their new working companion. On many occasions, after I’ve asked a few questions I then mention what I do for a living and amazingly, the seller’s story changes. The most recent was an advert for a working Labrador that was a failed drugs search recruit. The advert described him as a bold and confident dog that needed bringing on and with time he’d be a good working dog. I smelt a rat and when I said I was a trainer he instantly said he’d be no good for me. When I questioned why five minutes ago he said the dog was right for me, he couldn’t answer.

Unfortunately, this week I had to advise a client that the Springer Spaniel he purchased as a part-trained working dog was gun shy. Thankfully he was able to call the seller, tell him about my assessment and instantly he agreed to refund the cost. The worrying thing here is if someone had bought him, trained him and bonded with him, only to introduce the gun later with disastrous results.

We all want good dogs we can train up to our standard from day one; if there have been problems in the past, this will make training your new dog much more of a challenge.  Whether you have a dog in mind or are just on the look out for new dogs as the opportunity arises, have a chat with me first, I may be able to source the perfect addition to your pack.

Posted: February 17, 2016