American Hunting
How to Pick a Puppy for Hunting or Retriever Competition
Selective breeding works. The odds are your puppy will closely resemble his parents and grandparents in temperament and abilities. So the best way to pick a pup is to pick the litter. If you had the time and interest you could travel the country and hunt over or compete against potential sires and dams, but this isn’t necessary. Titles from a testing program that you recognize and respect allow you to evaluate a dog without actually seeing it.
FC and AFC are the field champion and amateur field champion titles won in competitions sanctioned by the American Kennel Club. Canada’s counterpart titles, the CFC and CAFC, are won in Canadian Kennel Club sanctioned trials. Check out the AKC and the CKC on the web.
NFC is the National Field Championship title awarded to one dog each year at the National Open. NAFC is the National Amateur Field Champion title.
The Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter, and Master Hunter titles are noncompetitive titles earned in the AKC hunt test program.
Beginner, Started, Intermediate, and Senior are noncompetitive titles awarded by the North American Hunting Retriever Association. You can read more about them on line.
The United Kennel Club has its own program for testing and proving hunting retrievers. You can read more about them on line.
Health Concerns
Learn what physical problems associated with your breed have a genetic component and which of these can be tested for in the parents. Hips, elbows, eyes, and hearts are all susceptible to genetic disorders that can be tested for. Learn about the clearances normally sought for breeding stock of your chosen breed.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals gives clearances for hips, elbows, and hearts and for thyroid function. Read about them at the OFA web site.
You Picked the Litter, Now What?
The most important things. Pick a healthy pup from the litter. I don’t choose the biggest and I don’t want a shy pup.
One or two pups? Don’t try to raise two pups from the same litter. One is always top dog and one is always being put down. Neither situation is the best for raising a companion and training partner.
Picking out a pup. A few programs evaluate puppy temperament and some are valuable. None are better than the skill of the individual tester. If you are picking, be sure to look at the litter for a few minutes to see if any group dynamics stand out.
Then get the pups out one at a time to evaluate them. Your breeder has probably seen the pups in many different situations on many different days. If they have experience picking pups for the work intended, don’t be afraid to ask for their recommendation. Sometimes you will not get to pick. Some breeders insist on picking for each buyer and sometimes all the picks will be sold before you get on the list for a litter. Don’t worry! The best dog I ever owned was a leftover from a litter.
Puppy registration. Your breeder will give you an application form for individual registration of your pup. Don’t lose this. They can be replaced but not easily.
Forms and contracts. Get a written copy of any health guarantees.
Return policy. Make sure your puppy comes with a short acceptance period to allow you time to have your vet exam the pup. Do it. Once you get your puppy home have him checked by your vet within the time allowed. Sometimes a vet will find a defect in a pup that is not visible or noticeable. This first exam can save you much grief and expense.
Resources on Raising Puppies
The first few months of your puppy’s life are exciting and sometimes trying times. Remember, they do grow up eventually!
Take advantage of the good books available on raising pups. Many breeders recommend “The Art of Raising a Puppy,” by the Monks of New Skete. “The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior,” by Clarence Poffenberger, is a good read. You can find both books on line.
The old belief of allowing a dog to grow up until he is a year old before starting to train has been debunked. Your pup starts to learn things from the moment he is born; by 21 days’ old his brain is functioning well. Try to introduce him to the environment and the work he will do before he is six months old and begin his formal schooling by six or seven months.
About the Author
Pat Nolan has trained Dog professionally since 1975. In the early 80’s Nolan trained dogs and animals for film and TV. Nolan has worked with the training of detection dogs, law enforcement and search and rescue dogs. Nolan has written extensively on motivational training of puppies. Video and more articles about Nolan and his methods at Http://www.PonderosaKennels.com
North American Hunting Extravaganza Review (Wii)
|
|
North American Hunting Club Wild Game Cookbooks $0.01 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club Books – Amazing Whitetails and Mule Deer $0.01 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club Books – Multiple Game, Deer, Bear, Elk, Birds $0.01 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey VIDEO’s $0.01 |
|
|
SH,262} Cool An American Tradition Hunting New Belt Buckle $0.66 |
|
|
Law of the Jungle: The Hunt for Colombian Guerrillas, American Hostages, and… $0.75 |
|
|
Vintage NRA American Hunter Magazine ~January 2000 ~ 21st Century Hunt $0.99 |
|
|
American Hunter Magazine ~ January 2006 ~ Rabbit Hunting Tips $0.99 |
|
|
$ B*1690 AN AMERICAN TRADITION HUNTING HUNTER DOG DUCK DEER WILDLIFE BELT BUCKLE $0.99 |
|
|
AN AMERICAN TRADITION HUNTING HUNTER DOG DUCK DEER WILDLIFE BELT BUCKLE BBE1690 $0.99 |
|
|
North American HUNTING Club Patch S $0.99 |
|
|
NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING CLUB OFFICIAL MEMBER PATCH $0.99 |
|
|
Lot of 2 Vintage 1968 American Rifleman Magazines Hunting Shooting Guns NEAT $0.99 |
|
|
An American Tradition Hunting Hunter Dog Duck Deer Wildlife Buckle with Belt New $0.99 |
|
|
the american’s london.by, thomas hunt martin. $0.99 |
|
|
The American Hunting Myth by Ron Baker (1985, Hardcover) $0.99 |
|
|
BB0262 An American Tradition Hunting Hunter Dog Duck Deer Wildlife Belt Buckle $0.99 |
|
|
B&1690 AN AMERICAN TRADITION HUNTING HUNTER DOG DUCK DEER WILDLIFE BELT BUCKLE $0.99 |
|
|
Indian Silver-Smithing by W. Ben Hunt American Indian Jewelry $0.99 |
|
|
AN AMERICAN TRADITION HUNTING HUNTER DOG DUCK DEER WILDLIFE BELT BUCKLE BBA1690 $0.99 |
|
|
VINTAGE WILD GAME COOKBOOK 1985 NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING CLUB $0.99 |
|
|
Hunting lot 3 North American Big Game III Truth Out West Black Widow Reflections $0.99 |
|
|
NEW Eagle Gun NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING CLUB Life Member BELT BUCKLE sEE $0.99 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club Keychain $0.99 |
|
|
AN AMERICAN TRADITION HUNTING HUNTER DOG DUCK DEER WILDLIFE BELT BUCKLE BBS1690 $0.99 |
|
|
Vintage Retro Jewelry Pieces – North American Hunting Club Pendant NIB $0.99 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club White Tshirt Size XL $0.99 |
|
|
NORTH AMERICAN HEAD HUNTING by Grancel Fitz /1st Edition OXFORD PRESS 1957 $0.99 |
|
|
Vintage North American Hunting Club Belt Buckle 24K Rodium Plated Members Only $0.99 |
|
|
NEW – North American Hunting Club Key Chain $0.99 |
|
|
LARGE VICTORIAN PRINT * AMERICAN INDIAN BUFFALO HUNT * BRONZE STATUE $0.99 |
|
|
BB0262 An American Tradition Hunting Hunter Dog Duck Deer Wildlife Belt Buckle $0.99 |
|
|
BB0262 An American Tradition Hunting Hunter Dog Duck Deer Wildlife Belt Buckle $0.99 |
|
|
BB0262 An American Tradition Hunting Hunter Dog Duck Deer Wildlife Belt Buckle $0.99 |
|
|
VINTAGE NORTH AMERICAN BIG GAME HUNTING BOOK 1974 BY BYRON W. DALRYMPLE $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Extravaganza (Wii, 2008) $1.00 |
|
|
The story of American Hunting and Frearms Fifth printi 1963 14 full color plates $1.00 |
|
|
The Best of North American Hunter: For the Love of Hunt $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey-Volume 1 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey-Volume 5 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club-Whitetail Pursuit VHS $1.00 |
|
|
Members Showcase 6-North American Hunting Odyssey VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey 4 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey-Volume 6 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
American Greetings Rugrats Babies Easter Hunt Stickers $1.00 |
|
|
NEW-Big Game Adventure-North American Hunting Club VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey-Volume 3 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey-Volume 2 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey-Member Showcase 2-VHS $1.00 |
|
|
Whitetail Wisdom (Hunter’s information series) by Bill; North American Hunting C $1.00 |
|
|
American Hunter Hunting $1,000,000 Novelty Money #171 $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey-You Call The Shots-VHS $1.00 |
|
|
AMERICAN HUNTER MAGAZINE December 2011 NRA CARD WILL BEAT OBAMA HowTo Hunt Goose $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey Volume 7 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey Volume 8 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey Volume 11 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey Volume 9 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
North American Hunting Odyssey Volume 10 VHS $1.00 |
|
|
1962 HUNTING IN NEBRASKA AMERICAN RIFLEMAN ARTICLE 4 Pg $1.11 |
|
|
1962 HUNTING IN MONTANA AMERICAN RIFLEMAN ARTICLE 5 Pg. $1.11 |
|
|
Misc Patch ~ North American Hunting Club * Offical Member $1.25 |
|
|
Remington Great American Bird Hunt and Shimano Xtreme Fishing Dual Pack … $1.27 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club Life Member Key Chain – Brand new $1.39 |
|
|
American Art of the 20th Century: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture by Sam Hunt $1.48 |
|
|
I’ll Steal You Away by Jonathan Hunt HC DJ 1st American $1.50 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club OFFICAL MEMBER Decal Patch $1.50 |
|
|
NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING CLUB OFFICIAL MEMBER $1.59 |
|
|
American Crafts SCRAPBOOK Paper EGG HUNT 2 sheets $1.60 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club Mountain Lion Collector Series 02 Medallion Coin $1.95 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club Life Member Round Metal Key Chain Sealed in Package $1.95 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club Life Member Set of 2 Zipper Pulls w/Clips – Sealed $1.95 |
|
|
OFFICIAL MEMBER NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING CLUB PATCH NEW $1.95 |
|
|
All About Elk 1987 HB North American Hunting Club $1.95 |
|
|
AMERICAN HUNTER MAGAZINE 11/2010 BIG BUCK DEAR HUNTING $1.95 |
|
|
AMERICAN HUNTER MAGAZINE 10/2010 OCT BIG COUNTRY HUNT $1.95 |
|
|
High Country Hunting by Lloyd Bare, North American H… $1.95 |
|
|
Law of the Jungle: The Hunt for Colombian Guerrillas, American Hos.. – Paperback $1.98 |
|
|
2 OLD NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING & FISHING CLUB ZIPPER PULL $1.99 |
|
|
6 x 7 1/2 – NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING CLUB .. LIFE MEMBER $1.99 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club Sew on Patch $1.99 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club Sew on Patch $1.99 |
|
|
4 polo tops American Eagle, Hunt Club, Nautica & Faded Glory $1.99 |
|
|
North American Wildlife 2012 Calendar from Lyman Products – Hunting, Shooting $1.99 |
|
|
The Story of American Hunting and Firearms(1959) $1.99 |
|
|
North American Wildlife 2012 Calendar from Lyman Products – Hunting, Shooting $1.99 |
|
|
North American Hunting Club Official Member Patch New Never Worn $1.99 |
|
|
Law of the Jungle: The Hunt for Colombian Guerrillas, American Hostages, and Bu $1.99 |
|
|
Hunting Season (Harlequin American Romance #40) $1.99 |
|
|
North American Hunting Adventures; 1988 $1.99 |
|
|
NORH AMERICAN FISHING PATCH AN KEY CHAIN PLUS A HUNTING KEY CHAIN $2.00 |
|
|
American Flagg #20 VF- Chaykin Hunt Stroman Mark Thrust $2.00 |
|
|
NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING CLUB OFFICIAL MEMBER FISHING PATCH VEST LURE HAT $2.00 |
|
|
American Rifleman Magazine Feb. 1972 Bird Dogs Hunting Quail on the Cover $2.00 |
|
|
Hunting Whitetails Successfully North American Hunting Club $2.45 |
|
|
American Spy by E. Howard Hunt (2007) My Secret History in the CIA, Watergate & $2.50 |
|
|
American Hunter Magazine,Dec ‘08, Marines Take Hunting Skills to the Battlefield $2.50 |
|
|
For Big Bucks Only by Jeff Murray – North American Hunting Club – Deer $2.50 |
|
|
Hunting the American Terrorist: The FBI’s War on Homegrown Terror – Hardcover $2.69 |
|
|
Hunting the American Terrorist: The FBI’s War on Homegrown Terror – Hardcover $2.69 |
|
|
OFFICIAL MEMBER NORTH AMERICAN HUNTING CLUB PATCH NEW $2.75 |
|
|
American Weigh SR-20 Yellow Digital Hanging Scale, 44lb by 0.02lb $12.99 The NEW SR-Series Digital Hanging Scale from American Weigh is the perfect companion for fishing trips. With a retractable handle and a hook which stores behind the scale, the SR-Series is also super portable. Use it to check your luggage weight before incurring heavy fines at the airlines Capacity 5kg / 11lb Scale Dimensions 4.0 x 2.3 x 0.7 Calibration Mass 1000g (1kg) Power 2 x AAA batteries (… |
|
|
Outdoor Edge Game Processor PR-1 12-Piece Portable Butcher Kit with Hard Side Carry Case $49.88 Outdoor Edge Game Processor Kit gives you everything you need to butcher big game, birds and fish at home and in the field. The most complete portable butchering set out there! The Game Processor includes the 4 most practical knives for butchering, plus much more. Full-tang construction for superior strength with high-carbon 420 stainless steel blades, taper ground to a razor’s edge and ergonomic … |
|
|
The Ultimate Edge 10-Inch Standard Diamond Sharpening Steel $22.50 The Ultimate Edge 10″ Standard Sharpening Steel is premium grade microcrystalline diamond. It’s bonded with nickel to a lightweight shaft that sharpens and realigns at the same time to produce a high-grade cutting edge. No messy oil or water needed. Light… |
|
|
Navajo Songs $11.70 The lifestyles, philosophies, and traditions of the Navajo nation are represented by songs for herding, planting, harvesting, hunting, blessing hogans, and soothing children. The 1933 and 1940 field recordings from settlements in New Mexico and Arizona beautifully document a music largely vocal and highly melodic with relatively short song phrases repeated, divided, and combined in intriguingly co… |
|
|
AMERICAN INDIANISTS, Vol. 2 $8.99 AMERICAN INDIANISTS, Vol. 2 by Dario MullerThis product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com’s standard return policy will apply…. |
|
|
Angelic Voices: The Best of the Vienna Boys’ Choir $9.35 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
|
|
American Sportsman: Bird Hunting [VHS] $9.98 … |
|
|
Woodcock Hunting [VHS] $9.47 Tom Huggler has enjoyed a life-long love affair with our most unusual gamebird — the American woodcock! Nomadic, mysterious, reclusive, the woodcock is the only upland migrant hunted with pointing dogs. In this high-quality, action-packed video, Huggler — an award winning writer and videotape producer – will teach you how to hunt woodcock with flushing breeds, too, as well as without any bird do… |
|
|
Quail Hunting with Tom Huggler [VHS] $24.95 Quail hunting is an infectious sport, and Tom Huggler is afflicted! From plantation hunting in Georgia with a mule-drawn wagon to adventures in bird-rich South Texas, come along with Tom as he seeks both wild and liberated bobwhites in these states, plus Kansas, Michigan and Ohio. Then, the award-winning writer and videotape producer invites you to join him in New Mexico for Gambel and scaled quai… |
|
|
3M 90541-80025T TEKK WorkTunes Hearing Protector and AM/FM Radio $40.97 Protect your ears while keeping yourself motivated at your job site with your favorite tunes or radio programming with the AO Safety 90541 WorkTunes with digital tuning hearing protector, which includes an integrated AM/FM radio and a stereo input jack for connecting an MP3 player. A great choice for use on construction sites (check your local regulations), in your workshop, or in your yard while … |
