The drills · Pointer
Pointing breeds · Puppy
Pointer puppy drills.
Seven weeks to six months: the window that never reopens. 11 drills, in the order a trainer would run them.
01 · Socialization Walks
Seven to sixteen weeks is the window that never reopens. New ground every day, gravel, timber, tall grass, tailgates, town. Let the pup set the pace.
10 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
02 · Name Game
Say the name once, party when the pup comes. The name means good things, never call a pup in to correct it.
5 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
03 · Hallway Retrieves
Two or three tosses down a hallway with no exits; quit while the pup still wants one more. Trade for a treat, never rip the bumper away. Desire now, polish later.
5 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
04 · Crate & Settle
The crate is a den, not a penalty box. Feed in it, ride in it, nap in it, a pup that settles travels to birds its whole life.
10 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
05 · First Feathers
A wing or a dead pigeon to carry and strut with. Interest is the goal, possession is fine at this age; never pull it from the mouth.
5 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
06 · Gunfire Done Right
Distance plus dinner: a helper fires a starter pistol 100+ yards out while the pup eats. Close the gap over weeks, reading the pup, never the calendar. One scared meal can cost a season.
10 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
07 · Water As Play
Warm shallow water; wade in yourself and let the pup follow. Never throw a pup in, one bad entry writes deep.
10 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
08 · Place Board Games
The board is where treats happen. Two paws, then four, then a beat of stillness. Sit-means-sit comes later; love-the-board comes now.
5 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
09 · Drag the Check Cord
The cord is clothing before it is a tool, the pup drags it through play until it is furniture.
5 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
10 · Flash Point on the Wing
A wing on a string flashes the pointing instinct, a few stylish seconds, then put it away before pointing becomes chasing.
5 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
11 · Cover Curiosity
A wing-scented dummy in light cover; the pup hunts it up. Nose forward, confidence up.
10 min · Puppy · feeds NAVHDA Natural Ability (NA)
The program sheet.
Every drill in this level on one printable sheet: the work, the time, the title it feeds. Give us an email and it opens here; you get the Weekly Read with it. Unsubscribe any time.
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Log it, keep it.
Every one of these drills is in the KENAI app’s training log, under Pointer Puppy. Log the session and the app reads the record against the test ahead. Free to start.
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