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I Need More Training than my Gun Dog

Our own abilities and dedication are the solid foundation of gun dog training—Confessions of a first time gun dog trainer.
As I progress throughout the first year of my gun dog’s life, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, I find myself in awe more than ever with the beauty of a point. At the same time, I am also second guessing my own abilities. I had never been more excited than the first time Grim (not Grimm) pointed. I’m captivated by his natural ability and don’t think I have contributed anything more than food, shelter, and excessive love to this gun dog.
A few months later, I find myself last in the class after my gun dog. Grim, however, is like clay ready to be molded and is ready to be taught the finest gun dog skills. My trainer is Dave Trahan, the National President of NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association). He has already done wonders with my Griffon—I’m another story. A stern lecture on my dedication to the process was in order. So was the discipline needed to mold a solid gun dog.
I was at it twice a day without fail for the first month of training. But as the months went by, I found myself making more and more excuses. You know, work. Obligations. It did not take long for my lack of discipline to rub off on Grim. Add in cabin fever with this long winter, and Grim was acting out. No fault of his own, as it was my lack of self-training that created this situation. The reality check of his increasingly high maintenance behavior finally reeled it in for me. After an embarrassing training session with my pup, Dave pointed out the need for me to engage more consistently and routinely with my gun dog.
Dave was right. Not even a week after that training day, I started to see behavioral changes in Grim, as I started to learn just how important my role was in training my gun dog. Now Grim has begun to learn even faster. This experience has made me come to reality. Although Grim has amazing natural abilities as a gun dog, my failures could quickly ruin those beautiful points that he has already shown a knack for.


Founder/Creative Director of Northwoods Collective. A.J. DeRosa is an American filmmaker most notably for the award-winning Project Upland Series. His first mark in the hunting industry was as the critically acclaimed author of the cult classic The Urban Deer Complex and more recently The Urban Deer Complex 2.0. A.J. has expanded a larger mission into the successful R3 vision of millennial hunters through cutting edge research and successful application across the Northwoods Collective brands. Now a passionate bird hunter you can find A.J. following his first bird dog a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Grim through the uplands with his wife Sabrina and oldest son Marty McFly.
Right on the money, AJ. We get out what we put in, natural abilities only go so far. I was reminded of the same this late winter after some time off birds, and some laziness for basic day to day ‘work’ for my almost 2 year old GSP. As soon as I got my act back together with daily basic obedience training mixed with hunting training, she turned back into the eager student that I’ve seen over the first couple training seasons with her. Good timing for the article as well!
Great article ????????!!!!
“It was as exciting as shooting my first deer”… you nicely captured the thrill of the point! Great job AJ!