You should always keep to the basics with your Pointer puppy training – things like housetraining, crate training, walking calmly on a leash and sitting on command. There’ll be plenty of time later for more advanced Pointer dog training, but for now, it’s best to stick with the easy stuff.
Training Pointer puppies can be challenging because of their short attention spans and excess energy, but it can also be a whole lot of fun. It’s also highly rewarding, because you’ll be laying the groundwork for enjoying a lifelong partnership with a dog that’s not only well-trained, but well-adjusted. Begin your Pointer puppy training early, when he’s around eight weeks old. The most impressionable period of any dog’s life is between 8 and 14 weeks of age, so you’ll want to take advantage and teach him to form good habits while he’s still young. You’ll certainly want him to be housetrained as soon as possible, so start housetraining your pup as soon as you bring him home.
Set the stage by establishing daily routines for your Pointer pup. Dogs are creatures of habit, and your puppy will appreciate the sense of structure you create when the same things happen at the same times every day. Feed him, walk him, put him into his crate, and put him to bed at roughly the same times every day.
Socialization is essential and should be a very early step in training Pointer puppies. Your pup must spend time around other dogs while he’s young or he could grow up being afraid or aggressive toward other dogs.
Next, begin building an environment in which your puppy will learn his proper position in your home’s social hierarchy. You must assert your position as his pack leader, but do it calmly and gently. Don’t let him sleep in your bed or jump onto your sofa, because he might incorrectly interpret this as being a sign that he’s your equal. This incorrect interpretation of his status can cause him to resist following your directions.
Never let your Pointer pup nip or bite at your fingers, even though it might seem cute at this age. Not only does it set a bad precedent for the future, it shows he’s not respecting your authority as his pack leader. If you make whining or crying sounds whenever he nips, he’ll realize he’s hurting you and back off quickly. All dogs, Pointers or not, need to learn that biting is bad.
When he’s only eight or ten weeks old, your Pointer won’t be able to learn complex commands, but he should quickly learn his name and what “No!” and “Good!” mean if you use them frequently and appropriately. Never shout or strike your pup, even if he’s done something unacceptable. In fact, at this age it’s not fair to punish him at all for doing something wrong, because an untrained pup has no concept of what constitutes good or bad behavior.
Begin your pup’s crate training while he’s very young. It might seem cruel to confine him to a crate, but with proper crate training your Pointer will love being inside because he’ll think of it as his own snug little den. It can also help with housetraining and even help prevent potential separation anxiety.
By the time your puppy’s three or so months old, his housetraining should be completed or at least well on its way. Use your dog’s crate to assist the process. You can also start teaching him basic commands when he reaches this age. Puppies this age are capable of learning to sit, lie down, walk calmly on a leash, come when called, and drop whatever is in their mouth on command. Using a clicker during your Pointer puppy training will make the learning process much smoother and more effective. You can up the ante on your Pointer training and teach him more complex commands when he’s older.
Pointer puppy training is never easy, but it will become much more so if you establish the rules early and you apply them consistently. Always give your pup immediate positive reinforcement when he does what you ask, and firm but gentle correction as soon as he misbehaves. Achieve his respect by asserting your status as the alpha pack leader firmly but gently. If you want a well-behaved companion, it’s essential to start your English Pointer training as early as possible, preferably while he’s still an eight to ten week old puppy. If you wait too long, it could take you months or even years to break bad habits that could easily have been avoided. An ounce of prevention can prevent a pound of potential trouble in the future, so train your Pointer while he’s young.