Caring for a hunting and sporting dog is much different than taking care of other breeds. A gun dog is bred to work and requires a good deal of exercise to keep them occupied. They need a job to keep them from getting bored. However, this does not have to be hunting. Many sporting dog breeds, such as Retrievers and Vizslas, make excellent therapy and assistance dogs and are great at agility courses. Your sporting dog breeder will talk to you about what kind of lifestyle you plan to give your dog.
When bringing home a sporting dog, you need to be prepared to train him. A good breeder will have already begun the training when the puppy was ready. This starts by introducing the puppy to different scenarios so that it does not get startled with new situations as it grows. Ask the sporting dog breeder how they train their puppies. This will tell you how invested they are in their dogs, helping you find a reputable breeder instead of a puppy mill.
Your sporting dog puppy responds well to simple commands and limited training at first. Instead of spending 30 minutes or an hour once a day, try working on one command for five minutes at a time. Before training, walk your puppy and give him a chance to relieve himself and expend his excess energy. He will focus better. A good breeder explains their own methods to you, so that you can continue in the same vein.
When you talk to your sporting dog breeder about their training of the puppies, they know that you are committed to what your dog needs. It is just as important to them that they know you will be a good home for their puppy as it is that you know you have a reputable breeder. By opening the conversation to training, you learn more about the breed and have the confidence you are getting a healthy puppy that you can care for effectively.