Very young puppies do not need much exercise. Bonding with them is the most important thing. Here an 11 week old puppy that is just able to go out after injections is learning how to hunt without even knowing it.

Oxo here is 10 weeks old and I want her to learn the 'game' of retrieving. By running out and back with the older dogs on their retrieves, she gets the idea and is then given her own tennis ball to retrieve.

Early Days training .....the way that you behave with your pup will set him or her up for success later on. Here Oxo is 12 weeks old and by making use of pups fantastic learning ability you can easily establish rules and behaviours that they will remember for their whole life.

This 13 week old GSP makes a great job of a long retrieve. She has proved she is capable so we will not do a lot more retrieving for a few weeks, preferring to work on recalls and general manners - socialising with people and other dogs. There is no point in putting pressure on her with retrieves at a young age, better to wait until she is a bit older.

Very young puppies need help to get early training right. At the start avoid distracting situations and areas with scent which would immediately take their attention away from the task in hand. Perfect training is one where the level of difficulty creeps up very very slowly over time, allowing pup to always achieve and receive praise. By this method pups confidence will not be dented and many bad habits will never be experienced and therefore never learnt.

How much exercise should I give - A balance of freedom to play and quiet controlled learning through 1 to1 sessions each day, which gives them stimulation to learn.

Training your dogs to listen and wait for you is the foundation of all your training.  It starts when you go out of the door. Indeed, this exercise is useful once you meet obstacles out in the field

Using titbits in teaching retrieving must be done with great care because it is easy with the wrong timing for a dog to spit out the dummy in favour of food, but correctly delivered they can have excellent results.

It is very important to introduce a puppy to lots of different situations in the early months once it is old enough to go out after inoculations. These early memories give confidence for a lifetime and without them dogs can be nervous and defensive if they are faced with new situations when they are older.

Starting Seen Retrieves with a young German Shorthaired Pointer there is lots to think about.  Be clear and calm and keep them enjoying the job for success.

Keeping the young German Shorthaired Pointer focussed on retrieving can be a challenge in the early days.  This 9 month old can have a mind of her own !

Training the German Shorthaired Pointer to wait in a doorway has practical uses when out in the field.

Probably the most important exercise that you will teach your dog.   Make sure that they are rock solid on this exercise and only move forward slowly.

Training your GSP to a perfect recall is a massive challenge for many people.  Establishing this habit when they are young will set you up for success in later years.

HPR's hate heelwork !  Make it as tolerable for you both as you can. It is a necessary evil, because once learnt the benefits will last for ever.

Teaching your GSP basic commands will take considerable time before they are fully established and reliable. During all this time care needs to be taken in how much freedom you give your young dog on a walk and any unsupervised freedom is definately a quick way to them learning bad habits.

It can be unnerving when you first get a puppy home, how much exercise, how much food, how much play, and we always have lots of questions from our new owners, so here is 12 week old Mavis and what she is up to.

At 4 months old this GSP puppy needs to have a safe and happy experience in water if she is to become a confident swimmer. Summer temperatures, easy entrances and a fun approach all make the experience memorable in a good way to build on future training.

It's important to give young working dogs exposure to game but in a controlled way where you can influence the outcome and ensure they remain calm. Doing this alongside obedience training gives them much enjoyment, increases their bond with you and they learn early lessons in how to behave around game before they start hunting.

Keeping work fun, interesting and varied across all disciplines without giving too much exercise for growing bones is important for a young pup. This 6 month old is managing to gain valuable experience without being over exercised

This 6 month old pup was training on cleared ground that an older dog had previously run but we accidentally strayed onto a fresh beat and she encountered grouse for the first time. The lesson is that things will happen in training, just adapt and try and always make it a positive experience. She will not intentionally be hunted on birds at this young age until her obedience is more established but it was a great first 'point' which she wont forget.