🐾 Week 4 Blog Title: Cold Game Foundations – Building Confidence Step by Step
Sue Watkins 
Introduce your dog to cold game safely. Build confidence, curiosity, and steady retrieving skills with low-pressure, positive methods.
🍁 Blog: Cold Game Foundations – Building Confidence Step by Step
Introducing your dog to cold game — fur, feather, or other natural items — can be exciting and daunting. The key is confidence, curiosity, and no pressure.
This week in our “A Year in the Life of a Gundog – From Field to Firelight” series, we’re exploring how to help your dog approach cold game with enthusiasm but without fear.
🐶 Why Start Slowly
Cold game can be unfamiliar and intimidating for young dogs. Sudden exposure can cause avoidance, hesitation, or over-arousal. A confident dog is a happy dog — and confidence is built gradually.
At Connected Canines, we start with:
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Wrapped game in tights to control exposure to fur or feathers
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Gradual introduction of texture, shape, and scent
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Encouragement and support every step of the way
🌿 Step-by-Step Confidence Building
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Observe first: Let the dog sniff the area and the dummy from a distance.
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Gentle introduction: Place the dummy nearby while the dog is calm. Reward interest.
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Touch and reward: Encourage the dog to touch or mouth the dummy, marking success with praise or a treat.
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Short retrieves: Once confident, encourage a gentle pick-up and return. Keep sessions short.
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Repeat and vary: Gradually increase distance or introduce slight distractions, always at the dog’s pace.
💡 Key Principles
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Patience is everything — every dog progresses at their own speed.
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Positive reinforcement encourages curiosity and reduces fear.
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Small wins now pay off in confident, reliable retrieves later.
❤️ Final Thought
Cold game doesn’t have to be scary. By building confidence step by step, you create a dog who loves their work, trusts you, and will be ready for real hunting situations.
Next week, we’ll focus on “Steadiness Starts Here – The Value of Self-Control” — helping dogs master impulse control for better focus in the field.
Categories: : Autumn Series