I agree with Kevin's methods. It's never too soon to start training as long as the pup has interest. He's right too about mental maturity. I wouldn't take him on live hunts until he I thought he was able to handle whatever cards were dealt him from a mental standpoint. As for taking them out to the woods and exploring, I don't like to walk them a lot. I take a chair and sit in one place and allow the pup to explore on his own and learn to get back to point a on his own.
if your always moving he will spend more time paying attention to you than exploring. The first few times he may not venture very far, just don't pay him much mind and he'll get bored. JMO.
x2...
all the above posts I agree with...but a very important part is to get the pup to venture out...ignore the pup and walk slow so the pup will get bored and hopefully hunt out...
take him to a good spot like the open woods and just find a place to sit and let the pup out while he is fresh and wanting to go do something...hopefully he will...and when you stake a pig out come from the down wind side so he can wind it and go to it...then lay a track down and stake the pig out and then slowly walk towards the track so the pup and take it and go with it...if he doesn't take it then you help him work it out...if he has it in him this will help him to get it going...
