Well congrats on the pup....BIggest thing is if do all your yard work. Whoa....Here ...ect. You will be leaps ahead of the game, ( Gotta have a steering wheel and brakes)Second let the pup be a pup.. Some people feel that if there dog is not steady to wing and shot at 9 months the pup will never make a Bird dog. the first year let the pup devople his love for the bird...... Expose the pup to as many birds as you can. That does not mean shoot every bird... Let the pupchase some if they are wild he won't catch them....Remember you want him to mentally developed as well as physically.....Visit this board often you will get all kinds of advice some better then others. But remember don't put to much pressure on the pup...This stuff is supposed to be fun.,....Casey