Last thing u want is a 17week pup grabbing a squirrel.. It will bite the f****r hard lol I'd just get the dog out alone aswell put some training in, basic three really, retrieve, stock and recall.
Enjoy the pup. Personally I try not to show mine anything until 12 months and then only few runs etc. But others go out from 6 months and give them runs etc... Few go wrong, few keep it up. It's entirely the risk u take yourself.
Good luck