Take up the Pike Fishing through the winter and just let the pup be a pup, get a good bond, iron out any training/obedience issues and come march she be ready for few softer hares, as Artic said next season is the acid test for these pups, infact any pup same sort of age regardless of breeding will be the same, far to many think good dogs are just born, takes a hell of alot of time and effort and with these types endless patience is key