Well im pumped I pick my first real hunting dog a GSP down in North Dakota in 3 weeks. Any of you CGN'ers work with a pointer, better yet a GSP? What would you reccomend for reading and video material for training?
Cheers!!
Cheers!!
Getting my first German Shorthair Pointer
- Thread starter scott_r
- Start date
I currently own one - his name is Rook. He's my 4th GSP, all from Stradivarius which used to be just down the road from me. The breeder ceased operations shortly after the last owner of Hege Haus passed away.
Mine have been a handful. "Exhuberant" fits very well. One must be firm or be overrun. They are very loving animals.
I will probably opt for something a little less racey and better suited to waterfowl, next time around. I am very interested in the Deutsch Drahthaar.
I have used the NAVHDA green book with some success, as well as a book written on the Delmar Smith method (Best Way To Train Your Gun Dog - or something like that).
Have fun.
Mine have been a handful. "Exhuberant" fits very well. One must be firm or be overrun. They are very loving animals.
I will probably opt for something a little less racey and better suited to waterfowl, next time around. I am very interested in the Deutsch Drahthaar.
I have used the NAVHDA green book with some success, as well as a book written on the Delmar Smith method (Best Way To Train Your Gun Dog - or something like that).
Have fun.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Why not check out the Saskatoon gun dog club? We are a group of dedicated dog trainers and bird hunters, and we like to invite newbies to our training sessions. We hunt with and train versaile dogs - GSP's as well as many other European versatile breeds. We expect our dogs to point, retrieve, and track, on land and water. We hold two tests each year, one is sponsored by NAVHDA, and one sponsored by the Versatile Hunting Dog Federation. We do not do "trials" which are win-lose. We test dogs against a standard, for a test score. Our members hope everyone wins, very different from competitions. Send me a PM is you'd like to learn more.
C Broad Arrow
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
What kennel did you get him from?
I got her from Pathfinder Kennel. Small operation, the fellow is a hunter foremost and does breeding for a hobby. I was going to buy a female from Wild Spur Kennal but they wanted alot of money and extra fees.
Pudelpointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge, Alberta
I used to have one, and my dad currently does. Both were BIG runners; mine was always a big runner and stayed that way until he got killed in a vehicle accident. My dad's is a female and used to be on the far side of a 1/4 section before you could get your car door closed. We finally fixed that crap when we dropped my shock collar on her - completely changed her understanding of what was expected of her, right quick. Not her fault really, as my dad is not a big one on compliance when commands are given.
I would suggest two things for any new dog owner, (pointer owners especially because you have to walk a fine line with your dog between having your dog hunt for themselves or having them underfoot, not covering the ground like they are supposed to) is to read a lot of books on the subject, and buy a shock collar. Due to the popularity of GSP's on the field trial circuit where running big is desired, most I have seen, regardless of who the breeder is, run big. You need to be able to enforce commands immediately, regardless of how far away your dog is.
I have a fairly cooperative Pudelpointer, a versatile breed like the GSP, GWP, etc., but his collar crapped out a couple of months ago, and has been on a downhill slide when it comes to listening to commands when he is more then 20-30 yards from me.
Good luck with your pup,
Ian
I would suggest two things for any new dog owner, (pointer owners especially because you have to walk a fine line with your dog between having your dog hunt for themselves or having them underfoot, not covering the ground like they are supposed to) is to read a lot of books on the subject, and buy a shock collar. Due to the popularity of GSP's on the field trial circuit where running big is desired, most I have seen, regardless of who the breeder is, run big. You need to be able to enforce commands immediately, regardless of how far away your dog is.
I have a fairly cooperative Pudelpointer, a versatile breed like the GSP, GWP, etc., but his collar crapped out a couple of months ago, and has been on a downhill slide when it comes to listening to commands when he is more then 20-30 yards from me.
Good luck with your pup,
Ian
Scott,
Before you pick up on this idea of shock collars, assuming that you are even considering it, you might find it useful to read this wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_collar
I say this with the greatest respect to Ian, who clearly favours using them, but my own view is quite a bit less enthusiastic. If you want your dog to fear having any collar put on it, this is a good way to achieve that objective, and that is just the beginning of the downsides.
Before you pick up on this idea of shock collars, assuming that you are even considering it, you might find it useful to read this wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_collar
I say this with the greatest respect to Ian, who clearly favours using them, but my own view is quite a bit less enthusiastic. If you want your dog to fear having any collar put on it, this is a good way to achieve that objective, and that is just the beginning of the downsides.
back when I was a little kite, and working on hunts in eastern europe, my uncle got two of those, the first one got killed on its first hunt by a boar, couldnt work in team with other dogs (jagdterriers), the second got lost on one of its first hunts, just picked up a scent and went with it, no amount of calling and whistling would turn his head, my uncle found him later and sold it promptly
as far as I remember, yeah they love to run
as far as I remember, yeah they love to run
Sounds like alot of work and fun, just what I was looking for
I will look for a good trainer around Sask here and see what they want but would really like to do most of it myself.
Thanks for the advice fellows, Im a complete newbie with hunting dogs and any help is greatly appreciated.
I will look for a good trainer around Sask here and see what they want but would really like to do most of it myself.
Thanks for the advice fellows, Im a complete newbie with hunting dogs and any help is greatly appreciated.
rustysdream
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I've had GSPs for 14 years. I have a male and a female now. They're both solid liver colour. I had a ticked patched male previously - died at age 8 :-(...
All of them CKC Champions and Field Champions. My female has been bred twice and will have puppies this fall too.
They are wonderful dogs.
All of them CKC Champions and Field Champions. My female has been bred twice and will have puppies this fall too.
They are wonderful dogs.
We always had GSP's. They hunted and were house pets as well. Great dogs and very smart. I'm looking forward to taking my daughter to get our next. It was always an experience I enjoyed. The breeder out here was on an island and you had to "call the boat" to pick up your dog. Great trip.
Sounds like alot of work and fun, just what I was looking for
I will look for a good trainer around Sask here and see what they want but would really like to do most of it myself.
Thanks for the advice fellows, Im a complete newbie with hunting dogs and any help is greatly appreciated.
Dont be surprised with the results if you do it yourself.
Remeber blame the trainer not the dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Location
- Manitoulin Island
Despite the comments about wide ranging, none of my three shorthairs were that. My first male would run deer and give tongue, but the two females were not deer dogs. The second one was the best grouse dog, would retrieve every bird someone shot, but only bring the bird to me. My neighbor has a male that will put up birds far away from him, but all my dogs stayed close, with the exception of when the male got on a deer. He would run rabbits, but the bay was short and choppy instead of long and loud when on deer. The spayed females make the best bird dogs in my experience. Start training them young, retrieving a bag with a rubber ball and grouse or pheasant feathers in it for scent. The parentage being hunting rather than show or pet really makes a difference. They are very sociable, and prefer to live in the house rather than an outdoor kennel. All of mine have been great with kids.
I'll second that ranging bit. I use mine for woodcock and grouse. My largest covert is about 40 acres.
This range subject is touchy and it depends what you like. For my purposes, anything beyond 75 yards is utterly useless. I'm lucky to be able to see 30 feet. The grouse I hunt won't hold that long, and the woodcock flush darned close = no need to have the dog way out there.
Another aspect - mine have all been hell on fur. If it can be caught, it's dead.
Pudelpointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge, Alberta
I hear you all, my range comments were from my own personal experience and I am glad to hear that there are still some breeders producing for the foot hunters.
As for the shock collar, Redge, if used properly there is no reason a dog should fear it at all. My dog gets very excited as soon as I unplug the collar from the charger, because he knows that it means we are going hunting (training). To be honest, I am a much more patient trainer when I have the collar on my dog, as I can "gently" remind him to do whatever it is that I asked him to. When he does not have his collar on and chooses to bugger-off, chase a deer, fight with a coyote, etc. then it is far more damaging to our "relationship" when I have to chase him down and thrash him for it. With the collar he doesn't get the chance to do stupid stuff.
If you get a collar, make sure it has a rehostat type dial that allows you to quickly control the power level; this is important so that you can gently remind your dog that want him to turn, or so you can light him up like the 4th of July when he takes off after a deer or wants to play kissy-face with a rattle snake.
To each their own, but after having raised one dog without a collar, and having raised one with, my present dog and I are much better friends because I do not have to thrash him to get him to realize that some things are just not allowed.
BTW, I do not think that a collar is necessary for all breeds either; spaniels (not Brittany's) and labs for the most part are close working dogs that you can often enforce commands by your mere presence, but pointers and setters (generalizing here) are very independent, intelligent breeds that quickly learn what they can get away with when they are a couple of hundred yards from you (I am in southern AB, my dog may be 300-400 yards away when we are looking for Huns) and a collar allows you to humanely correct behavioral problems before they start.
Just my opinion,
Ian
As for the shock collar, Redge, if used properly there is no reason a dog should fear it at all. My dog gets very excited as soon as I unplug the collar from the charger, because he knows that it means we are going hunting (training). To be honest, I am a much more patient trainer when I have the collar on my dog, as I can "gently" remind him to do whatever it is that I asked him to. When he does not have his collar on and chooses to bugger-off, chase a deer, fight with a coyote, etc. then it is far more damaging to our "relationship" when I have to chase him down and thrash him for it. With the collar he doesn't get the chance to do stupid stuff.
If you get a collar, make sure it has a rehostat type dial that allows you to quickly control the power level; this is important so that you can gently remind your dog that want him to turn, or so you can light him up like the 4th of July when he takes off after a deer or wants to play kissy-face with a rattle snake.
To each their own, but after having raised one dog without a collar, and having raised one with, my present dog and I are much better friends because I do not have to thrash him to get him to realize that some things are just not allowed.
BTW, I do not think that a collar is necessary for all breeds either; spaniels (not Brittany's) and labs for the most part are close working dogs that you can often enforce commands by your mere presence, but pointers and setters (generalizing here) are very independent, intelligent breeds that quickly learn what they can get away with when they are a couple of hundred yards from you (I am in southern AB, my dog may be 300-400 yards away when we are looking for Huns) and a collar allows you to humanely correct behavioral problems before they start.
Just my opinion,
Ian
My avatar is my bird fiend - Indy. I really like Shorthairs but regardless of what breed you buy, remember you are buying a litter so make sure it is out of proven stock as it will significantly improve the odds that the pup you chose will have the tools. Trust your dog she's got the nose not you. Properly used, training collars are very effective. My girl gets absolutely apesh&t excited when I pull out the collar 'cause she knows it's showtime. While planted birds have value, get her into as many wild birds as possible, there is no subsitute.
Cheers
Cheers
Baloney! ...... If you think Wikipedia is the be-all about shock collars, you need to pull your head out of the sand.
A collar used properly to reinforce proper training, not to force training will have very positive results. There have been absolutely no downsides to the use of a collar on my dog and she actually comes running when the collar comes out as it represents a trip outside for fun, not painful correction.
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