New puppy

[steve04]

Got a new pup about 3weeks ago. Gsp/weimaraner. What is to be expected from a 3 month old pup as far as commands/obeidience?

[LBES]

You can get a lot accomplished at 3-4 months... Sit, Stay, Come are the major ones that should be working by now; there's a lot more that a pup can do at 12 weeks. I recommend picking up the book "Retriever Training" by Tom Dokken. It explains what is expected for every week until the dog is one year old.

http://www.amazon.com/Tom-Dokkens-Retriever-Training-Developing/dp/089689858X

Contents:
A Primer on Puppies
Socializing Your Puppy
Preschool, 7-12 Weeks
Early Puppy Training
Elementary School, 1st Semester, 12-20 Weeks
Exercises to Build on
Elementary School, 2nd Semester, 12-20 Weeks
Introduction to Birds and Guns
Middle School, 5-6 Months
Formalizing Obedience
Junior High School, 1st Semester, 6-7 Months
Upland Hunting Skills
Junior High School, 2nd Semester, 6-7 Months
Welcome to Waterfowling
Junior High School, 2nd Semester, 6-7 Months
Force-Fetching
High School, 1st Semester, 7-8 Months
The Remote Collar
High School, 2nd Semester, 8 to 9 Months
Advanced Retrieving
Last month of high school! 9-12 Months
Real World Considerations
In-the-field advice for hunting with any age retriever
Training to Handle
Post-Graduate Work - After the first hunting season

[steve04]

He sits,stays and comes but seems to get distracted by scents out in the field. I've worked with him very little and don't want to push him to hard but i am happy with what he already knows.

[LBES]

The scents will be a problem for a while... everything smells sooo good to him! Don't discipline that curiosity. My pup was locking up on point with a butterfly, and sniffing out squirrels... no issue in the long run.

[steve04]

I haven't seen him on point yet since I've had him. He just sniffs around a lot. When will they begin pointing?

[steve04]

Here he is.

[LBES]

I haven't seen him on point yet since I've had him. He just sniffs around a lot. When will they begin pointing?

They can start pointing before 7 weeks!.. I know my pup did. I have a pointing lab. The point does have a lot to do with how much exposure the pup gets to birds. But the GSHP has a strong natural ability to point.

Train, train, train!.. the pup wants to learn right now. There's no substitute for learning during the the first 6-8 months. I recommend getting a book and reading everything you can. As an alternative, youtube has 1000's of links of good training exercises for you and your pup.

Using live birds goes a long ways too... you can get pigeons cheap. Turn them upside down and spin them, then you can plant them in a field. Then take your dog through and start working his natural point. You may want to put a rubber band on one wing so the bird doesn't fly away.

Good luck!

[steve04]

How do I keep the dog from hurting the bird on retreivel?

[LBES]

How do I keep the dog from hurting the bird on retreivel?

I don't quite understand the question. When you plant the birds, make sure you leave the pup in the truck. Then go through the area, with the wind in your face if possible. The pup will lock up on point, and then you need to start "whoa" training... google it. IMO, you want the dog to hunt the bird even at this stage. Assuming you have already introduced the pup to cap guns, you can use a cap gun to simulate a hunting situation. The pigeon will flush, but it wont be able to fly. When it flushes, fire the cap and let the dog retrieve. You can also put the dog on a check cord to control him. It's a 30' leash - gives the pup the range but you still have control.

The best thing you could do is read the book in the link at the top of this page, read it front to back (it's easy reading). Then you'll have the big picture on the steps you need to take to get to the goal. There's a lot prep work that needs to be done now. You have to start establishing "pressure on, pressure off"; this will be helpful for you to have complete control of the pup.

However, you could always get lucky and just get a pup that works out for your needs. One thing's for sure, the extra training will only help.

[wildweeds]

7 weeks old all littermates,your point comes from genetics alot of other things come from genetics too

 
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[Stilly bay]

I love those pics Wild, were the sight pointing or did they have a nose full of scent?

[wildweeds]

Black/wh pup was a visual,the others were olafactors.I gotta get me some new techno gizmo to get some more recent pictures.The top pup points exactly like that all grown up.

[Heredoggydoggy]

My English Setter pup (20 years ago) sight-pointed honeybees on dandelions, stalked them and pounced on them until her nose looked all lumpy from the stings!  But it never discouraged her.  Just concentrate on obedience.  The rest usually comes naturally.  The more time you spend with them, the more they try to please you! 

[steve04]

Thanks for all the advice