Opinions about sending Pup off for training?

[Grizzle]

I have a 7mo GSP and am considering sending him out to Sunnydell for 30 days.  I can't imagine there is many folks out there more capable or experienced training the pups for bird hunting thank Chuck Dryke.  We're worried about the pup getting separation anxiety, he gets worried even for drop off training.  Chuck says he'll settle in within a couple of days, not to worry.  Thoughts?

Thanks

[merlo105]

Yeah, Well a month is not long enough to work with a dog so you try to fit as much stuff in as you can you'll brake your dog. Plus I just had a friend get a dog back from a trainer in Eastern, WA the dog came back way skinny, sick, and was worse then when he was sent I have seen that alot of times. So if you dont know them then you have a great chance of getting played. When my buddy got his dog back it didnt know any of the commands just wanted to bolt everytime off the leash. So really look in to it.

[Schmalzfam]

We have sent two dogs off to be trained and they were very well taken care of. They settled in just fine and settled back in at home just as easy.
Make sure you know the trainer and have done your research on them. 30 days isn't long enough in my opinion for the trainer to do a whole lot but, if it's OB you want, I could see 30 days.
Ask around..if he is a good trainer, he will come highly recommended.
Congrads on your puppy

[follow maggie]

Last summer, I sent my pup off "to school" for a month, and have been very happy I did.  I don't know how to train a dog for hunting, so it was a great, cost effective way to get a started pup to the point where I can work with her, now.

She didn't suffer any separation problems- in a couple days, she settled in, because she was having fun hunting every day.  When I picked her up, she wasn't skinny, shy from people or anything. 

Take the time to find a good trainer, one that has the same training philosophy as you.  A real important thing to do is go to wherever the trainer is and meet him/her with your dog, and see their operation in person.  This will tell you a lot about them and whether you should leave your dog there.

I know a couple good ones in ellensburg, if you're interested.

[EbrgHunt]

what are your thoughts on the ellensburg area trainers?  Im graduating from CWU in June and wouldnt mind to see some of the options around here.

[Houndhunter]

i'd never do that, i think its best that the owner is the guy teaching the dog

[stumprat]

I think the owner should do the training! Plus you'll learn as much as the pup.

[gasman]

I am doing the training myself with the guidance of a professional trainer.
It is working pretty well and fits my budget.
 

well, we will see.

[Birdguy]

I am with the hound guys. I can see a place for a trainer, and if I had a problem I could not solve, or was out of town, or was set on a field champ I might consider it. That being said I would rather have a good dog trained by me and the kids then a great dog that was trained by someone else. The bond is a real important factor for me and for that reason, I train my own. They are my family dogs that hunt.

[Schmalzfam]

what are your thoughts on the ellensburg area trainers?  Im graduating from CWU in June and wouldnt mind to see some of the options around here.

What kind of dog do you have?

[EbrgHunt]

10 MO female yellow lab.

[mjgentile]

Grizzle,
  I have a 3 year old GSP, I agree with Birdguy training your own just increases the bond between you an your dog. Plus one thing to concider is that GSP dogs need/love to interact with humans and appreciate active families who will give them an outlet for their energy. If you send your dog off to a trainer your dog may not get the affection it needs. Our GSP is were ever we are an tries to lay on us when watching TV, under the covers anything an everything it can do to be by people.
Mike

[Grizzle]

Yeah you're getting close to my concerns there.   I talked with one of the ellensburg guys recommended on this forum and he confirmed that my pup would be crated 23 hrs a day.  This is a quote "yes he'll be crated all the time except for his time in the field, but he'll be happy because he'll have 30 minutes in birddog heaven every day."

Try as I might I cant see my pup being happy spending 2 mo. in a crate, or being the same guy when he returns to the family. 

But....who am I to buck the system and question the big guys of the sport.   So I thought I'd check with ya'll and keep an open mind.

[Schmalzfam]

what are your thoughts on the ellensburg area trainers?  Im graduating from CWU in June and wouldnt mind to see some of the options around here.

What kind of dog do you have?

http://www.longhollowretrievers.com/aboutryanfortier.htm
Give Ryan a call.

[WAcoueshunter]

I sent my brittany to training for 30 days at 8 months.  Like your gsp, she had signs of separation anxiety beforehand.  I went to watch the trainings a couple times and her health and energy deteriorated every time I went.  By the end, she was bare bones skinny, had a blank look in her eye, and hardly wanted to go in the field.  It was brutal to watch.  This is a dog that will run hard for hours on end, and she couldn't chase live birds for more than about 10 minutes.  Just looked like she didn't eat or sleep the whole time she was there.  By all indications, it wasn't the trainer...he had lots of other healthy looking dogs (albeit mostly labs), and trained my neighbor's lab into a hunting machine.  But my dog just couldn't take it.