SHOULD I TAKE MY YOUNG GSP OUT HUNTING WITH ME OR NOT?

[BIGINNER]

HI GUYS/GALS.  I HAVE A GSP, SHE'S 3.5 MONTHS OLD, SHE IS GUNBROKE, AND RETREIVES PIGEONS VERY NICELY, SHE'D ALSO WOAH TRAINED, (I STARTED TRAINING HER VERY EARLY)  THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT SHE DOESN'T HOLD POINT VERY GOOD.  I HIDDE PIGEONS FOR HER IN THE FEILD, SHE FINDS THEM, AND SHE EITHER POINTS FOR ABOUT 4-5 SECONDS THEN JUMPS IN AFTER THE BIRD, OR SHE DOESN'T POINT AT ALL AND JUMPS IN RIGHT AWAY.  SHE'LL POINT FOR A LONGER PERIOD IF I WOAH HER WHEN SHE GOES INTO POINT,  BUT I CAN'T ALWAYS WHOAH HER, ESPECIALLY IF SHE GOES INTO POINT BEFORE I NOTICE.  SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS?  OR SINCE SHE'D STILL VERY YOUNG SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET EVER IT ON HER OWN?   I WANT TO GO CHUKAR HUNTING IN ABOUT A WEEK, SHOULD I TAKE HER ALONG WITH ME JUST SO SHE COULD GET THE FEEL OF HUNTING, OR SHOULD I LEAVE HER AT HOME? 

[thinkingman]

I SAY TAKE HER BUT STOP SHOUTING...YOU'LL MAKE THE DOG SKITTISH.

[Professor Chaos]

chukar hunting is going to be too tough on her at this age with birds in wide open country that do not hold well... i think you are setting her up for failure.

[BIGINNER]

chukar hunting is going to be too tough on her at this age with birds in wide open country that do not hold well... i think you are setting her up for failure.

what about quail?  you think she would be fine if i took her slong on a quail hunt?

[Timberstalker]

Being that young and small I dont know that she could hunt all day with you, or for that matter long enough to make it worth while.  You are chukar hunting and the country will be rocky, snakey and just hellish.
I have a 9 month old GSP and she will hunt all day but there is a difference between 3.5 months and 9 months.

[BuckeyeMan]

I'd be very hesitant to take her, the pads on her feet probably could not stand a full day of travel on that territory.  I remember scuffing up my pups pads on the sidewalk when she was a couple of months old.  A day in chukar territory is a couple of levels worse

Also, taking her to hunt is probably the wrong mindset.  You'd probably be better off thinking that "I'm going to take into bird territory so she get's used to going into the cover".  Expecting her to hunt at this age is unrealistic.

[hunter12]

take her to a preserve.... she will have birds that are stupid and will hold for her..probably the best 150.00 you could spend and not run that young pup into the ground in the hills...confidence builder for both of you... good luck

[SnowDog]

take her to a preserve.... she will have birds that are stupid and will hold for her..probably the best 150.00 you could spend and not run that young pup into the ground in the hills...confidence builder for both of you... good luck

Agree 100%!! Nothing like a confidence builder for the pup on preserve birds. Check out Cooke Canyon in Ellensberg.

Cheers!
SD

[Shannon]

I'd hunt her myself but for only 30 minutes a day. You won't be able to get very far but it will be a good experience. It will pretty much be a walk while carrying a gun. On her first bird dump it no matter how she handles it but after that make sure she points it. Good luck and take it slow and easy and everything will work out. I think a good quail spot would be better than chukar country though. Let us know how it goes.

[andersonjk4]

Take her on some short easy pheasant or quail hunts to start.  Agreed that a preserve might be the way to go unless you have spot that's a fairly easy hunt and has good birds.  If you have access to some buddies with older, experienced pointers let her hunt alongside them.  She will learn very quickly by watching a good experienced dog.   

[Happy Gilmore]

I would definately take him hunting with you but, I would not "hunt" him. I'd be surprised if any good habits could come of it.

[jetjockey]

First off, I would SLOW DOWN on the training.  Your pup is still very, very young.  Most pro trainers won't start a dog with serious training until they get closer to 1 year old.  Second, don't let your young pup catch any birds at this point.  If it points, and then pounces, it has already learned some bad habbits.  The best thing in the world for a dog is birds, birds and more birds.  I would take her somewhere that she can point, and chase lots of birds, that she can't catch.  One of the problems with released birds is that they won't fly, and the pup can catch them.  However, if you have great flying birds that won't allow the pup to catch them, you are in business.  What the pup will do is point the bird, poince, and then chase.  Once the pup realizes it can't catch the birds when it pounces, it will hold its point.   Don't kill any birds that she has pounced and put in the air.  This is negative training and she will that its OK to flush, rather then point.  If you can't find good wild birds or released birds, you will need to get a good bird launcher to simulate a wild bird.  You can use pigeons or quail.  As soon as the pup breakes for the bird, launch it.  This will also teach the pup to hold its point since it will learn the birds flys away before the pup can get to it.  You can let the pup chase for a short distance, but I would use a 30 ft check cord and stop her from chasing when she reaches the end of the cord.  Eventually she will learn to hold the point until you flush the bird.  Then you can decide how "broke" you want her.

[Curly]

I also say no.  Those rocks are going to tear up that pups feet in short order.

[Happy Gilmore]

Watched my first American Field Trial last weekend. Saw some nice pointers working. I may have some terminology wrong, I don't know squat about pointing dogs but, one dog went on point 150 yards ahead of another working dog. The second dog honored the point from 150 yards away from the dog on point. The judges on horseback rode past the honoring dog and the handler flushed the bird. The honoring dog did not move until the handler released him. It was cool to see a pointers working at that level.

It was a fun day watching something completely new to me.

[jetjockey]

Happy.  While a 150 yard back is a LOOOOONNNGGGG back, that is pretty much what is expected.  If 1 dog sees another dog pointing, and they blow the back, they are usually picked up and don't get to finish their brace.  The thing most guys dont realize about pointing dogs is that when they are completely broke, they are wonderful at rediculous ranges.  Lets say a dog is working 300 yards infront of you and they accidently bump a bird.  A pointing dog is expected to be "broke to flush" and not move until you get there.  That allows the dog to mark the bird, wait until you get their, and then hunt the bird again.  Even if they don't bump a bird, and one flys over their heads, they are still expected to "stop to flush".  My pup got picked up this weekend during her brace because when the handler flushed the bird, it flew about 6 inches from her head directly behind her.  She turned to mark the bird and took 1 step.... GAME OVER.. The handler asked the judge his opinion.  The judge said "you can continue, but she won't win", so she was picked up.  Most people never get to see an AKC or AF field off horseback, so they don't know how good pointing dogs can be.  IMO, watching a good pointing dog hit an edge and go like he11 is a thing of beauty.  Watching a good All Age dog run is nothing short of amazing IMO.  Seing a dog at 800 yards that is still handling like a dream and hunting for the handler is pure hunting dog perfection IMO.

[Ellensburg]

Let the dog tell you if shes ready or not... Take her out and if she is practicing bad habits,,, stop the hunt. Don't get mad or act all down, just means that she needs a lil more training.

[BIGINNER]

I TOOK HER OUT YESTERDAY TO CHASE A SOME QUAILS.  I TOOK MY SHOTGUN JUST IN CASE SHE MADE AN EXCELLENT POINT AND LET ME FLUSH THE BIRD SO I CAN REWARD HER WITH A EAD QUAIL.  I ENDED UP NOT FIRING ANY SHOTS.  SHE FOUND LOTS OF BIRDS, SHE POINTED FOR A LITTLE THEN FLUSHED THE BIRDS HERSELF,  AFTER SEVERAL FLUSHED, SHE STARTED TO HOLD POINT A LITTLE LONGER,  BUT STILL FLUSHED THEM HERSELF,  BUT SHES DEFINATELY LEARNING.   WE WALKED ABOUT 3 MILES AND SHE POINTED AND CHASED LOTS OF BIRDS,  AND AFTER EVERY FLUSH SHE WOULD HOLD POINT LONGER AND LONGER,   SO.... I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT HER NATURAL INSTINCS ARE STARTING TO REALLY KICK IN,  SHE'S AN AWESOME DOG,   CAN'T WAIT TILL NEXT SEASON TILL WE CAN HUNT FOR REALS.  LOL   

[jetjockey]

Biginner.  If you have that many wild quail, your in business.  I just saw that your located in Pasco.  You might be suprised just how fast she starts holding point.  Keep at it. You simply can't beat putting a pup on lots of wild birds.  Shes only 3.5 months old, so don't expect a lot from her.  Give her time and she will be miles ahead of the other dogs you will see out hunting.  If I were you, Id continue to take her out and let her chase quail.  I wouldn't shoot too much over her.  Shes young and it could be very easy to make her gun shy.  Your probably better off buying a blank pistol and firing it when the birds fly.  Blank pistols are pretty quiet and shouldn't scare her.  Let her have fun, and then start her serious training at 8-9 months old.  Good luck, keep us informed.