Can I train a hunting dog, when living with untrained dog.

[SirSpencer]

My girlfriend has a very nice dog who isn't well trained besides being house broken. Yet lacks any other basic training laydown, stay, dont eat that...etc. I try but the lady doesn't help in his training. I've been thinking about getting a dog to train for bird hunting and was wondering if having the pup around a disobedient dog will hurt its training?

[gasman]

No problem. Just make sure when you do your trainin, it's just you and the bird dog, private training time.
You may find that if the other dog watches from a distance and see's the other dog getting treas or some thing for being and doing good. He may follow and change his ways 

[SirSpencer]

I hope so, but he is part shar-pe (spelling) so i dont expect much from him other than to protect the lady while im not around. Thanks for the input!

[Blackjaw]

Gasman is right. As long as you keep them separate when training, you should be fine. You may also want to spend 5-10 mins a day with the girlfriends dog doing some basic training. It is amazing how fast a dog can learn if you just give it 5-10 mins of training a day.

[Wile E. Hunter]

One thing to consider is how much of your training will be undone by your lady friend. Her lack of follow through will definitely confuse your dog. You'll still be able to train up a dog, but she'll be an obstacle. Best of luck though.

Wile E.

[SirSpencer]

Thanks guys. I will try to train the girl to not untrained my dog. I was going through and looking at upland dogs and most people have GSP's, vislas and a few other dogs. not a lot of labs, which im partial to. Are labs just more suited for water or do they come up short on upland?

[Wile E. Hunter]

A lot of the answer to that depends on what you want to achieve. Labs can be GREAT upland dogs, but... they do have their limitations when compared to pointers such as the GSP for instance. A GSP can handle early Chukar hunting, or Chukar hunting in general better than a lab. If you want to push cattails for pheasants, a lab works out better. If you want to cover a lot of ground in about any weather including warm to hot, a pointer is the way to go IMO. Shorthairs are great versatile dogs in that they have a strong natural retrieving instinct. They also do well in water until say late November here on the East side for ducks. Then the Labs and Chessies clearly dominate. Pointers are a bit more work to train in that you have to use live birds that will flush to train them. With all that said, I would VERY MUCH PREFER to shoot upland birds over a pointing breed. It's a very different hunt. The dogs really make it. I well trained, stylish pointer working a field is a beautiful thing to watch.

Wile E.

[gasman]

You want a flusher, get a lab........


You want a pointer, get a lab..........
(they can be trained to point. I'ts all in the training)


I guess what I am tryig to say is, "Get a Lab", you wont be dissapointed, I'm not 

[pens fan]

I hate to create turmoil....but.....
if you want a flusher, get a flushing dog.
if you want a pointing dog, get a pointer.
if you want a water dog, get a water dog.
if you want all that...you can get a lab...but there are other multi purpose dogs out there....just sayin'!   

[Wile E. Hunter]

Are there pointing labs, yes. Are there horses that count, yes. Pointers are the best at that particular type of hunting. That type of hunting being all weather (labs can not run flat out in hot weather for long, pointers can, will, and live for it) and covering huge pieces of property. People with pointing labs, that's cool and all, but a pointing lab just is not a "pointing dog". Not to start an argument, but them's the facts.

Wile E.

[gasman]

Are there pointing labs, yes. Are there horses that count, yes. Pointers are the best at that particular type of hunting. That type of hunting being all weather (labs can not run flat out in hot weather for long, pointers can, will, and live for it) and covering huge pieces of property. People with pointing labs, that's cool and all, but a pointing lab just is not a "pointing dog". Not to start an argument, but them's the facts.

Wile E.

Sorry, but your WRONG...........

I am not goig to get in to it, but if you want there are plenty of people around that will.

[SirSpencer]

I think im going to have to go with gasman on this lab thing. I think training will be the most important part. All those pointer qualities aren't something im after the lab mentality fits me better.

[Wile E. Hunter]

I think im going to have to go with gasman on this lab thing. I think training will be the most important part. All those pointer qualities aren't something im after the lab mentality fits me better.

I'm with ya. I had to decide last year which way to go this time 'round. Decided that since I can only hunt maybe 3 months of the year, I'd be better off having the personality of a lab 24/7. I'm a diehard fan of pointers, but the good ones (like women) are crazy to a degree.

Wile E.
P.S. Crazy or not, I won't ever give up on women or pointers.

[Sportfury]

I hate to create turmoil....but.....
if you want a flusher, get a flushing dog.
if you want a pointing dog, get a pointer.
if you want a water dog, get a water dog.
if you want all that... get a German Wirehaired Pointer