Best Way to Learn to Train

[newbie76]

What is the best way to learn to train a bird dog? Is there a Class you can attend? 

[BIGINNER]

i learned by reading alot,. watching videos and talking with people that train dogs.    but i'm still learning...

also i think your dog will teach you alot as well.

[Happy Gilmore]

find a trainer and ask if you can come out an help in your free time. Throw birds, help around their kennel etc in exchange for help training.

Where do you live?

[newbie76]

I live in Pasco............

[BIGINNER]

I live in Pasco............

where are you getting your gsp?  i have a friend that breeds german shorthairs. and he also trains bird dogs.  he's really good, and all his dogs are exellent hunters. he taught me alot about training.
he lives in finley

[Happy Gilmore]

what kind of dogs? retrievers, pointers?

[newbie76]

I live in Pasco............

where are you getting your gsp?  i have a friend that breeds german shorthairs. and he also trains bird dogs.  he's really good, and all his dogs are exellent hunters. he taught me alot about training.
he lives in finley

I was actually looking in the paper for dogs in general...My son wants one for his birthday....I was going to get him a .22 but he said he would rather have a dog.....I have never wanted a puppy before but after getting a dog from a rescue shelter...I love having a dog and I am up for the challenge of a puppy...Does your friend have puppies?!?  willing to train!?

[BIGINNER]

NOT SURE IF HE HAS PUPPIES RIGHT NOW.  BUT HE MIGHT, AND HE DOES TRAIN. I'LL SEND A P.M. WITH INFO TO YOU.

[huntnfmly]

I'm still learning I. Read alot of books and talk to people who know alot more than me. You can get alot of info on here have fun

[sirfunkeybut]

Does he train other types or just gsp's? If so could I get the info as well?

NOT SURE IF HE HAS PUPPIES RIGHT NOW.  BUT HE MIGHT, AND HE DOES TRAIN. I'LL SEND A P.M. WITH INFO TO YOU.

[Shannon]

If you get a pointer buy the Perfection Kennel DVD set called the Perfect Start and The Perfect Finish. Then get a book called Training with Mo. The best of the best IMO. Good luck and have fun. Remember the best advice is repetition is the key to any dog training.

[RC3]

Most important thing I can say is be consistent if you give a command, give it once and only once.  That was one of the hardest things for me to learn.  That and like I said consistency all the time no exceptions if they get away with it once they'll try to again:)

[jetjockey]

I agree with most of the above posts.   The Perfect Start/Perfect Finish is probably the best training video series for pointing dogs there is.  Read a couple books as well and you will be well on your way.  Another pretty good book is "The Brittany, Amateurs Training with Professionals".  Obviously its a brittany book, but it really covers all pointing breeds...   The other thing I would highly suggest is trying to find a trainer who will let you watch and work with you.  I learned a lot from reading many books and watching PS/PF, but Ive learned the most when running dogs with my trainer and watching him work.  The good trainers really are a different breed.  The books and video's won't show you how to read your dog and understand what they are thinking.  Thats something you can only learn by training lots of dogs.