gsp puppy

[flinger]

you do not always need a treat reward ,just when she goes on point a good old fasioned,good girl will be sufficient

[Cascade_fisher]

Long loving strokes are how we do it with our two. Occasionally we give a treat but they love doing it so just reinforcing it works.

My GSPs are not wild. They require a lot of exercise but they are not crazy.

[shotsofwhisky]

She's calming down we are starting to understand each other. Not so bad now. Just lots of work. Lol

[Happy Gilmore]

keep her on a check cord on a half hitch around her belly. whoa her as she's coming into the scent(be sure you're downwind) give her gentle tug reminders to slow up. Not all dogs will lift a leg and point...don't worry about it, might come later. Reward her with praise. Don't mix treats and training. Give a dog treat for laying down on it's bed or something like that....bird hunting is a job they are bred to do.

Probably a lot easier with some live pigeons. number of ways to work them so they last.

[wildweeds]

IMO you need to let em be puppies,expecting top notch pointing from a puppy(16 months and under) is grading ahead of the curve.You don't expect  understanding nuclear science from a kindergardner,same goes for a pup.No whoa it ain't for around birds ever IMO,the reward for a point is a dead bird.An age old game, point em or knock em,the biggest thing is to NEVER shoot birds that the dog has not pointed,it requires restraint from doing so on the human part.

  If you did your genetics homework before purchasing the pup and it's well bred it will point,it will also have a little something something between the ears too.

  Teaching one to point is for the ones that ain't overly blessed with good genetics and requires a cool hand and patience.

[Stilly bay]

IMO you need to let em be puppies,expecting top notch pointing from a puppy(16 months and under) is grading ahead of the curve.You don't expect  understanding nuclear science from a kindergardner,same goes for a pup.No whoa it ain't for around birds ever IMO,the reward for a point is a dead bird.An age old game, point em or knock em,the biggest thing is to NEVER shoot birds that the dog has not pointed,it requires restraint from doing so on the human part.

  If you did your genetics homework before purchasing the pup and it's well bred it will point,it will also have a little something something between the ears too.

  Teaching one to point is for the ones that ain't overly blessed with good genetics and requires a cool hand and patience.

 
take that to the bank!

[shotsofwhisky]

Had I purchased her then yes I would have researched genetics. But this dog was purchased by the boyfriend of a co-worker and they couldn't keep her and due to not having a lot of land and knowing keeping her brain working helps calm her down a little. So we do fun learning I'm not expecting a perfect point but want her to have fun and burn energy. Am i leading her wrong there?

[RadSav]

I'd have to agree with Stilly - she will settle down in about 8 to 10 years .  You might be pulling your hair out now, but you'll be bragging about it after a long day of chasing chuckars.  I also agree with letting them be puppies.  Too much training and discipline at a young age and you run the risk of breaking their spirit.  That might be ok for lap dogs and show, but it is a death sentence for a good hunting dog.

To me the best part about bird hunting is watching your dogs have fun.  If it were all about shooting birds I'd hire a guide and hunt behind working dogs that are raised as working/hunting dogs not as a member of the family. 

It's a facinating thing to watch a properly bread and trained pointer do it's job flawlessly.  Finding one that can do that and be a cherished part of the family is rare.  I'd rather hunt with one that breaks point once in a while, gets too damn excited on the first bird of the day and loves his dad more than life itself than a perfect hunting robot that fears doing something wrong and has little emotional connection with the family.

Believe me, those ten years are going to go by way too fast.  Enjoy 'em while you can and have no regrets tomorrow.

[wildweeds]

How old is this "puppy"?

[shotsofwhisky]

3 1/2 months

[Happy Gilmore]

just a pup...give her a few more months and she'll be climbing the walls even higher!! 

[jrebel]

Trade her in for a wired hair pointer.  I have both and will never buy a gsp again.  Every gsp I have known has been crazy wild until about 10 years old.  My wired hair pointer has the best temporment of any dog I have ever known.  She is a dream and holy hell is she smart.  Oh Yeah, her farts will make you gag....   She is not to lady like with her bad gas and her beard.   

[Happy Gilmore]

I'd say WHP's are more relaxed and "easier" for the average guy. At least the ones I've been around...not wound quite so tightly.

[wildweeds]

Holder ther pardner................................. it's a baby ................... let it be,the only thing you should be working towards IMO is a solid.................. "Here" and "Kennel" and no jumping up.

3 1/2 months

[jrebel]

Get and read "Gun Dod" by Richard Walters.  Best book I have read when it comes to the training a dog.  Very easy read and it works......  My WHP was in the field at 3 1/2 months and she alread knew "Come, Stay, Leave it, Sit, Go, Wait" commands.  In my very humble opinion (cause I am no master trainer by any means) now is the time to be training...not coddleing you dog. 

Good Luck

Cheers