New Gun Dog!

[Kootenay Hunter]

Well, it was a long day, but we made it back safe and sound. the little guy got a little car sick a few times, which didn't bother as much as the smell of the puke, which we have to clean up as we went, it was horrid, but not a peep the whole way, he's a trooper. He's a little skinny, the breeder was not giving puppy food, so we'll have to fatten him up a bit. 4 mos and 28 lbs.

The next day we took him out to the pet shop and gave him a good bath, no issues on the car ride this time, we're trying to exposed him to lots of stuff as much as we can.

Lots of energy! He has fit into the home pretty well. My older dog is a little jealous but they are becoming buddies. He has a soft mouth and hasn't been prone to chewing things, just sniffing, and has been good with the cats. Kenneling has been a little rough, but it's only been 3 nights now. Giving him lots of treats to reinforce, he wanders into the kennel now and again. Working on housebreaking, he's hit of miss with peeing, but getting better, I can see him getting it soon, we have a bell on the door which was worked well with our older dog.

Lots of walks and loose fetch games in the back yard. He's smart and very handsome, has already been killing the ladies out and about.

Focusing on the basic commands now, Come, Sit, Whoa....so far so good.

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

Oh, and it's not official, but we're leaning towards the name Ollie (for Oliver). Full name will be:

Oliver Pablo El Pheasedente

Sire was Javier El Pheasedente

 

[Salmonchaser]

There is a balancing act between being the boss; we shall hunt over here; and not allowing your dog to hunt. Since I retired I’ve been guiding upland hunts. Obviously talk dogs, training and shotguns a lot. Socializing, making it fun etc. have been well covered. GSPs hate to heel, gotta get that done. Retrieving can be tough, takes time and patience. I think force fetching was developed because of shorthairs. The most important aspect is believing your dog. As soon as possible let them direct the hunt, training hunt. Pretty quick they go bat sh.. crazy. Recall, walk back to the beginning or the area of their last good work. Back on track, under control quartering at the distance you like.
Let them figure out where to go, use the wind etc. really helps to build confidence. You must start and end under control and direction so they are hunting for you. Mine like fishing as well.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Good looking pup, looks like he is going to be a big dog. Congratulations have fun.

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

Well, After one week I have him sitting on command and walking much better on a lead (wonder lead on order). Plays fetch no problem, but I'm sure not to play tug of war, in general, he will deliver to hand with 'give' command....good genetics. Understands 'No' well enough now.

Still working on 'Come' and 'Heel'...picking up some hotdogs tonight for better training treats.

Has figured out the treat-into-the-kennel trick, wise to it now. Have to put something tasty in and then walk away, then catch him when inside. Is slowly not complaining as much in the kennel, and I'm trying to keep it a 'happy place'.

Housebreaking has been hit or miss, but is picking up on the back door, either sitting patiently at it, or jumping up on it. Only a few liquid accidents, but some our fault. We have some bells hanging from the knob our other dog uses, just a matter of time until he figures it out fully.

He is smart and picking up things quickly, feeling the vibe of the house and learning when is play and when is rest. His energy is ridiculous, but I guess that's a puppy for you.

He has been pointing robins....and will hold point until the fly away. The chase will require training, but good to see the pointing genetics at work!

 

[KChunter71]

Congrats on your New dog!

Here is little man with his shotgun and Remi at heel!

10mo old golden retriever


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[30338]

Pup looks good. I had never force fetched any dogs before my last one. He is a drahthaar and I read up on and diligently force fetched him at 7 months. He is an ironclad retriever as a result. The pointing came naturally through exposure to birds for us. He turns 3 in November and I have had 2 great falls hunting with him so far.

Only advice I will give, force fetch him when the puppy teeth are out. Good luck.

 

[JWP58]

Good looking hound, I wouldn't worry about his weight.

Good luck, and enjoy it. 8yrs has flown by with mine, sure would like to get years 3-6 back!

 

[Salmonchaser]

Stop repeating your commands but have fun.

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

Definitely need to work on the 'come' command. Last night after a long day at work I walked him to the nearby park/field where he is happy to run around like a maniac and chasing whatever I throw. I used the delmar-smith wonder lead to walk him over and then let him free, he has been good over the past week, but then he took off and kept running down the next street, thought it was a game as I came after him looking like a fool.

From now on he will not be off a lead until he's responds better, I have a 50 ft check cord that he can tear around on. My wife and I will work with 'come' command tonight.

I also have an e-collar coming, but I'm hesitant to start using it until he knows the commands, and then I can reinforce disobedience instead of teaching it. I'll probably let him wear it for a week or two to get used to it, maybe use the vibration function to get his attention after that.

The problem is, there are so many books and philosophies, it's tough to find a hard line to follow, you just have to see what works with your dog I guess.

So far has had good days and bad days with housebreaking. More or less has figured out the bells on the door to get outside for business, but likes to play games and ring it every 2 minutes....I let him out each time to help reinforce that this is what happens, but is a bit of a piss off when he goes out sniffs the air and then wants to come back inside, but I got to be consistent.

I'm probably expecting too much too soon, it's only been two weeks now!

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

Also, it will be a ways off, but anybody have advice on gun breaking? I'm not going to buy a starter pistol, but can get my hands on .22 blanks. I figure that will be okay if I'm far enough away. And then progress from there like most info says...closer closer closer, then 20ga shotgun, closer closer, then 12 ga, etc.

He seems pretty good with noises so far, I try and drop a book when he's eating. Definitely don't want to screw it up as I've read lots that once a dog is gun shy, they're now a very expensive house pet.

 

[Russp17]

Also, it will be a ways off, but anybody have advice on gun breaking? I'm not going to buy a starter pistol, but can get my hands on .22 blanks. I figure that will be okay if I'm far enough away. And then progress from there like most info says...closer closer closer, then 20ga shotgun, closer closer, then 12 ga, etc.

He seems pretty good with noises so far, I try and drop a book when he's eating. Definitely don't want to screw it up as I've read lots that once a dog is gun shy, they're now a very expensive house pet.

Prior to gun breaking I did the following to get my pup use to loud noises etc. While the dog is eating (so focused on something else) I would slam two 2x4's together behind them, then if you see no reaction move closer behind them while they are eating, then move on to metal things like bowls or whatever so it makes a sharp noise. If no reaction move on to a 22 from a little bit away why they are distracted. Then move closer like you have planned. This is how the local NAVHDA group recommended to us to train our dogs.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Prior to gun breaking I did the following to get my pup use to loud noises etc. While the dog is eating (so focused on something else) I would slam two 2x4's together behind them, then if you see no reaction move closer behind them while they are eating, then move on to metal things like bowls or whatever so it makes a sharp noise. If no reaction move on to a 22 from a little bit away why they are distracted. Then move closer like you have planned. This is how the local NAVHDA group recommended to us to train our dogs.

I’ve used the 2x4 drill on 1/2 dozen dogs. Start off easy get more energetic. Don’t go nuts just crack them two or three times as you put the food down. Get them thinking sudden loud Noise is a good thing.

 

[Russp17]

I’ve used the 2x4 drill on 1/2 dozen dogs. Start off easy get more energetic. Don’t go nuts just crack them two or three times as you put the food down. Get them thinking sudden loud Noise is a good thing.

Agreed just work slowly up to the point of loud noises. If they show any signs of sensitive to it back off and work your way up slowly.

 

[twall13]

I also feel like it's a good idea to just have your dog exposed to loud noises in general. I think of it as part of the socialization process. My pup used to sit in the garage while I worked, drills, reciprocating saws, hammers, air compressors, etc. By the time fourth of July fireworks rolled around it was no big deal for him and gunshots have never been a problem. Of course every dog is different so it's always wise to monitor your dogs reactions and back off if necessary.

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[Kootenay Hunter]

Okay, 2x4s and bowls sound like a good idea. I like the idea of making that the 'dinner bell'

Yes, I've taken him out during thunderstorm, he seemed interested but not scared. I've also fired up the lawnmower and weedwhacker and he didn't seem to mind at all, so good signs.

I lost my childhood border collie to fireworks around halloween. She could scale a 6ft fence in a blink of an eye. It was a few days after halloween, so we figured it was all over, just took a couple of punks lighting mighty mites on the street and never was seen again.

Anybody ever use a cap gun?....pretty cheap and very sudden.

 

[Kindo]

I introduced guns on the second major intro to birds. I got her real excited with a tied up pheasant and tossed it for her. Then on the other side of the garage, I had my dad fire a shotgun in the opposite direction.

After that, we played a little more.

Next, we moved to that side of the garage and did some more retrieving/bird chasing work and had my dad fire the shotgun but about 40 yards away in the next direction.

That was when she started to “get it” and we took the last pheasant I had, and released it down in a thicket. There, I let her track it until she pointed it but she broke point and flushed it and I shot it over her. It was that point (no pun intended) where the obsession of a good bird dog took over for me and now she scans the sky looking for birds anytime she hears gunshots or fireworks!

I think a good distraction is key and the gun training should almost come as a secondary aspect to a typical training session.

Here’s my bearded beast on that day with my dad and son.

Also, it will be a ways off, but anybody have advice on gun breaking? I'm not going to buy a starter pistol, but can get my hands on .22 blanks. I figure that will be okay if I'm far enough away. And then progress from there like most info says...closer closer closer, then 20ga shotgun, closer closer, then 12 ga, etc.

He seems pretty good with noises so far, I try and drop a book when he's eating. Definitely don't want to screw it up as I've read lots that once a dog is gun shy, they're now a very expensive house pet.

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

That sounds like a good way to integrate it all. I'm in a 'non-traditional' area for gun dogs bird hunting, and would mostly be grouse hunting in the hills, there's not really any pheasants/quail/chukar readily available, pen raised or wild, so I'm going to have to get creative with birds to train, but might even be just taking him out to some fertile grouse grounds and see what happens (keeping the gun far off and shot when flushed).

Looking into getting some domestic quail or pheasants.

He points song birds on walks, so maybe I should make a noise when he breaks point and flushes then too!

 

[Okhotnik]

Definitely need to work on the 'come' command. Last night after a long day at work I walked him to the nearby park/field where he is happy to run around like a maniac and chasing whatever I throw. I used the delmar-smith wonder lead to walk him over and then let him free, he has been good over the past week, but then he took off and kept running down the next street, thought it was a game as I came after him looking like a fool.

From now on he will not be off a lead until he's responds better, I have a 50 ft check cord that he can tear around on. My wife and I will work with 'come' command tonight.

I also have an e-collar coming, but I'm hesitant to start using it until he knows the commands, and then I can reinforce disobedience instead of teaching it. I'll probably let him wear it for a week or two to get used to it, maybe use the vibration function to get his attention after that.

The problem is, there are so many books and philosophies, it's tough to find a hard line to follow, you just have to see what works with your dog I guess.

So far has had good days and bad days with housebreaking. More or less has figured out the bells on the door to get outside for business, but likes to play games and ring it every 2 minutes....I let him out each time to help reinforce that this is what happens, but is a bit of a piss off when he goes out sniffs the air and then wants to come back inside, but I got to be consistent.

I'm probably expecting too much too soon, it's only been two weeks now!

Dog goes everywhere with me when young so exposed to kids, animals, loud sounds, farm animal etc


I use food rewards ( small pieces of lunch meat) to reinforce come command when first year if stubborn dog. Train first thing in morning before feeding . Seemed to work for me

I always train aways from roads and traffic

I start with a cheap empty pellet rifle. Maybe 20 or 30 feet Away from dog when I fire it.

Come command and small food reward. I then use in conjunction with fetch. I throw dummy use whoa command shoot while air and fetch and food reward when retrieves. After a few weeks if dog is progressing I fire 22 blank from about 50 feet , retrieve command, food reward then after a month of dog is progressing a 20 gauge shotgun from about 50 feet away. Any gun aversion . Stop wait a week start over with pellet gun. Again short training sessions.

I also work on prey drive with planted pigeons


Once dog is ok with gunfire I introduce planted bird when prey drive is established

All my dogs I’ve had go crazy when I picked up my shotgun because they associate it with fun.

I’ve seen some good promising dogs ruined because not properly and slowly exposed to gun fire and rushed training .

I had a vizsla who was a great bird dog but I always hunted alone with him. He was a bit of a slower stubborn learner. At age 2 took him pheasant hunting with 4 of my buddies. He pointed first bird. Bird flushes and everyone fired. The sound of 5 shotguns going off at once freaked him out and would not any longer.

I did not hunt rest of year and started from scratch again . Took about six months to get over gun shyness and turned out to be one of my best dogs and hunted him to 13 years old.

Patience is key

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

A couple sessions of 'come' command at the park, moving farther and farther away and trying to call when distracted (birds, other dogs) seems to get it pretty quick, just need more repetition to make it automatic.

50ft check cord is magic, seems to keep him in check when running around the field, doesn't stray too far.

Using the wonder lead a little bit, but hasn't figured out that relaxing is more comfortable, likes to pull hard and do the heavy breathing/choking thing. We do box figure eights and stops to try and get his attention with direction changes, getting him focused on us. My last dog took a couple of months to learn how to walk on a lead properly at heel, so patience I guess.

Also received my e-collar today. Just slapped on the collar to get him used to it, will do it every time he goes outside and when I can supervise inside for a couple of weeks. Won't use it for any commands he doesn't know.

Still pointing robins, nice to see the genetics are work. Will chase when birds take off, but I think that's normal and holding point and not chasing will need to be trained.

His energy is endless and while I have a baby on the way I feel like I'm primed and prepped for a toddler already!