New Gun Dog!

[Okhotnik]

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!

I first used a long check cord with e collar combined with food reward and vibrate mode

Come was first command

Are you using “leave it command ?”

 

[Salmonchaser]

Absolutely let your pup chase a flushing bird at this time. Personally I’m not worried about steady to wing and shot, unless I’m hunting quail with undisciplined hunters, very important. I am convinced that breaking on the rise gives a dog a great advantage on retrieving crippled birds particularly roosters and chukar.
You must be able to whoa your dog however or he will chase a missed bird over the ridge.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Oh boy, good question from OK; a life saver for your dog, an “ out, or leave it” command. I use out, my dogs will spin 180 and move about 10 yards. No means too many things. I was pretty tough on my dogs getting this through their heads.

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

I first used a long check cord with e collar combined with food reward and vibrate mode

Come was first command

Are you using “leave it command ?”

Leave it as in stop chasing it? If so, not yet, still challenged at following basic commands when excited. right now it's all physical, either stopped on the short lead, or goes a$$ of tea kettle when the check cord runs out.

I would guess that leave it is more advanced, a whoa and then come would work too?


Another things, he's also getting more used to the kennel, pops in and out on his own and makes a lot less fuss when it's time to rest of bedtime. I haven't used it as punishment so I think that helps.

 

[Okhotnik]

I feel that leave it introduced when young and one of basic commands that can save the dog a lot of problems if eating or chasing something he shouldn’t

Just a slight tug on check cord or leash and eventually introduce e collar to reenforce command. Used when pup is eating poop , shoe or trash or chasing some animal he shouldn’t or running up to a stray dog or cat etc

Gentle correction for first 6 to 8 months. More aggressive when older.

Really handy to stop chasing deer, rattle snakes,squirrels rabbits etc getting into porcupines etc when hunting

Whoa command different than leave it

But that is just my opinion

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

I feel that leave it introduced when young and one of basic commands that can save the dog a lot of problems if eating or chasing something he shouldn’t

Just a slight tug on check cord or leash and eventually introduce e collar to reenforce command. Used when pup is eating poop , shoe or trash or chasing some animal he shouldn’t or running up to a stray dog or cat etc

Gentle correction for first 6 to 8 months. More aggressive when older.

Really handy to stop chasing deer, rattle snakes,squirrels rabbits etc getting into porcupines etc when hunting

Whoa command different than leave it

But that is just my opinion

makes sense, I'm probably doing that subconsciously now anyways (poop, mushrooms, etc.), but perhaps need to be consistent with the words leave it.

 

[chukar_chaser]

Gun intro should be focused on birds/prey drive only. Gunfire should mean birds not food etc. IMO. Gun shy dogs are made not born. I use a cap gun with a thrown pigeon and do that a half dozen times before I introduce a shotgun. Then that is at a distance while the pup is chasing a bird. I then will move up to shooting a bird. I want the dog to realize that when the gun goes off it is because of a bird. I know lots of dogs that are scared to death of loud noises but guns dont bother them.

I personally dont teach a pointing dog to sit. "whoa" works just fine. As you progress in dog training the dog will always fall back on "sit" as that is the command it was taught first and knows the best. If I want my dog to stop moving I just say "whoa". A dog sitting down on point is a HUGE bummer for me and I have seen it more than once.

If you live in a wild bird rich environment I would just take the dog hunting for his first year and then make changes as the dog progresses. To much training can create a dog with no independence that looks to you for everything. I want my dogs bombing through the country to find birds, once they find birds I go find my dog and shoot them. So independence is HUGE for me.

I have a dog that I took Runner-up Champion twice in wild bird horseback trials in Idaho. Some pretty stiff competition but he is one helluva dog. He is now 11 and just hangs out. I try to hit a few different states each year and usually get out 80 or so times a year. I have an Instagram account called Upland Obsession that I share some of my adventures. Good luck with your pup.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I agree, don’t confuse out or leave it with a hunting command. Definitely a stop doing what you’re doing or I’m definitely going to get your attention, hopefully before the porcupine or rattle snake ....
I like the thrown pigeon idea...

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

Well, after pretty good session of 'come' command training on Monday, he seems to be coming a good percentage of the time on that command, at least around the house/yard. Maybe a couple more times and he'll get it. Will introduce a tone on the ecollar in conjunction with the command. He's pretty clever, picking up things fast. Also has figured out the 'kennel' command....so I guess I've been successful in making it a 'happy' place.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Yeah...we just got our new gun dog too...we call him Kyle. Sleeping better now knowing he's on duty.

 

[Brock A]

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!

Same method I used. Took about 30 minutes one night and he was good to go.

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

Well, still working on the basic commands. I think he's got 'come' down pretty good. He's been pulling hard on the lead so I've had to resort to a halti. I've been doing some slower direction changes in the yard which seems to help.

He hates the halti but after about 10min he figures out that things are a lot more comfortable when walking in the heel position. I didn't really like the wonder lead, maybe useful later on, but he just pulls so hard and chokes himself while walking I don't want to damage his throat.

He's understanding the routine of things too which is nice, lays down in his kennel just before bedtime, etc.

Vet check up went well, suggested to keep him intact until it's seems like it's time, apparently having them there helps with development, so the longer the better. One of his upper puppy canines didn't drop, so when he goes under the knife he will have that removed as well.

Not much on the hunting training front yet, I'd like to feel more comfortable with commands and energy control so the little bugger doesn't get hurt. There's a lot of hazard where I hunt, like abandoned mineshafts, etc. that come out of nowhere, so being able to have him stop on a dime is super important.

The best I'll be able to do will be wild grouse, as I don't live in a place that's conducive to pheasants, quail or chukar, mostly mountainous terrain and not really a bird hunting scene like down in ID, MT, etc. and I don't have the facilities to keep training birds.

 

[Okhotnik]

Come down to central WA I’ll take you out for chukar, Huns and quail

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

Come down to central WA I’ll take you out for chukar, Huns and quail

I think that's where I'll have to head once he's up to the task!

 

[Okhotnik]

Hell be ready and no better training for a young bird dog than lots of wild bird exposure when young

 

[MarlinMark]

Read those books as fast as you can. My first tip would have been to educate yourself first....before the dog is at your feet. Have fun, and please remember, training can be really fun. At times you won't believe that.

 

[Mich18]

What a great dogs! I have a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. He just loves to retrieve ducks and rabbits. Havnt really had the chance to try anything bigger though

 

[wyoguy]

I dont want to hijack the thread but i am to looking at a GSP. Im mostly concerned about camping/hiking and leaving them.outside at home will they stay close or are they more inclined to find something that interests them and go running off? I just don't any experience with this type of dog and never had to kennel a dog before. I'm sure it depends on the animal itself but was wondering what others experiences are.
Thanks

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

My experience so far, and from hearing from two other gsp owners in the area is that GSPs are far ranging dogs. If you let them off leash in the bush, hopefully you have a gps collar unless their recall is excellent.

They are food, scent, and game motivated, so yes, if they see/smell something, they will investigate. If you don't have a fence, good luck!

Mine stays in the yard, but if the gate is open and left to his own devices, he'll take a lap of the block.

We were slightly unprepared for the amount of energy a gsp has. Mine is still un-neutered and a pup, but I can run him throwing a ball for over an hour straight and once home he will still be pacing around the house. Daily exercise is a must, and if you have an outdoor kennel/run that would be great. Kenneling in a crate all day everyday will make them slowly insane and it will be like unleashing a hurricane!

 

[Salmonchaser]

I’ve been running GSPS for about 50 years. With every new dog I’ve wondered when they would quit driving me crazy. Seems to be about 4 years. Finally figured out having about five acres they can roam on was the ticket. I have had one run off episode in the last 10 years. I guide upland hunts, demand a lot out of my last two dogs and firmly believe lots of exercise is the ticket to enjoying shorthairs.
I do worry a little about my dogs while I’m guiding in Alaska, I have to kennel them during the day, they go bat sh** crazy when I let them out but seem content with a 200 yard radius around the lodge. They love chasing and barking at bears. Enjoy your pup, they are great dogs.