Started Dog

[Tilzbow]

After raising three incredible dogs from puppies over the past 30 years and taking a dog break for traveling freedom the past two years I’m ready to jump back in. A few weeks ago I reached out to the trainer/breeder (Three Devils Kennel) I bought my last to German Wirehair pointers from to discuss a placing a deposit on a pup for next year. One thing led to another and I’m now getting a started pup, that’ll be 9 months old when I pick her up in September, so chukar, Huns and quail are back on the agenda!!!


She’s got basic obedience, crate and house training completed now. She’s just starting on live birds and has been introduced to an E-collar. When I pick her up she’ll have up to six weeks of bird training.

For those who’ve gone both this route and the puppy route, is there anything I should be aware of?

 

[Wheels]

My last 2 bird dogs were started when I bought them. Didn’t have to deal with the puppy stage and if you spend a lot of time with them as soon as you pick them up, the bond will form fast.

 

[KurtR]

I would spend a couple days with the trainer to learn how to run the dog. What cues they have trained and what not.

It has crossed my mind but I love the puppy stage and building them

 

[JJMarsh]

After raising three incredible dogs from puppies over the past 30 years and taking a dog break for traveling freedom the past two years I’m ready to jump back in. A few weeks ago I reached out to the trainer/breeder (Three Devils Kennel) I bought my last to German Wirehair pointers from to discuss a placing a deposit on a pup for next year. One thing led to another and I’m now getting a started pup, that’ll be 9 months old when I pick her up in September, so chukar, Huns and quail are back on the agenda!!!


She’s got basic obedience, crate and house training completed now. She’s just starting on live birds and has been introduced to an E-collar. When I pick her up she’ll have up to six weeks of bird training.

For those who’ve gone both this route and the puppy route, is there anything I should be aware of?

Go slow with the e-collar! Three Devils uses quality dogs, but their stim levels might differ from your preferences. Test at lowest settings with known commands first. A bad early experience can ruin bird drive.

 

[MtnW]

We just lost at almost 14 years one of Jeff’s Three Devils GWP’s. He was a sweet boy. I would recommend you have him trained for the range you hunt, decide what fur drive if any you want, socialize around farm animals, if you will also duck hunt get the dog steady for duck blinds. We just got another GWP 8week old male pup. The dude is also sweet and willing to learn. They have a lot of personality and character, more so than any other breed we have had. I really like the off switch they have in the house. Enjoy your new companion.

 

[go_deep]

If possible, go to the kennel and spend time around the dog as much as possible over the next few weeks or months, before picking it up at 9 months. At a minimum you become a known face.

 

[mainbeam pursuit2]

Several years ago, I decided to try the route of buying a trained springer spaniel. I have always had labs and wanted a springer for hunting pheasants. I bonded quickly with the dog, he was a absolute blast to hunt over, my son and I still talk how fun he was to hunt with. I would do it again if I wanted another gundog.

 

[Silver Wings]

I haven’t gone the started route, but if I decide to get another dog I almost certainly will. In my younger years I couldn’t justify the expense and I enjoyed training and testing my own dogs. One of the best aspects of started is you get a known dog…no questions as to personality, nose, drive, cooperation, ect…worth every penny in my mind if you can afford it.
I had 2 Three Devils dogs and 1 that was half. It was near 20 years ago I got my last dog from Jeff and they were all stellar animals.
Three Devils Jeopardy “Pete”
On the refuge scanning for more ducks.

 

[IdahoElk]

Go slow with the e-collar! Three Devils uses quality dogs, but their stim levels might differ from your preferences. Test at lowest settings with known commands first. A bad early experience can ruin bird drive.

Funny how all dogs are different, Tone is all my dog requires.

 

[Tilzbow]

Funny how all dogs are different, Tone is all my dog requires.

My female Three Devils Dog reacted well to tone, too. My male Three Devils dog only needed vibrate and I’d done a lot of Delmar Smith training with him which places some emphasis on neck sensitivity.

My 80# male pointing lab on the other hand, when in a stubborn mood, would take the full on highest level, growl at you and proceed to do whatever the hell he wanted. He was a great dog 99% of the time though.

 

[Tilzbow]

Some good advice, thanks for the input thus far.

 

[Bobbyboe]

Its a different breed, but I bought a started Brittany. My dog was also 9 months when I brought him home. He was house broke, crate trained, e-collar trained and shot over with live birds. This was my first dog and I'm sure I screwed some things up, but getting a started dog over a puppy was the best decision I made.