German short hair pointer ?'s

P

PA.Tracker

New member
I just got a German shorthair pointer pup and I'm looking for any videos or books on GSP training.
I will also listen to any advice anyone has to give.
Thanks
 
First let me congratulate you on making the right choice. GSH are great dogs. First work on the dog getting familiar with its name. You should start the check chord training by staking the dog to about three feet of chord, on a stake away from everything. It will bother him at first, but eventually he will get used to it and being on a check cord. Then comes the most important training tip. The whoa command. From this one word command will come all other training and could save the dogs life and you a lot of headache. Put an eye hook on a tree branch. Take the check cord and run it down the back of the dog's head under the collar and down its back. Then rap the cord around the dogs waist and clip it to the cord on its back, making a harness. Next take the cord from the top of the dog's back and put it in the eyehook. Now, the end of the cord will be in your hand and will run over the dog's head and under its collar, up to the eyehook and down around the dog's honches ahead of its back legs. When the dog moves you will pull on your end of the cord, and this will hoist the dog into the air. This is when you introduce the whoa command. The dog will not know what happened but will know he does not want to move again and have that happedn to him again. You will then comfort the dog by massaging it and saying good dog, this will let it know it is doing the right thing. The dog will associate the lift with the rope and not the person. keep the sessions short. Under 10 minutes. After three sessions or so move off of the tree and do it in the yard withthe cord still on the same way. reposition the dog to where you used the whoa command and remember to reassure and comfort the dog letting it know it is doing the right thing.
 
PA Have fun with your pup it won't be long and you'll wonder where his lifetime has gone. I have to put my Drahthaar down soon due to cancer. Many birds have surcumb to his nose and point.

Well back to your question a group with the info you want is North American Versital Hunting Dog Assc. NAVHDA. It is spread thoughout North America and if you check their website you would probably find a chapter near you. They have people that have trained many dogs through the years at these chapters and are will to share their experence with you free just by you joining the organization. They conduct training days and tests. The tests are up to you if you would like to participate but the training days are excellent ways to learn about training your dog. The website is www.NAVHDA.org , and if you dont want to participate I would recomend the book that they have "The training and care of the versitile hunting dog" by Sigbot Winterhelt. Take a look at the Website and you will see that the tests are designed to judge your dog against a standard not another dog, eliminating competition. This is fashoined after the german hunting tests for dogs. If you go through the tests and complete them you will have a finished hunting dog that you will have more fun with and more pride in than if you sent it to a professional trainer.
SAW
 
Heh Norm,
Does this technique work for pointers only? I have a wild flushing young lab and while certainly not a pointer he is a bird dog and his enthusiasm can be a drawback. Your response was very enlightening. The next one is a GSP but this one is a big 11 month yellow lab with a leaning toward rushing the situation, whether it be bird or anything else that catches his fancy. Thanks.
 
I do not know for sure. I have only trained pointers. I have hunted with all breeds and when I see another breed out hunt a GSP, then that will be the breed I own. Gsp are smart and take to training very well. They are also a versatile dog and with their webbed feet also make a good dog for water retreives. All I can say for sure is that when this technique was introduced to me i was skeptical and chose my wildest dog for the demonstration. She went from out of control to controled instantly and I will swear by this technique.
 
Thanks for the replys.

Norm,
This is my first hunting dog. I could use some help. She will be 11 weeks tomorrow.
NOW the problem is I watched a few video's, read a few books, talked to a few people and although they were all a helpful they ALL had different opinons and methods and I'm a little confused.

What commands should I be working on? how? and how often?

Everyone said make it fun.
I've been trying to teach her "here" and it gets frustrating when she won't pay any attention to me or starts chewing on the check cord.
Maybe I'm expecting too much? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Here's my e-mail if you would rather e-mail me.
Sparrow221@msn.com
Thanks.
 
It is going to be frustrating, not just now but for the first two years, but the reward you
will get back from this will be unequaled. Remember this, the training will be a series of 15 minute sessions and it will seem like you are getting nowhere, but it is an accumulation of these 15 minute sesions. These dogs are bred to hunt, its in there genes, so that will handle itslef once you have mastered your commands in the yard. Its still a puppy and everything is fun to it including chewing on the chord. You can keep working on "here" by using the command and pulling the puppy to you with the chord. It will come with time. The "here" command can then be used for retreives as well. Start getting somethinng the puppy likes to play with used to the puppy for future training of retrieving. Here will get the dog to come to you and will be helpful in retreiving and Whoa can be used to hold a point or just stop the dog. These two commands alone will cover most of your needs. Good luck! You are running a marathon here not a sprint, slow and steady. It will all add up in time.
 
Congradulations on that new Shorthair! I've owned, trained and bred Shorthairs since the early 1960's! Dang I'm getting old!
You're in for one heck of a treat. In my opinion you could not have made a better choice. Male or female? You'll find the males to be a little head-strong but they come around with a little patience, females on the other hand seem to be a little more docile, and accept training a little easier and make just as good a hunter. There temperment is usually very good, great with kids, their main goal in life is to please you, remember that.
Every dog has a different personality just like us humans so watch him and learn what he's all about.
Like what was stated in an earlier post keep those first training sessions short, you will see when they start to lose thier enthusiasum, a puppies attention span is short at first and easily distracted, so when you see the first signs of his interest waning, end the session. This will make them want to do more the next time, so they can interact with you more and for longer periods.
The instinct to hunt is bred into them, it's up to you to work with him and refine those instincts to what you desire in YOUR DOG! It takes time so be patient and you will be rewarded handsomely!
As also stated in an earlier post the "Whoa" command is an important one, but one that can be brought into use once you're in the field with him but for now there two commands that he must obey without exception and they are "NO" and the "COME" command. "No" is pretty self-explanitory, like if you see him putting the sneak on a skunk or other non-game animal or bird such as a farmers Geese, chickens, cows, or pigs! But the "COME" command is, in my opinion, the most important command the dog can learn and must learn to obey it wether he's been good or bad, no compromises here! It can mean life or death in a bad situation, for example; hunting a fence-line close to a country road, the dog will eventually go through that fence and be in harms way from a passing vehicle (I've seen too many good hunting dogs meet thier end this way!)
Last but not least remember you're the BOSS, the Alpha male, the leader of the pack so to speak, he will know, and once in awhile you may have to reinforce this, I'm not saying it will call for physical contact but a simple scolding can work wonders. Remember all he wants to do is PLEASE YOU and be praised for his deeds, so when he does good, let him know.
 
Saw, I'll second the advice about NAVHDA. I have a Pudlepointer, but as you probably know, most of the dogs in the NAVHDA registry and tests are Shorthairs. Great dogs. Have a great day. Tim.
 
Join a Birddog club! I have a 1 year old gsp and thats what I did, I also got a few videos, Get a bunch from different trainers and incorporate everything you learn from each trainer that seams to work for your dog. Get them on birds early, just let them chase them around at first, Have fun with your dog for awhile, I think GSP's take along time to grow up. They do take to training very well I think, but Until they mature they need alot of supervision in the field. If you dont have alot of birds in your area take a look at this pi to see what else they will point! My GSP
 
Norm - I saw your post on the tree trick for teaching Whoa. I also see you are from Iowa. Where did you learn that trick? Just curious because I learned it from a trainer not too far from you that was helping me train my first Shorthair. It does work great and also that trainer is thee best there is in the business in my humble opinion.
 
I have had shorthair's for 15 years. I think they are the smartest breed I have ever hunted behind. They learn so quick and they really want to please. I think the best thing you can do is make the dog your best friend. My dogs go almost everywhere I go. They sleep at the foot of my bed. I have had them since they were eight weeks old. They are now two, and are really getting to be fun. I think you will really enjoy your dog.
 
Get the green book from NAVHDA and Joan Baileys book Training hunting dogs to train themselves.
Joans book is excellent from puppy to adult but focuses on the first 4 months so get it quick. This is the prime training time for the dogs entire life.
 
PA Tracker... Congratulations on your GSP. I have 3 (2 male and 1 female) all from the same litter. I used to raise them but I'll never do that again I lost the mom (Jan 2002)from complications from birthing a litter of 11. She was 3 yrs old and my partner. Anyhow I am a big fan of Richard Waltes "Gun Dog" and Delmar Smith I have gund dog on Video and Book and the Delmar Smith Book.
 
Great choice on the dog. I agree with Wild Horse. Making the dog ur best friend could be the most important thing you do. I got my shorthair when I was only about 12 years old so I didnt really know how to train her properly. The first 3 years were kind of a pain getting her to listen but after a couple seasons of hunting she sort of taught herself. she is almost 10 now and I coudlnt ask for a better friend/hunting partner. She has a hell of a nose and unlike my buddies english pointer who freezes at the littlest scent out there, she will trail a running bird. Couldnt be happier with her

P.S. i've got a question for you guys that have worked with different shorthairs. My buddy just bought a pup she's a year old now, and she never pointed a bird once all last season. I realize she was very young at the time but i was curious if some dogs just take a while to point or if maybe she just never will???? Hope thats not the case .
Jailer
 
Jailer, I have three all 2 yrs old, The one started pointing at about 8-10 weeks that one was my best till this year I had never hunted the one till this fall although I though she had the better nose she wouldn't point. One day while out just walking the fiels she pointed at somthing so I went over and out ran a rabbit. She done by far the best this last fall. She was 20 months old. I started all mine on a phesant wing tied to a old fishing rod when they were about 4-6 weeks old.....
 
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