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knightfarms
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
MH
Posts:81
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| 05/23/2011 8:07 AM |
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Hi everyone!
I've been reading these boards for weeks, just lurking, though. I finally made my final decision to get a GSP over a lab, found a breeder/litter, and have almost picked the pup. Woohooo.
I'm not new to dogs or obedience training and competitions, but I'm new to gun dogs and hunt training. I had dobermans and German Shepherds before. I'm in NE Ohio and it seems like there's a lot of good training events going on around here, so that's exciting. I'm a city girl  and wasn't sure if I was going to be able to train a gun dog, but there are some folks on here that have given me hope. We are joining a club and I'm trying to make other doggie friends.
I'm not sure whether or not I'm more interested in Hunt or Field Trials, as i'm doing my best to learn more about both... the pup's pedigree has loads of titled hunters, obedience, and confirmation lines...
Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself because I'm sure I'll be posting pics and begging advice.
-Cheryl
Cleveland, OH |
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He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
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Phillyo118
UK
MH
Posts:668
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| 05/23/2011 8:23 AM |
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Welcome!!
Pictures are always very welcome, as i'm sure you're aware if you've been lurking here for a while now. I'm in the process of selecting my second GSP (Mad I know) so we'll be going through it all at about the same time. You're in for a fun ride 
There's a wealth of knowledge on this forum from showing to trailing, working to agility and everything in between so i'm sure if you have any questions regarding GSPs someone here will know the answer.
Welcome once again from over the pond!
Phil
Cleveland, UK 
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"From the dog's point of view, his master is an elongated and abnormally cunning dog."
"My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am." |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4122
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| 05/23/2011 8:59 AM |
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Welcome to the board.
Whatever you end up doing with your new pup is better than doing nothing.
Francine |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Nancy D
No. Lower MI - Gaylord Area
MH
Posts:585
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| 05/23/2011 9:35 AM |
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Welcome Cheryl. Since you've been reading and learning, I'm sure you know that you have a wealth of information and help here.
I'm in MI. Have had labs, but went to dobermans. Totally love the breed. Then I fostered a young GSP, Lucy, and ended up flunking foster 101 as she wormed her way into my life and home. I call her my wild child. ;-)
Congrats on your new GSP pup and will definitely be waiting for pictures when the big day arrives and you bring him/her home.
Nancy |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6941
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| 05/23/2011 2:22 PM |
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| Welcome to the forum. Congratulations on your choice of a GSP. Can't wait to see pictures of the new addition. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
     
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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knightfarms
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
MH
Posts:81
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| 05/23/2011 2:53 PM |
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Thanks everyone! As soon as I make up my mind and the pups develop more personality (they are 4 wks now), then I'll gladly post.
I am almost dead set on a male, but the bitch is such a beautiful dog that I might be swayed to get a little girl like her mama!
***don't pick based on color, don't pick based on color*** I keep telling myself, but it's so hard when the breeder is 6+ hours away.
Can't wait to post pics!!!!
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He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6941
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| 05/23/2011 5:20 PM |
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| Listen to what your breeder is recommending and ask them why they are recommending that particular puppy. Remember the breeder lives with the puppies and knows them better than anyone and they should be able to give you a very good recommendation. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Max2
Oneonta NY
MH
Posts:822
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| 05/24/2011 3:40 AM |
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Welcome !
Sounds like some good tip's already !
Can't wait to see some pictures ! |
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Chris |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:2863
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| 05/24/2011 5:52 AM |
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I know about the 6 hour drive -- that's how far our breeder is from us too!
Congrats on choosing one of the most amazing dog breeds out there. You will fall in love, over and over again, I'm sure. Beware of GSP-itis (can't have just one!).
Can't wait to see the pictures once you've chosen. |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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knightfarms
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
MH
Posts:81
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| 05/24/2011 6:30 AM |
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This guy has been great dealing with me. The puppy I really liked for looks had a very large umbilical hernia.
Then there was a bit of a disagreement between all of us as to whether we liked more white or ticked...
And I thought I was set on a male until I saw a pic of a female that looks just like her mama (solid head, little ticking, and just a spot on the tail), and we all like her.
They are only 4 weeks old now, and I'm going to try to visit at 6 weeks to see if any of the pups pick us. And I've asked the breeder for his recomendations based on what I've told him. I'm hoping that their little personalities will start budding so he can tell me more!!!
The wait is killing me! |
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He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6941
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| 05/24/2011 8:02 AM |
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| Ask him about the puppy development he is doing. Has he introduced the puppies to new things, sounds, moved them from the whelping box yet, taken each of them out by themselves, etc? How did they respond? I also like to cradle the puppies in my arm like a baby. If they will look at you, those puppies will typically be a bit easier to train, but if they won't look at you that is an indicator of independence. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it usually means the puppy will be harder to train as they will be more out to please themselves instead of you. Of course, once you do connect with an independent puppy, they are usually wonderful working dogs. There are some good books out their on puppy development that you might want to look at and that may help with your selection. I would caution you not to look at color and markings, but look hard at the behavior of the puppy. If everything else is equal, then you can decide on looks. I wouldn't let any of my puppy buyers pick a puppy until my litter was 8 weeks old. Spent allot of time talking to my buyers about what they wanted and would post pictures weekly with updates so they could see the puppies develop. When the puppies were almost 8 weeks old I did a formal evaluation and then gave my buyers the option of 2 or 3 pups depending on where they were in the picking order and if they were a show or pet home. It worked out very well for all of the puppy buyers and have had the good fortune of being able to keep in touch with my buyers and also to see my puppies again several times since they have gone to their forever homes. Good luck in your choice. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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JMSGunner
Bucks County, PA
MH
Posts:765
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| 05/24/2011 8:30 AM |
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Our breeder was 5 hours away, I feel ya!
And we got our 2nd dog 11 hours away! OY! |
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Jackie & Gunner
Impressive Gewehr von Catskill 4/19/2010
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