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Subject: Informal Poll: Hve you taught your GSP Sit Command

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NJAg78

Posts:17

09/25/2008 7:16 AM
This is more of a curiousity thing for me, because I know there is some disagreement among folks and my intention is not to stir controversy. Have you taught your GSP a sit command? If so do you hunt your GSP?

Almost Heaven GSP User is Offline

Springfield, WV

MH
Posts:731

09/25/2008 10:39 AM
Nope, No Way, Uh Uh, Nada! I don't, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. My preference would just be that the pointing instinct and steadiness be firmly established before teaching Sit, as I've worked with a number of dogs trained to Sit very young/1st thing, that once the pressure is put on them to remain standing Steady to Wing & Shot or Wing, Shot & Fall will automatically sit to remove the pressure of being forced to stand.

Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail. Bruce Shaffer Almost Heaven GSP's

carlower1

Kansas

MH
Posts:1253

09/25/2008 12:01 PM
Yes I have taught ALL my dogs the sit command! It is one of the first commands they learn, along with wait (wait is sit and WAIT for me to give you permission). No I do not hunt my dogs, but Wachter and I do bike together, he is supposed to "sit" when given the halt command especially at street corners where we are waiting to cross a busy street Carrie

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4448

09/25/2008 1:40 PM
We hunt and amoung the first commands to be learned are sit and down. Sit is taught first as soon as the puppy comes to our home and down starts at 4 months old. Along with these we teach wait/whoa. A dog should not sit on point, but once the dog is aware of the handler it becomes a steadiness issue and the dog may sit instead of stand. This occurs when the dog is unaware of what he should be doing once the handler enters the picture and the default command is usually a well known command like sit. If the trainer does not putting to much pressure on a dog around birds there is no reason a dog should sit after the point. In the last 2 1/5 years I have met and spoken to dozens of people who teach sit at a very young age and have no issues with it in the field. I understand that some dogs may have an issue with it, I just know that it doesn't have to be an issue. Francine

"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

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7835

09/25/2008 1:56 PM
I start teaching sit, down, stand, stay, and heel as soon as I get my dogs home (8 weeks). I don't hunt, but I show in both confirmation and obedience. My dogs have to know the difference between stand and sit as there is no sitting in confirmation. I was told by many handlers I should not teach sit until after I get their confirmation title, but I have not had any problems with my dogs knowing the difference. IMHO GSPs are smart enough to handle the different commands and know the difference in the commands even under pressure. The only time there might be a problem is if a dog lacks confidence, and that is a whole different ball game in what you need to work on anyway.

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

bruns333

Central Ohio

MH
Posts:383

09/25/2008 8:37 PM
I taught my first gsp that I hunt to sit, but she deosn't like too and usually when I tell her to sit it is out of frustration on my part like when I want to take her for a walk and she gets excited and won't be still to get the lead on her. My new pup 4.5 months has not been told to sit, but does it alot on her own when I am trying to tell her off or control her in some way she doesn't understand. I will not teach her to sit, because I can tell that is her default when confused/pressured position. If in the future, if the need arises to have them both do the same command I will use whoa ( I actually use the term Steady). I guess each dog is different and so far I am trying to work with that and not against it. Matt

Where temperament means performance http://silverbulletshorthairs.com/ http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=721 R.I.P Trego 6-1-03 to 10-13-10 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=941 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=3626

Trey

SW Iowa

MH
Posts:516

09/26/2008 5:38 AM
Yes, and Yes. I do teach sit and I do hunt. My oldest two also have obedience titles along with their hunting titles. I have yet to have a dog sit on point. Usually when I see dogs go down on point it is into the down (normal submissive posture) this is in dogs that have not 'got' it, are not sure what they are doing and default into a submissve (down) posture. I have seen it in as many dogs that are taught sit and down as not (all dogs know sit and down, and it is how they submit, whether they were taught a word for it or not). That said, I don't teach it with a collar on by pushing and pulling the pup, I never touch the dog when I am teaching it.

bravepoint User is Offline

North Gower, ON Canada

MH
Posts:894

09/26/2008 6:08 AM
I teach sit first thing then down. We don't hunt but do field test and NAVHDA test as well as agility, flyball, obedience, conformation and disc. I have never had a dog sit on point. Some of my friends who are avid hunters will not teach sit. Gail

Gail, Moka, Avery, Terra & Rayne Bravepoint GSPs

DesertRoseKennel User is Offline

MH
Posts:1033

09/26/2008 7:42 AM
Sometimes yes and sometimes no, depending on the temperment of the dog. For a really tough, driven dog, I have taught sit - simply because it makes living with them in the house easier. All our dogs are house dogs. Examples here would be my three siblings - Willow, Thunder, June Bug. For a softer dog, like my Hemi, I don't. We are field trialers, and Willow and Thunder have NEVER sat on point (which is the concern), but I wasn't taking chances with Hemi. Jean

"Our dogs are bred to be champion hunters who sleep on the bed" www.desertrosekennel.com

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