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Subject: Pointing During City Walks

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TessaGA

Georgia

MH
Posts:2387

04/08/2009 2:44 PM
Do you discourage it? Tessa, 9 months old, has gotten very stalky during the walks and freezes and points a lot (squirrels and birds, we got lots of both). I have read you are not supposed to move your dog off a point, but rather carry him off if needed (in the field). Also, to me it feels counter-intuitive to correct her when she's pointing, and steady at that. I shall add that when I give the "heel" command it won't get to the point of stopping and pointing, it's forward, and at a heel. But our walks are long, and I don't heel her for 1-2 hours. As soon as we have the informal loose leash she goes back to the hunting mode.

To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7843

04/08/2009 4:54 PM
Well, first I am in trouble if I have to carry Ringo off a point. Not gonna happen as my back won't handle it. I didn't see anyone at the field trial pick a dog up off point either. With regard to the walks, I take mine regularly to our green belt and they are usually off leash. That is their time to have fun, explore, hunt squirrels, whatever. They know the difference, so I don't worry about it. As long as they come when called and check in with me periodically, those are the only requirements I have when we are hiking.

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

TessaGA

Georgia

MH
Posts:2387

04/08/2009 6:25 PM
I wasn't talking about off leash walks. In the park, when she is off-leash, she can do whatever she likes as long as she comes when I call, and it's easy enough not to call her right when she is pointing unless of course I have to. City walks are entirely on leash, so do I tuck her along, with the pinch collar, when she points? "Never pull a dog off of a point. You must pick the dog up in your arms and carry him off of a point. If you pull him off of a point he may interpret that to mean you don't want him to point." Food for thought - veryone feel free to debate this; but I was wondering what it does to her when I pull her our of a point on the pinch, and do that a lot.

To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4450

04/08/2009 6:54 PM
You are getting free training,enjoy it. I let the dogs point,I stroke them-neck to tail, I use this to get staunch points. After a while you can drop the leash-or get a longer leash for slack, and flush the birds and squirrels. Before I get to the flushing part, I wait to see if the bird will leave on it's own or I will carry things,like stones, to throw at them to flush them while I can control the dog with the leash. I say nothing to the dog. If you are in a rush on some days, just let the dog point, then walk off,or just pick up the pace and not let the dog establish point. If you have a beach near you go. The flocks of seagulls on the sand are great for teaching steady to flush. 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

Erric

MH
Posts:95

04/08/2009 7:55 PM
My dog points everything that moves, especially robins, black birds, poof birds, squirrels, rabbits. I just ignore it and heel her off point. Aren't you supposed to be able to leash your dog and heel them off point anyway for something? My NAVHDA chapter teaches it at least so I assumed. I ignore the points that I don't want her to do, and they're mainly the sight points. I want her to use her nose. Now if she scents a rabbit and stops and points I'll let her do that.

TessaGA

Georgia

MH
Posts:2387

04/08/2009 7:59 PM
Francine: I never thought about using it to my advantage that way...interesting. I live about 5 hours from the beach, and was planning to take her there this month.

To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4450

04/09/2009 7:21 AM
This morning some nice person was kind enough to feed the pigeons. Bregon sight pointed and I was able to stroke him,touch his tail,talk to him but today, I could not get in front of him. He was creeping. maybe there were so many walking around he felt the pressure?They flew away on their own but one all white pigeon hung around. i shooed her into the street and we walked on. Starlings and sparrows he points but he is not staunch to them,looks like it's more fun to him then serious business. We also pointed a morning dove but a man came up behind us and broke his concentation. haiko does not point morning doves,never has. Maybe this is not a good pointing bird? And the squirrels were really busy this morning. probably looking for all those nuts they hid and forgot where. I downed him on 3 and on one down there were 4 of them scurrying around. pesky little teasers.No cats tho. They must have had something better to do this morning. Or maybe they got tired of training Bregon?I have never found cats to be cooperative.

"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

WildRose

Seymour Texas

MH
Posts:471

04/09/2009 9:54 AM
If they are pointing off game species, don't make a big deal of it, just call them off and move on. There is no "need" to carry dogs off of point. Some trainers will do that though to convince dogs that it's never acceptible for them to move their feet once they establish point on GAME. This ends though once the dog is "dead broke". I find that to be unnecessary though and way too much work on your back.

There's a reason I like dogs better'n people... .

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7843

04/09/2009 11:36 AM
Thanks Charlie. Like I said, if carrying a dog off is a requirement I am in trouble as Ringo weighs about 57 pounds right not and I expect him to top 65 when fully filled out. No way with my back am I lifting that big boy off of a point. He has to walk on his all fours. My dogs don't point squirrels, doves, oppossums or other small critters, they just terrorize them. Last night it was a tarantula they were terrorizing. I have only seen Ringo and Halo point pidgeons and quail. We have not had exposure yet to pheasant. Belle, will point me when I have the firsbee or the ball, but she is not a hunting dog (no exposure to birds) and her prey drive gets going with frisbees and to a lesser extent balls. I suspect if I introduced her to birds and really developed her bird instinct she would have a spectacular and intense point on birds.

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

Dwayners

Toronto, ON

MH
Posts:271

04/15/2009 7:43 AM
If Michigan points at the wildlife, I tell her she's a good girl. She picked up an injured squirrel yesterday but dropped it when I told her to.

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