Training correction > GSP Forum

Unanswered Active Topics

Forums Search

Subject: Training correction

You are not authorized to post a reply.

Author

Messages

jyoung

Posts:15

05/01/2013 8:46 AM
My dog is about 18 months and I took her to a field trial and instead of going on point she just found the bird and tried to pick the birds up. The other day I took her to some moderately tall grass and hid wings in the grass and the same results she does great finding it but instead of going on point she just picks it up. Any help with correcting this would be appreciated. During hunting season she went on point but it was usually because she was able to see it.

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7844

05/01/2013 11:27 AM
Quit planting wings. They don't move and they are teaching your dog she can pick them up. You need to plant some good flying live birds. I would use some launchers if your birds aren't flying, or use pigeons as they fly very well. As soon as she picks up the scent, launch the bird. She will soon learn she has to stop and point to get the bird. The object is to teach her she cannot get in close enough to pick up the bird which is why I suggested launchers as you have control over when the bird flies. If you have access to wild birds they are great for training a dog not to get in too close as they will fly. Pen raised birds are not always good flyers depending on how the birds were raised.

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

oneal3337

Great Falls, Mt

MH
Posts:107

05/01/2013 1:33 PM
Need to lead your dog into the bird on a check cord with a half hitch and stop him as soon as he scents the bird. Make sure you cut across the down wind side. No need to say whoa. Toss the bird in the air and shoot one every third time or so and let hem retrieve. After he starts to stop on his own while still on the check cord you can remove the check cord. This is the time when a bird launcher is very handy. When the bird is in a launcher you can pop it if he doesn't point so he doesn't catch the bird. Use the best flying birds you can get. Once he starts to point you need to shoot a bird once in a while so he learns he only gets the bird if you shoot it for him. You can cut a piece of garden hose a couple of feet long and attach a couple of pieces of clothes line to it. Attach the line to the legs of the pigeon with slip knots. This will allow the pigeon to fly only about 50 yds so you can reuse the pigeon when you decide not to shoot.

jyoung

Posts:15

05/01/2013 6:02 PM
Thanks guys for the help I'm looking into the launchers now.

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4450

05/02/2013 6:32 AM
Did your dog point before this?

"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

jyoung

Posts:15

05/03/2013 3:00 PM
Yes she will sight point but when it comes to pointing off scent she just won't

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4450

05/03/2013 3:45 PM
I understand. is there a club or experienced person you can contact? at 18 months, leading a dog into point on a cc will be difficult, unless she is low prey drive. I am assuming her search is strong? Going to a ft with a non pointing dog would have only made the issue worse. First tests with young dogs almost always show a dog busting the first few birds it makes contact with,especially the ones with good prey drive. My guess, w/o knowing your dog, is that this can be fixed but will take a good amount of contact with good flying birds.

"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

oneal3337

Great Falls, Mt

MH
Posts:107

05/03/2013 5:31 PM
I agree with Pixie that doing a field trial with a dog that doesn't point did more harm then good but it is fixable. I also agree you should find a club or knowledgeable individual to train with. A check cord half hitched around the waist and then attached to the collar works well for controlling and stopping most dogs regardless of size or prey drive. If you need to see how to attach it get Gun Dog Mag Pointing Dog DVD. It shows you how properly use the check cord to train and reenforce the pointing instinct.

lugmastro

Eastern NC

MH
Posts:83

05/05/2013 8:26 PM
Are you trying to do well at trials or find wild birds? If you want the dog to do well on wild birds get her on wild birds consistantly, and she will naturally point coveys give off more scent and are much more difficult to handle then placed birds. Check cords work, but if you use a collar I have found a whoa and a quick pulse does the trick very well. I have mine down to whoa and a tone. If you are trialing. Then buy some flight trained birds and saturate her on pointing and whoaing. She will learn quickly what you want her to do. Shorthairs are like people if you let them be lazy or let them get bored they will cut corners. Make sure you are doing different scenarios in different places. If it is placed birds make her work for it. The harder they work the better they handle birds of any variety.

You are not authorized to post a reply.

Forums > General > Training > Training correction