We had contacted a friend of ours who owns a preserve to see if he would just let us take our male GSP 1.5 year old out and just work some risidual birds. He of course said no problem go ahead. So my paster wanted to come too with his lab so he actualy bought three chukars to work her on and we were going to just work risiduals.

Well we get to the property and there is the owner and three other guys. He had two people come who wante to pay to put out some birds so of course he has to take his paying customers first. They had actually been out for about a half hour when we got there.

I got the biggest compliment ever though when we got there. Greg (preserve owner) asked me if I would take Moose (my male GSP) and go help the guys work the birds they planted. I asked him if they have a dog and he said yes they do but I really want Moose to go out and show their  dog the ropes and try to help their dog hunt. He isn't doing much of anything. Needless to say I was BEEEMING!!!!

Greg then went on to tell us that their dog was a young dog and probably just needed some time on some birds. So we went and met up with them in the field. I will be honest I have NEVER seen a GSP this big in my life. They said this dogs dad was 94 lbs!!!! HOLY CRAP. Anyway.....so this dog didn't look too young to me but hey whatever. The afternoon went on and Moose was pointing every bird and their dog only pointed one with moose and missed the rest. We tried and tried to get him on some points with no luck.

Through conversation it came out that their dog was TWO years old. OLDER than my boy! Wow...once again not showing it I was BEEEMING to know I had such a great dog. Then greg pulled jeff (my hubby) aside and said to him 'Moose is doing an awesome job!" 

So I am finaly feeling like my hard work and dedication is paying off. And that all the people that have tried to tell me in the conformation show ring that Moose would never amount to being much of a hunter cause he has a slight paddling in the front were dead wrong! ( I have heard this before though too from other hunters) . I have a great hunting dog and I was able to have someone who hunts almost daily with is GSP tell me this!

Overall Moose pointed 3 chukar, and 4 pheasant today. Not a bad day if I do say so myself! And the pheasants were not easy by any means. They RAN like none other!

That is awesome Beth!!! Congrats! I love it when my dogs do me proud like that. Usually mine want to act up around new people and puts my foot in my mouth! That is cool that he did so well for you. Mocha did good with Pheasants as she would get in front of them. I haven't had Hunter on them but he does good on Grouse!!

I'm sure you praised him for his good work too!

Your story about Moose brought tears of proudness to my eyes for himAll the work, training, time and patience have paid off.  GSP's have a natural abiltiy and is great to place them in an invironment that GSP's can excell like you saw Moose preform. And I did read that male GSP's can be 95 lbs and did have a large one visit me and I could not believe his size either. Almost not far from a great Dane... Rocky is taller and longer than all the fit in shape 97-94lbs Labs in our morning Gun Dog walking group. Many Dog owners always comment at what a big Pointer I have. By himself, Rocky doesn't look that big to me until I get him next to another supposed large breed dog and he stands eye to eye to them.We try to keep him between 85 and 90 lbs range. His shoulders are 27" so he has the height.  Rocky can pick up a basketball and carry it like nothing We are lucky too as Rocky flushes up every bird in his path. He even keeps hunting for a lost shot bird after the hunters have given up and will come up with the back with the bird.in his mouth . I think that is just breed in GSP's I don't think that can be taught or trained into them.. You are so lucky to have a natural great hunter in Moose and continue to be proud  Go Moose

Way to go Moose!!!!! Good job !!!

After looking at your slim trim dock jumping dog pics. I am thinking maybe I should trim Rocky a bit as he does tip the scale at the Vets between 85 and 90 lbs on the high side.Good news I do run him every day out in the field off leash 45 to 1 hour every day. On bad weather days I toss balls for him to jump and retrieve for at least an hour at a time so he is in shape, but I am thinking now too heavy. Also now leash walking him in town 2 miles till the weather gets bad. We feed him 2 cups in morning (Canidae dry food mixed with 2 TBS canned Canidae) and 2 cups in the evening. Am I feeding him too much?Rocky loves his food.  Any other tips for weight loss?

I know how proud you must be. Congrats on a job well done. Your hard work and dedication has realy paid off. It's funny how our dogs make us as proud as our children do, isnt it? Oh wait, they are our children! About the large GSP thing, When I took chase out to the trainers there was a 16 month old that was realy petite and chase looked like an ox next to him. I think it is all in the breeding, which I know Chase wasnt bred well since he came from a backyard breeder (rescued, not bought).

Um there is absolutely nothing wrong with a tall GSP. Please don't imply that b/c one is large they must be from a BYB. It's actually a little offensive to me. Mine is quite tall, about 26" but trim and fit, and comes from excellent, mostly German bloodlines. All of the European standards call for taller dogs than the US, and also accept blacks, as does the UKC.

I have seen these guys in so many different shapes. I saw one at the vet last year that was bred like the very old ones. He was huge and as round as a barrel. Not sure if he was over weight or just big. Mocha has a very wide chest, wider than all my other GSP's. Her dad was a pure german import. Hunter has a skinny chest as does stud.  Belle has apretty wide chest too. I know Mocha is a bit over weight as I can't see her back ribs and she has a little dimple above her tail. I know the dimple means that they are too heavy. She will lose it as we are hunting alot now! Hunter I thought was a big boy but he only weighs 56# on average so I guess not. He is pure muscle. Don't know if that helps but that is what I know.

You definately have to r4ealize that these guys are all different. The coat and color patterns vary so much, so should the weights and body size.