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Buggy27
Kennewick, WA
Posts:6
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| 12/27/2007 11:05 PM |
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Hello, My name is Joe. Last week I rescued an abandoned GSP, he is about 8mo old and neutered. I have some questions on the breed though. I am an avid bird hunter and have always heard great things about GSP's as gun dogs.
The questions I have are related to behavior. I am trying to do some basic obedience training, and he is responding well, but he will not fetch, or even look at a training dummy or pheasent wing. Every time I try to get him to pick up something he simply refuses to, even if I place it in his mouth he simply drops it. I am totally confused at this point and would really like some advice. Other than that he seems too be a sweet and loveable dog, he even gets along with my 2yr old daughter and our 8yr old Malamute, The cat is a different storry though ......HeHe. I would really like to get this figured out before bird season comes around again. Don't get me wrong I will keep him even if he wont hunt, but would be good to know if I can fix this problem or need to get another dog .
We named him RUGER.
Thanks Joe |
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I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it , and you can't prove anything!!! |
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2721
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| 12/27/2007 11:56 PM |
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Here is a picture of my rescue GSP Rocky 's face at 12 months old!! |
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2721
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| 12/28/2007 12:14 AM |
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Here is Rocky's face at 5 years and 8months old. You can see he has alot more white around his snout. So I am thinking your new rescued GSP is older than 8 months old. Some GSP's have the high prey retrieve drive and some donot. Some gun dogs do little with play toys and dummies and just do great on live birds to retrieve. Try pheasant scent on a dummy if you donot have a live bird and see how he reacts. Also take him on a walk in a field that has birds of any kind and see how he reacts. Good luck and welcome to the board  |
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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Buggy27
Kennewick, WA
Posts:6
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| 12/28/2007 12:37 AM |
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Thanks for the reply.... I honestly dont know how old he is, I am judging by the look of his teeth and his size and weight. I tried to scent the dummy with some phesant scent and he showed no interest atall. I took him to a local HMU today and let him work the feild, unfortunately that feild is hit pretty hard and eraly in the season so there wasnt anything to hit on. He definately has the prey drive though, I havent seen a squirell in my yrad since we brought him home and we have three walnut trees. And on top of that he thinks the cat is fair game and isists on chasing her through the house.
What is the best way to figure out his age? |
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I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it , and you can't prove anything!!! |
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gsplvr
JH
Posts:25
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| 12/28/2007 4:59 AM |
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| As someone who has owned gsps for over 30 years, and worked in the vet. field as many, I am pretty certain from the picture of your boy that is is way older than 8 months. In fact with the gray over the eyebrows, the graying on the muzzle and if you look at his front legs, there is alot of graying on them as well. Looking at his teeth would also give a better idea, but I would estimate him as somewhere between 7 to 10 years old. Just a guess, but he looks like a sweetheart. His teeth may be the reason he does not want to pick up anything. Have them checked by your vet. Once they are taken care of he may be more inclined to put something in his mouth. They are known for their longevity, so once you two get used to each other, you should have many good years together. the old dogs are the best .....love him alot!!!!!! |
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Trey
SW Iowa
MH
Posts:516
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| 12/28/2007 7:01 AM |
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As the others, I agree he is much over 8 months old, maybe you had a typo in your first post?
Anyway, unfortunetly the retrieving instinct does vary in these dogs, and again, some fabulous hunting retreivers just don't 'play' fetch.
Have his teeth checked first, make sure he doesn't have any pain issues there (abcess, infected gums).
Without knowing any past history it is a tough call, dogs who have been poorly force fetched can be very resistant, and with his age I wouldn't bother with trying to train it at this point. Take him out over the summer and shoot some birds for him, chances are he will go to it, probably pick it up and maybe bring it to you or close to you. If he were a young dog (under lets say 4) I would go ahead and train it, but just have fun with him and let him enjoy the rest of his years.
If you haven't shot around him, do so carefully, lots of dogs that end up in rescue situations are there because they are gunshy.
Have fun with him, and bless you for giving him a home, he looks like a sweet guy. |
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Ranger
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:168
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| 12/28/2007 11:37 AM |
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| Our adopted Ranger doesn't retrieve either. We've only had him since September so we're hopeful he may discover the game. He isn't interested in toys to chew on for that matter as well. He likes bones and such but has no interest in the kong, stuffed toys, squeaky toys, balls, etc. He's about 6 years old, so who knows what his background was. We love him anyway and accept that he just may be more "serious" and not into the play thing. He is an absolute cuddler and sweetie, so no problem! |
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BEANS
Washington state
MH
Posts:1119
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| 12/28/2007 11:56 AM |
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I was worried about Bean, not having PLAY SKILLS...of any type ! She has been w/ us almost a year and was 18 months
when we got her>>>>Plus had just had a litter 3 months earlier.....
While we were trying to get her interested in just being happy & playful .....We introduced her to some "bad habits"
Now she chews on my hubbies pants, to get him to play with her...She stops when told to...But we allow it because
It is so nice to see her playing....She plays hide N seek, fetch & butt tuckin' chasing....
My favorite thing she does, is go crazy if my husband tries to go outside without her...She can be perched at her window seat 1/2 asleep and see Greg walk toward the back door...She shreeks and goes crazy >>> So naturaly <<< He teases her, just so she'll do it !
Our hot tub is on the back deck, and we have a bucket of spa towels by the door...All Greg has to do is pick up a towel & she starts her routine
I was happy just having her with us, playful or not.............But this is such a miracle....Really makes my heart smile
Renee' |
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Renee'
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2721
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| 12/28/2007 2:37 PM |
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| I think you know within the first few days of adopting a dog what kind of dog you have. Snickers our Chese/Lab, was very low energy. I tested her with retrieving a tennis ball. She retrieved it 3 times then the 4th time, stopped looked up at me and said" I did that enough,now you retrieve it that is silly". That was the end of it. She was very gun shy, so that ruled out any hunting. But she made a great family dog.low energy. loving dog. Where as Mr High energy high prey, drive Rocky is every upland bird gun hunter's dream dog!!! We could tell the first night Rocky was in our house that he was a hunting dog. My Husband crashed a tray of ice cubes on the floor making a loud bang sound. Snickers ran to the bedroom for cover, while Rocky just stayed there picking up all the ice cubes on the floor in his mouth. Further testing, my husband took one gun out of the gun case and Rocky went wild. He shown great excitement when my husband got out some hunting clothes and a dummy. We just new it at 12 months old first night of adopting Rocky he could be trained to be a great hunting dog. In adopting Rocky form the rescue, I just wanted a good family GSP dog to live with us and become a part of the family. It did not matter if he was a hunter or not. The fact that Rocky has turned out to be a great hunting dog is just a bonus. It is in his blood and taking him out to the local game farms to pheasant hunt is like taking Rocky to Disney World!! Rocky is very playful loves all toys sweaky, kong, footballs baseballs ect. I truely feel that if Ranger, Bean(when you first adopted her), and now Ruger could spend a week living with a playful high energy dog like Rocky that dog could teach Ranger, Bean and Ruger to be more playful too. |
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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Ace1cappuccino
Carp Lake, Michigan
MH
Posts:1618
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| 12/28/2007 6:40 PM |
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| I agree. He definately looks alot older. He has that distinguished look. Like an older gentleman. Your vet could probably tell you his age. |
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Cornell's GSP'S- Mocha cappuccino, Lili Belle Lotte, Sir Leopold Vom Hunter 1, Lil Miss Lotte Doddi, Ace Hunter Twisted Mister(GSP'S)  
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Buggy27
Kennewick, WA
Posts:6
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| 12/28/2007 9:12 PM |
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Thank you all for your help. I pulled out the Shotgun this morning to get ready for some Trap-shooting and he went nuts....jumping, barking, and just sitting at the front door with his little nub going a million miles an hour. We plan on taking him to the vet next week for a check-up and to have him chipped. I think you are all correct in his age guestimation, but thats OK with me he is increddibly loveable and curls up in my lap every night to watch TV and sleep. I will definatly be looking for another as a gun dog in the future....unfortunately we already have 2 other dogs and 3 is plenty. Trust me my Malamute is a horse and can eat you out of house and home easily, and my wifes new Cocker spaniel puppy is exciting enough for now.
I will just give him a warm and happy home to finish living out his days...... Thanks Again Joe |
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I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it , and you can't prove anything!!! |
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Trey
SW Iowa
MH
Posts:516
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| 12/29/2007 7:26 AM |
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| That is a great sign Joe, sounds like you will have a hunting partner for a while! He sounds like a great boy! Keep us updated. |
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BEANS
Washington state
MH
Posts:1119
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| 12/29/2007 8:15 AM |
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Hey Joe
Just noticed you are in Washington...HOOORAY
We are in Olympia..
Renee' |
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Renee'
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Buggy27
Kennewick, WA
Posts:6
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Ace1cappuccino
Carp Lake, Michigan
MH
Posts:1618
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| 12/29/2007 9:40 PM |
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| Just because he is a bit older don't under estimate him. If you got the gun and he was excited that's great. That means he KNOWS what you are going to do. As far as the fence, Hunter has climed out of a 6 foot tall kennel and he can almost jump out of my 5 foot tall kennel. Thus the electric fence around top and bottom. Keep us posted. You should try to find him a bird and see what he'll do. |
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Cornell's GSP'S- Mocha cappuccino, Lili Belle Lotte, Sir Leopold Vom Hunter 1, Lil Miss Lotte Doddi, Ace Hunter Twisted Mister(GSP'S)
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