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saskhunt
Posts:4
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| 12/27/2011 9:21 AM |
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Hey there would any one have any suggestion on what I should be training a 3 month old GSP for hunting?
any info would be appreciated, just got my gsp at 10 weeks, I have trained him the basics for puppys lay, heel, come, etc. So just want to take it to the next level! |
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tgatto
Lake in the Hills, IL
MH
Posts:411
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| 12/27/2011 11:24 AM |
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Hey saskhunt! Welcome to the site... I usually focus on "Sit", "Heel", and "Come" early, then progress to "Whoa" prior to introduction to birds. Probably the best advice I ever got regarding puppy training is to keep in mind that everything, EVERYTHING you are doing is training the dog (even if you think it is just "play"). Of course, this does not mean that every second spent with the dog is commands, just that behaviors are formed over time. I find when I keep that in mind, I have less behavior problems that need to be "unlearned".
Take jumping up on people for example - it is REALLY cute when they are puppies and barely reach your knee, but when they are 75 pounds, and knocking people over... not so nice... When you allow it when they are puppies it is YOUR behavior and expectations that change (to the dog) when it is no longer OK. ("Hey, wait a second, this was OK before...") Easier to set the rules when they are little, and the consistency helps! Same thing with kennel at night, tug-of-war...
Maybe you already know that, but it is what me and my family struggle with our dogs... |
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It is watching the dogs work that I thoroughly enjoy, and love. I could get by with just watching them work - if it weren't for all the training, and the joy they exhibit when they pick-up, and deilver to hand a bird that they pointed, and you shot. - Todd |
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saskhunt
Posts:4
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| 01/02/2012 9:10 AM |
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thanks for the advice greatly appreciated, I have been working with him on come, heel, and lay down. He has been doing good and can't complain..
the one problem I have is that it is winter up here and he cannot handle the cold right now, so being able to meet his exercise and training requirements have been a little difficult. but thankfully we have a fairly large basement that is able to do the trick for now.
Another question is when should I intoduce pheasant wing training for pointing? He is 13 weeks right now.
Thanks again for the advice and hope to hear from you! |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7855
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| 01/02/2012 10:26 AM |
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First, to help with the over energetic pup in winter time, try teaching him the find it game. Start easy and let him see you hide a treat or favorite toy and then let him go an tell him find it. As he figures this out you can make it harder and harder for him to find the object. It is also a good way to work the sit or down stay as you can do that at the beginning while you are hiding the prize. At first he will probably get up to help you, but he will figure out the game quickly. I usually start with a yummy treat when I teach this. You can also play with people hiding and sending him to find the person. Just remember no matter what it is he is finding you have to have a celebration when he finds it.
As far as a pheasant wing, I don't know anyone who uses them in training a shorthair. Why would you? I start my dogs right out on a bird. Here is a link to a thread where I posted how I start my puppies on birds. You will have to scroll down some to find my post, but I recommend you read the whole thread too.
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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 |
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saskhunt
Posts:4
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| 01/08/2012 10:16 AM |
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Thanks for the info, I check out the thread and has helped allot. I started the find it game and surprisingly he picked it up allot faster than I would have expected. He uses his nose allot which is good to see. So far so good! |
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tgatto
Lake in the Hills, IL
MH
Posts:411
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| 01/10/2012 4:15 PM |
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Posted By saskhunt on 01/02/2012 9:10 AM
thanks for the advice greatly appreciated, I have been working with him on come, heel, and lay down. He has been doing good and can't complain..
the one problem I have is that it is winter up here and he cannot handle the cold right now, so being able to meet his exercise and training requirements have been a little difficult. but thankfully we have a fairly large basement that is able to do the trick for now.
Another question is when should I intoduce pheasant wing training for pointing? He is 13 weeks right now.
Thanks again for the advice and hope to hear from you!
I have to agree with TB here. I usually use a spare wing for the hide and find game, which changes things up a bit (more for me than the dog). Sadie showed no interest in actually pointing the wing, but no worries on that - they are bred to point, and they will do it - if not on a wing, on live birds. Sadie picked it up on her third live bird. I was only somewhat successful with my last dog, Sophie, in getting her to actually point a wing (of which no one was more surprised than me) - don't expect it to "teach" pointing. Rather, work on "Whoa", which will come in handy in steadying the dog on live birds.
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It is watching the dogs work that I thoroughly enjoy, and love. I could get by with just watching them work - if it weren't for all the training, and the joy they exhibit when they pick-up, and deilver to hand a bird that they pointed, and you shot. - Todd |
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saskhunt
Posts:4
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| 01/15/2012 12:43 PM |
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Hello there, I was wondering if you could send me the link again to that forum on how you introduce birds to pups. I was able to click on it and find the post but when I went back to re read it just takes me back to the forum page.
Thanks again for the info greatly appreciated, I have him well trained right now for come, heel, and whoa, he still needs some work in the yard for the commands but in the house he is dead on! exciting seeing him learn and cant wait for the snow to melt so we can get out in the field.
saskhunt
Nathan Mathies |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7855
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| 01/15/2012 1:08 PM |
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Nathan - Unfortunately there was a problem with that section of the forum and all the posts were lost. So let me see if I can recreate it here for you.
First, if your pup has never been around birds you want to be careful and not let the pup get frightened by flapping wings, etc. I also use pigeons because they are cheap, plentiful and strong fliers. First I hold the bird with the wings clamped to its side and tail feathers out and let the pup sniff and investigate. Once the pup is excited I carefully release the bird and let the dog chase it. If the dog is confident and excited then the next bird I let one wing free, but still keep it from flapping that wing in the puppies face. Same process, let the pup sniff and get excited and then release and chase. That is usually all I do on the first introduction unless the pup is progressing with no issues.
Depending on the pup I may repeat the above a time or two more, but typically shorthairs progress quickly. So next is planting and finding a bird. I still use pigeons and will dizzy and plant one bird. I let the pup see what I am doing. Then with the pup on a check cord I walk the dog down wind of the planted pigeon so they get a good noseful. They typically have no issues with finding and pointing the bird. I then will flush the bird and let the pup chase. Again I repeat this depending on how the pup is doing.
Note: I have not even talked about the gun yet as these first steps are all about getting the pup excited and focused on the bird.
Next I intro the gun. So, I plant some birds and I usually let the pup see what I am doing. If I have someone to help me I send them across the field with the starter pistol a good ways away. Then I bring the pup in down wind and let them find and point the bird. I then flush the bird and release the dog to chase. As soon as the dog is chasing, the person with the gun fires the gun. Watch the dog. If you get any more of a reaction than say a flinch, back the person with the gun further away. If you get no reaction, move the person with the gun closer and repeat. I am very careful with not progressing this too fast as it is very hard to fix a dog that is gun sensitive.
If you don't have a helper you can do the gun work yourself, but you need to wait to fire until the dog is chasing the bird and is further away from you. I also am careful to point the gun down and away from the dog. It is easier to do if you have someone to help you.
Once the dog is good with the gun, then I put it all together and when I plant birds now I do not let the dog see me. I mark where the birds are planted with bright colored tape so I know exactly where to bring my dogs into the bird (always downwind so they learn to work the scent cone and they can be successful). I keep the dog on a check cord too as I do not want them catching a bird. I will let them go dragging the check cord and let them find the bird. Once they find it I pick up the check cord and walk in and flush. As soon as the bird flushed I fire the starter pistol down and away from the dog.
This process can take a day or many days depending on the dog and if the breeder did anything with them with guns and birds between 3 and 8 weeks. For my puppies they get introduced to a loud air gun going off at dinner time starting when they are 3 weeks old. Then at about 4 weeks they get to play with quail wings so they start getting the scent and they get their first quail at 6 weeks and then another a week or so later. So, when I take them into the field around 3 months I can usually walk through all the steps very quickly. If the puppy has never seen a bird or heard a gun it will take longer. Don't rush it as it is much easier to go slow and steady than it is to fix a problem because you got in a hurry. |
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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 |
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