11wk old GSP

H

Hank_Hill

New member
I picked her up the other day and can tell she is going to be a fun dog. She's already given me quick points for a couple of seconds at whatever might have caught her eye. She's already responding very well to "come" when I say her name first, being that this is the 3rd day of having her. She doesn't whine too much in her kennel and I can tell that she is going to be a very intelligent dog. This is my first bird dog, so I am open and appreciative to any advice I can get from some of the more experienced members here.

I plan on spending 2-3 weeks on just obedience training. Getting her to come, sit, stay, and basically learn her name. I am a fan of positive reinforcement, especially at this age, so I will keep giving her bits of treat when she does well. In no more than 3 weeks, I'm hoping to introduce her to Quail from my local game farm.

In a couple of days I'll have the kennel finished in the garage, but what do you guys think about crating/kenneling? Again, I appreciate anything I might learn from any of you. Things that have worked better than other/things that don't work/etc.
 
have fun with her.

She wants to please you, but she's a pup. She will learn stuff without you teaching her, and pick up on your behaviors as signs that stuff (like going out, taking a ride in the car, even the intonation of your non-command voice) means things. Really neat to see.

Let her run and play outside, trail that which interests her, get distracted by other stuff...in short, let her teach her self stuff about her world...a world we can only imagine...filled with scents, sounds, wonderful primal urges.

When ever possible, don't give a command you can't enforce. I like kitchen training, with you on the floor, and her without an exit. Be gentle, but consistent.

You have lots of time to work out the relationship...she IS a prodigy, but let her be a puppy.

Gonna be fun.

DUH: missed crate question, cuz I was playing with the puppy. :) There's always an open door crate in the kitchen. My dog, guest dogs all use it. Mick, the Springer, doesn't seek it out, but he'd rather be outside. First GWP sought it out as her day-time bed. Young Bert, the not-right dog, considered it the restaurant in which all bones should be eaten. Crates are the best training tool to help humans avoid mistakes I can think of. From house-breaking to calming things down, from giving a dog a refuge from house clamor to providing a familar bed when traveling...nothing can beat them.
 
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I don't think much of crates and kennels, although I realize for some there are no other options. Dogs need a lot of exercise, need to spend a lot of time with their owner. I believe that the more time spent with Your pup will make for a better hunter and better companion.
Both my Labs are in the front seat of the truck with me wherever I go, get exercise all day long at the ranch, sleep on Their bed in our bedroom.
Spoiled for sure, but when it's time to hunt they do a heck of a job and my pup is tireless. :)
Your gonna have a great time with Your pup, keep us posted.:thumbsup:
 
I crate train ALL of my dogs and ALL of the foster dogs that come in. Yes, my dogs sleep in bed with me, and ride in the front of the truck/car, but I feel that crate training is a must.
A properly crate trained dog is welcome just about anywhere. They have a place to sleep, and are quiet, which is handy when on the road, in a hotel, or whatever. Crashing at a friend's house? They sleep in crates.
It helps in housebreaking... Just so many advantages to have a crate trained dog.
 
V-John said:
I crate train ALL of my dogs and ALL of the foster dogs that come in. Yes, my dogs sleep in bed with me, and ride in the front of the truck/car, but I feel that crate training is a must.
A properly crate trained dog is welcome just about anywhere. They have a place to sleep, and are quiet, which is handy when on the road, in a hotel, or whatever. Crashing at a friend's house? They sleep in crates.
It helps in housebreaking... Just so many advantages to have a crate trained dog.
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:thumbsup:
 
I'm a big fan of crate training. It gives the dog a safe place to be no matter where they are. Also makes house breaking way easier.
 
wolters

buy the book Gun Dog by richard wolters he goes over every detail and how a dog learns according to age
 
I think crate training is a good thing, like leash training. Times You will need both.
I just don't like the idea of a hunting dog spending most of their lives in crates and kennels.
 
Hank_Hill said:
I picked her up the other day and can tell she is going to be a fun dog. She's already given me quick points for a couple of seconds at whatever might have caught her eye. She's already responding very well to "come" when I say her name first, being that this is the 3rd day of having her. She doesn't whine too much in her kennel and I can tell that she is going to be a very intelligent dog. This is my first bird dog, so I am open and appreciative to any advice I can get from some of the more experienced members here.

I plan on spending 2-3 weeks on just obedience training. Getting her to come, sit, stay, and basically learn her name. I am a fan of positive reinforcement, especially at this age, so I will keep giving her bits of treat when she does well. In no more than 3 weeks, I'm hoping to introduce her to Quail from my local game farm.

In a couple of days I'll have the kennel finished in the garage, but what do you guys think about crating/kenneling? Again, I appreciate anything I might learn from any of you. Things that have worked better than other/things that don't work/etc.
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First, Congrats on your first dog!! :thumbsup:

First and foremost at her age is Socializing. Take her with you when ever you can to experience as many places, people and other dogs (if they are friendly) as you can.

Don't go overboard on too much obedience just yet. She's still very young and her attention span will not be what an older pup of say 6 months will be. She's still a baby and in kindergarten so so speak. College will come later when they have matured and are able to focus a little longer. Getting her name and come are good. If you are keeping her in a portable kennel then you will want to use a command for that as well. I think letting her at a few quail would be fine, if she points great, if not no big deal. No need to over due the bird thing just yet.

I think the biggest thing at that age is to make everything fun. NO PRESSURE whatsoever and just let her be a pup for the time being. To her it's a big world out there and she's just now starting to experience it all.

Good luck and enjoy the journey. :)
 
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birdshooter said:
First, Congrats on your first dog!! :thumbsup:

First and foremost at her age is Socializing. Take her with you when ever you can to experience as many places, people and other animals (if they are friendly) as you can.

Don't go overboard on too much obedience just yet. She's still very young and her attention span will not be what an older pup of say 6 months will be. She's still a baby and in kindergarten so so speak. College will come later when they have matured and are able to focus a little longer. Getting her name and come are good. If you are keeping her in a portable kennel then you will want to use a command for that as well. I think letting her at a few quail would be fine, if she points great, if not no big deal. No need to over due the bird thing just yet.

I think the biggest thing at that age is to make everything fun. NO PRESSURE whatsoever and just let her be a pup for the time being. To her it's a big world out there and she's just now starting to experience it all.

Good luck and enjoy the journey. :)
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very good advice, have fun with her. ;)
 
I think the biggest urge for new gun dog owners is to make their first dog into a hunter overnight. This is a process that takes time and you can't rush it. Some individuals may be ready for serious training before others. In time you should be able to read the dog as to how much their ready for.
 
I think one of the most important things to do is not put your pup on any type of time schedule or have any certain expection that they will be doing something by a certain age. This is one of the many reasons I don't like Richard Wolters books or methods. You can get a good, servicable dog using those methods, but I would rather find a good, modern training program and move along with it in a time frame that the pup sets based on when he/she is ready. I wouldn't do any formal obedience with her right now other than teaching her name, some house manners/no, crate/potty training and making being around you fun. Give the pup at least the first 6 months to be a pup. For pointing dogs, my favorite program is the Perfect Start/Perfect Finish series. It is very detailed and great for a first-timer. Maurice Lindley's Training with Mo is another good one.
 
Hank you have gotten a ton of good advice so far and I can only add a little more in that each pup will be different on when it is ready for certain types of training. You are going to have to really learn to read your dogs tells. Just like Poker!! I have 2 pups , which are brothers and one was ready for gun training 2 months before the other one. Signs can be subtle, but if your looking, you will see them!!!! Good luck and enjoy the ride!!!! Bleu:cheers::cheers:
 
Looks like he's very enthusiastic and loves birds, that's great.

Now.... since he doesn't seem to be shy or cautious when around birds you will want to refrain from him catching and chewing on them as they will only create bad habits that will be harder to break down the line. Remember he's a pointer not a flusher. There's number of things that you can do. One would be tether the pigeon to a light line that will allow it to fly a good ways, but not be caught by the pup. Get yourself a check cord first and use it when your doing bird drills. Another way is to clip a primary on the wing just enough so the pigeon can only fly 20-30 yards, but not be caught. Point being, the pup seems to be bold enough and now you want to refrain from him catching any more birds. A few times with this and you should see him starting to stop (point) as he learns just running in flushes the birds away. Again, no need to overdue all of this just yet.
 
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Looks like she likes the birds plenty and has the drive. I am with birdshooter though and would now refrain from letting her catch or pick apart the birds. Here are a couple videos of one of my boys getting his bird introduction. This method has worked very well for me and this boy is standing his birds really nice now.

1st introduction http://youtu.be/pIiLYUoTOmc

1st time on planted birds after 3 or 4 sessions of just tossing birds http://youtu.be/qGPjXJXCGaw
 
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Great video clips Jeremy. That is an excellent way to introduce a pup to birds. You instill the drive and enthusiasm without the pup catching the bird.

People forget that bird introduction and training differ quite a bit between the flushing and pointing breeds. Let your pointer pup continually catch birds and you ultimately turn your pointer into a flusher.
 
mnmthunting said:
I don't think much of crates and kennels, although I realize for some there are no other options. Dogs need a lot of exercise, need to spend a lot of time with their owner. I believe that the more time spent with Your pup will make for a better hunter and better companion.
Both my Labs are in the front seat of the truck with me wherever I go, get exercise all day long at the ranch, sleep on Their bed in our bedroom.
Spoiled for sure, but when it's time to hunt they do a heck of a job and my pup is tireless. :)
Your gonna have a great time with Your pup, keep us posted.:thumbsup:
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I use to let my dogs sit in the back seat of my truck until some a$$ hole cut me of driving in town and I had to slam on the breaks. Sent my sweet gsp emmylou right into the dash board of my truck. Now my dogs are always riding in a kenel. If you live in a busy area it's a good idea to crate your dog while driving, it's the equivalent of a seat belt for them.
 
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