at what age do dogs start to settle down in the field?

[HolyMoses]

My 13 month old dog is a bundle of energy, but sometimes that isn't a good thing. Take today for example.

As soon as I grab my boots, the dog starts going nuts. He is trembling and jumping at the door waiting to go. Literally....jumping.

Get out to the first field and he takes off. We covered that 40 or 60 in no time. He was pretty much in a full on sprint the entire time! Even the guys i was with said "does he ever slow down?". Well, after doing that in the second even larger field, he tired himself out. By the time we get to the third spot I can tell that he is pooped. Still found birds, but by the time we made it to the truck, he just wanted to sit, which he rarely does.

I keep hearing "he is a puppy yet, he will outgrow that", but I wonder when? Between his training and our hunting so far this year he has quite a few birds under his collar, but he still acts like a crazed lunatic. I love the drive, but also hated seeing him so downright exhausted today and in all honesty, I was ready to hunt all day today. It didn't help either that he jumped into water and was pretty darn cold, I am sure that his body was burning calories trying to warm up.

Anything I can do? Take him for a pre-hunt run? Or is my only option to let him figure it out on his own?

 

[AtTheMurph]

Depends on the dog and I think depends on the sex of the dog.

My Vizsla who I just had to put down was 11 but would still go berserk whenever the gun, my boots or even my hunting socks came out. Jumping up, knocking shit over, would literally fly into the truck as soon as there was a crack open in the door. (and I don't let them in the truck!)

My French Pointer (4yrs) is much calmer. He runs to the back door but doesn't go crazy and never did.

My Weim took about 4 yrs to not tear the place apart.

GSP was alot like the Wiem.

Brittany's took 2-3yrs (the make longer than the female)

 

[94NDTA]

My 13 month old dog is a bundle of energy, but sometimes that isn't a good thing. Take today for example.

As soon as I grab my boots, the dog starts going nuts. He is trembling and jumping at the door waiting to go. Literally....jumping.

Get out to the first field and he takes off. We covered that 40 or 60 in no time. He was pretty much in a full on sprint the entire time! Even the guys i was with said "does he ever slow down?". Well, after doing that in the second even larger field, he tired himself out. By the time we get to the third spot I can tell that he is pooped. Still found birds, but by the time we made it to the truck, he just wanted to sit, which he rarely does.

I keep hearing "he is a puppy yet, he will outgrow that", but I wonder when? Between his training and our hunting so far this year he has quite a few birds under his collar, but he still acts like a crazed lunatic. I love the drive, but also hated seeing him so downright exhausted today and in all honesty, I was ready to hunt all day today. It didn't help either that he jumped into water and was pretty darn cold, I am sure that his body was burning calories trying to warm up.

Anything I can do? Take him for a pre-hunt run? Or is my only option to let him figure it out on his own?

With most of our setters we will stop prior and let them run the length of a field a couple times. Then, continue to drive to the spot, giving the dog an hour to rest.

13 months is still really young. I would make sure your dog is in top shape. He should not be that tired by the 2nd field IMO.

As far as how your dogs acts when you lace up the boots. I have a 12 year old English setter that we cannot hunt any more, very arthritic, but will go ballistic like a puppy and always has a melt down when we drive away. Breaks my heart. That will never go away.

Also, your dog taking off as soon as the paws hit the ground is a result of poor training, or simply that the dog has not progressed enough in its training. That is a good way to lose birds, or even get your dog killed. If you cannot control your dog, that is asking for bad news.

 

[519vx]

Not the same breed, but the same concept. I had the same issues with all three Goldens I've owned. As young ones, they were almost basket cases. Super high energy...run hard, then crash hard. With all of them, the magic age was right around three. They calmed down and although still had/have the occasional crazy run, they suddenly got much more steady and methodic.

The only thing that slowed mine down a little when they were young was running them a little before the hunt, but then they wore down a little quicker.

I know for me it was a pain, I felt sometimes like they were just running and not hunting. It will come with age and field time. Think of the crazy wild stuff you did when you were a young one...

 

[HolyMoses]

Also, your dog taking off as soon as the paws hit the ground is a result of poor training, or simply that the dog has not progressed enough in its training. That is a good way to lose birds, or even get your dog killed. If you cannot control your dog, that is asking for bad news.

as soon as I release him from his "heel", he goes into a full on sprint. I feel that he is still "hunting", as I have seen him lock on the binders and point a bird from a full run, but he is burning a lot of energy. I have plenty of control over him, but the trainer never taught him "slow down" I guess?

 

[94NDTA]

as soon as I release him from his "heel", he goes into a full on sprint. I feel that he is still "hunting", as I have seen him lock on the binders and point a bird from a full run, but he is burning a lot of energy. I have plenty of control over him, but the trainer never taught him "slow down" I guess?

That's good, I just got a different impression of what was going on from what you posted lol! I was imagining the door open ending, dog leaving tread marks across your lap as she shot from the truck and kicking up birds 200!yards away before you even step out of the truck. Lol.

I would try stopping at a field and running them. Are you feeding the dog a full meal in the morning too? That can make dogs sluggish later in the day as well.

 

[HolyMoses]

That's good, I just got a different impression of what was going on from what you posted lol! I was imagining the door open ending, dog leaving tread marks across your lap as she shot from the truck and kicking up birds 200!yards away before you even step out of the truck. Lol.

I would try stopping at a field and running them. Are you feeding the dog a full meal in the morning too? That can make dogs sluggish later in the day as well.

no, he waits for me to release him, but when I do, he is moving pretty quick right off the bat.

I normally feed him 1.5 cups in the morning and 2 cups at night. 30/20 food. Last night, knowing that I was going to be hunting him, I fed him an extra cup, and DIDN"T feed him this morning before we left. I fed him his morning serving when we got home, around 10:30.

 

[HolyMoses]

I should add.......the first field we walked probably took us 30-45 minutes before we got cold enough to head to the truck...he pretty much full on ran the ENTIRE time, except for a couple "birdy" moments. did the same thing in the second field. I am talking lunging over branches, galloping like a deer through the tall grass, like a bird on a retrieve. the entire time! i know GSPs have a lot of energy, but i think that would tire just about any dog out??? or am I wrong?

 

[birdshooter]

Holy,

If you're referring to Shorthairs, well.... they may slow down a little by the time their 11 years old. but some of them go till their 13.

In all honesty, Shorthairs are high energy dogs, that's what makes them tireless hunters. It's also the reason they have such good endurance when properly conditioned. They are built far more for endurance than speed. But to answer your question, as soon as they grow out of that puppy phase, normally sometime after 2 years old, they become a little more serious and don't bounce off the walls quite so much. Some of it could be the breeding. A dog bred from parents that are higher drive animals are going to produce offspring just the same. Hence, I always stress when looking for a breeder to find one who produces dogs with the temperament your looking for.

 

[HolyMoses]

he was shivering a lot....think the cold had anything to do with it?? going right now to look for vests.

 

[94NDTA]

no, he waits for me to release him, but when I do, he is moving pretty quick right off the bat.

I normally feed him 1.5 cups in the morning and 2 cups at night. 30/20 food. Last night, knowing that I was going to be hunting him, I fed him an extra cup, and DIDN"T feed him this morning before we left. I fed him his morning serving when we got home, around 10:30.

That's good. What kind of dog do you have? How big? It looks like a shorthair from your avatar.

I would wear him out a bit, but give him a time to rest. Has worked for similar dogs.

 

[thornton]

...he pretty much full on ran the ENTIRE time, except for a couple "birdy" moments. did the same thing in the second field. I am talking lunging over branches, galloping like a deer through the tall grass, like a bird on a retrieve. the entire time! i know GSPs have a lot of energy, but i think that would tire just about any dog out??? or am I wrong?

Wrong-ish.

Some lines of setters, etc. are wired that way....welcomed and normal, sounds to me.
Taking the edge off an antsy lad is normal as well.
Pace along with understanding existing past the joy of release simply can arrive with age and bird contacts.
But, dogs all mature differently...and some dogs run heedless of themselves despite any downside.
Owners differ in what is acceptable as well.
At a year old, pup's actions sound like a positive situation and expected....big steps and little 'uns.

 

[HolyMoses]

Depends on the dog and I think depends on the sex of the dog.

My Vizsla who I just had to put down was 11 but would still go berserk whenever the gun, my boots or even my hunting socks came out. Jumping up, knocking shit over, would literally fly into the truck as soon as there was a crack open in the door. (and I don't let them in the truck!)

My French Pointer (4yrs) is much calmer. He runs to the back door but doesn't go crazy and never did.

My Weim took about 4 yrs to not tear the place apart.

GSP was alot like the Wiem.

Brittany's took 2-3yrs (the make longer than the female)

he has always been crazy. even the vet says that when I bring him in that he is the craziest of his siblings, and perhaps the craziest of the line that she has seen.

Not the same breed, but the same concept. I had the same issues with all three Goldens I've owned. As young ones, they were almost basket cases. Super high energy...run hard, then crash hard. With all of them, the magic age was right around three. They calmed down and although still had/have the occasional crazy run, they suddenly got much more steady and methodic.

The only thing that slowed mine down a little when they were young was running them a little before the hunt, but then they wore down a little quicker.

I know for me it was a pain, I felt sometimes like they were just running and not hunting. It will come with age and field time. Think of the crazy wild stuff you did when you were a young one...

and that is what most are telling me that I talk to about it, especially guys who see him running in the field. luckily his nose is good because he still finds the birds, but i have no doubt that he has to be running past some.

Holy,

If you're referring to Shorthairs, well.... they may slow down a little by the time their 11 years old. but some of them go till their 13.

In all honesty, Shorthairs are high energy dogs, that's what makes them tireless hunters. It's also the reason they have such good endurance when properly conditioned. They are built far more for endurance than speed. But to answer your question, as soon as they grow out of that puppy phase, normally sometime after 2 years old, they become a little more serious and don't bounce off the walls quite so much. Some of it could be the breeding. A dog bred from parents that are higher drive animals are going to produce offspring just the same. Hence, I always stress when looking for a breeder to find one who produces dogs with the temperament your looking for.

as mentioned above, he is the "wild" one of the bunch. The genetics line is pretty well known for having a strong prairie drive, but i have just never seen a dog that sprints, non stop. I don't mean that he is running, he is on full out, balls to the walls, as hard as he can push, sprint. I honestly don't understand how he can even smell. He wasn't panting or showing any signs of that sort of warmth related exhaustion, he just seemed "drained". the only other time i have seen something close to this kind of crazy is when a dog is cooped up and doesn't get out often. this shouldn't be the case cause he gets a lot of work/exercise.

Wrong-ish.

Some lines of setters, etc. are wired that way....welcomed and normal, sounds to me.
Taking the edge off an antsy lad is normal as well.
Pace along with understanding existing past the joy of release simply can arrive with age and bird contacts.
But, dogs all mature differently...and some dogs run heedless of themselves despite any downside.
Owners differ in what is acceptable as well.
At a year old, pup's actions sound like a positive situation and expected....big steps and little 'uns.

and I hope that is what it is, just a maturity/youth thing. that is what my father thinks it is. he also thinks that the cold had something to do with it. it was around 40, raining, and pretty windy. I was very cold, and I could tell he was too, especially after he decided to take a swim to check out a cat tail bog. his hair was standing straight up and he was shivering like crazy.

That's good. What kind of dog do you have? How big? It looks like a shorthair from your avatar.

I would wear him out a bit, but give him a time to rest. Has worked for similar dogs.

he is a GSP. He weighs just under 50 pounds. I think you are onto something. Maybe I just have to work him into it slowly. After our 20 minute drive home, he seemed a lot better. He jumped out of the truck with his tail wagging. Then after a little dinner and a little nap, he is right back to his crazy self. :thumbsup:






thanks everyone! :cheers:

 

[94NDTA]

he is a GSP. He weighs just under 50 pounds. I think you are onto something. Maybe I just have to work him into it slowly. After our 20 minute drive home, he seemed a lot better. He jumped out of the truck with his tail wagging. Then after a little dinner and a little nap, he is right back to his crazy self. :thumbsup:






thanks everyone! :cheers:

Unrelated, but he is 50lbs and your are feeding him 3.5 cups a day? Is he still growing? I believe around a year I had my 52lb dog down to 2 cups a day, and extra half the night before hunting. What are you feeding him too? Just seems like a lot for a 50lb dog.

Alright, let's keep this on track!

 

[HolyMoses]

Unrelated, but he is 50lbs and your are feeding him 3.5 cups a day? Is he still growing? I believe around a year I had my 52lb dog down to 2 cups a day, and extra half the night before hunting. What are you feeding him too? Just seems like a lot for a 50lb dog.

Alright, let's keep this on track!

perhaps it isn't "unrelated". I have been wondering if a food switch is something i should consider. I have always wanted him to bulk up a little, but no matter how much i feed him, he just doesn't put on weight. vet says that he looks great and is healthy. stools look good, can just feel the ribs when petting him.

I feed Fromm Four star surf and turf. it is a grain free food and i went with it because of its high protein and fat value. here is the nutritional information:

Guaranteed Analysis
Protein 30% Min
Fat 19% Min
Fiber 3.5% Max
Moisture 10% Max
Omega 3 Fatty Acids 0.6% Min
Omega 6 Fatty Acids 2.8% Min
Total Microorganisms 220,264 CFU/g Min

View Detailed Analysis

Calorie Content
kcal/kg 4,092
kcal/lb 1,860
kcal/cup* 409

http://frommfamily.com/products/four-star/dog/dry/grain-free-surf-turf

 

[94NDTA]

perhaps it isn't "unrelated". I have been wondering if a food switch is something i should consider. I have always wanted him to bulk up a little, but no matter how much i feed him, he just doesn't put on weight. vet says that he looks great and is healthy. stools look good, can just feel the ribs when petting him.

I feed Fromm Four star surf and turf. it is a grain free food and i went with it because of its high protein and fat value. here is the nutritional information:

Guaranteed Analysis
Protein 30% Min
Fat 19% Min
Fiber 3.5% Max
Moisture 10% Max
Omega 3 Fatty Acids 0.6% Min
Omega 6 Fatty Acids 2.8% Min
Total Microorganisms 220,264 CFU/g Min

View Detailed Analysis

Calorie Content
kcal/kg 4,092
kcal/lb 1,860
kcal/cup* 409

http://frommfamily.com/products/four-star/dog/dry/grain-free-surf-turf

That's a lot of calories for a 50 lb dog IMO, around a year I backed off. When I made the switch down to 2 1/4 @ 405 cal/ cup with a lab, that is notorious for putting on weight easier. I noticed no difference in weight, or weight gain, but less pooping. As far as energy, it staid the same. Digestion uses a lot of energy, maybe this has some bearing of the issue. Could be a combination of that and puppy enthusiasm.

 

[HolyMoses]

That's a lot of calories for a 50 lb dog IMO, around a year I backed off. When I made the switch down to 2 1/4 @ 405 cal/ cup with a lab, that is notorious for putting on weight easier. I noticed no difference in weight, or weight gain, but less pooping. As far as energy, it staid the same. Digestion uses a lot of energy, maybe this has some bearing of the issue. Could be a combination of that and puppy enthusiasm.

thank you very much for your insight and opinions. perhaps I will try to dial him back a little bit on the food. although it seems like that is a little backwards, you bring up a good point about the digestion.

thanks again :thumbsup:

 

[94NDTA]

thank you very much for your insight and opinions. perhaps I will try to dial him back a little bit on the food. although it seems like that is a little backwards, you bring up a good point about the digestion.

thanks again :thumbsup:

No prob. I'm not a vet, just a guy who loves bird hunting and dogs. Let us know how it works out. Not much is more fun than watching a young pup develop into your best friend/hunting companion.

 

[HolyMoses]

No prob. I'm not a vet, just a guy who loves bird hunting and dogs. Let us know how it works out. Not much is more fun than watching a young pup develop into your best friend/hunting companion.

even with todays dissapointment, it is still a blast. Hoping today was just a fluke. who knows, maybe he has come down with something. maybe i will take his temperature tomorrow.

thanks again.

 

[94NDTA]

even with todays dissapointment, it is still a blast. Hoping today was just a fluke. who knows, maybe he has come down with something. maybe i will take his temperature tomorrow.

thanks again.

Roosters? Check

Young pup getting experience under birds? Check

Young pup getting some exercise? Check

Dog that actually wants to go hunting? Check.

Having fun with your family and your dog? Check.

Doesn't sound like a disappointing day to me. Enjoy them while you can. We only get dogs for so long, and even family for so long. Enjoy every moment.