Why did you become a traitor? :)

I started with labs and a lot of my friends still hunt with labs. I guess I prefer the hunting style of pointing dogs and feel I shoot more birds over them than I did with the labs. The hardest thing about the switch was letting go of the need to keep them in gun range. When I'm out with friends and family, some of them still struggle with that and I will keep them in a little just to ease their worry. It will definitely be different if you are planning on hunting a pointing breed with your springers. It may not work well at all, especially if you end up with a bigger running pointing dog. When I am hunting with my lab friends, I usually separate from them a bit so my dog isn't screwing theirs up.

As far as training goes, most of it comes natural. I just put them in situations to give them experience and to learn. I do not do much obedience with them as a pup. Basically they learn their name, some house manners, including crate training and here. I start bird and gun intro around 5-6 months old and then move on to here, heal and whoa between 6-8 months. I like to give them a hunting season and then finish them out ff, steady to wing, shot and fall with honoring through a retrieve. I don't do anything on a strict time schedule and let each dog get it as they are able to. All of my training is based off Jon Hann's Perfection Kennels methods. I have been fortunate to work with Jon on some breeding and it's nice to be able to talk to him when something comes up that I need help with.

My recommendation if you are serious about a pointing breed would be to look towards some closer working Navhda type bred dogs. You can really get some extremes on both ends of the working spectrum with gsps from 600-800 yard field trial dogs to 25-50 yards foot hunting dogs.

I would be glad to have you hunt behind mine sometime if you ever get to this corner of the state.
 
I can definitely see where initially it would be very hard to get used to letting the dog get out a little. Especially when they are young and have a tendency to bump birds due to lack of experience.

I suppose the key to any good training program is birds birds birds oh and a little patience.

I doubt that I would ever try to run my dogs with a pointer.... they are both just too hard charging and would probably make the experience poor for everyone involved.... besides there isn't anything I could do or give my wife were she would let me get another dog.

Short story: When I first met my now wife her mom asked her if I had any "baggage"... she said yeah lots.... Two Dogs:)

I'll definitely keep your invite in mind if I happen to make it out your way next year. I generally make a trip out that way every year usually near Fairmont.
 
Excellent observations guys. Youre putting into words what I feel behind my dog, but dont know how to express, other than with the smile on my face..
 
There aint a dog out there, pointer or flusher that wont bump birds. Believe me, Ive done the "Labrador Shuffle" many times in my younger days.

I believe that bumping wild birds is a part of pointer training they need to learn how much pressure they can put on a wild bird. I know my Breez is a different dog now with a nose full of scent, than she was when she was green.

I am babysitting a GSP for a friend while they enjoy Hawaii for a month.

While she really isnt my style of GSP, I could certainly see where her breeding/background would appeal to a large amount of people.

Her marking ability is incredible.

She is green, and doesnt have much experience. She is easily distracted by mice, rabbits, deer shit etc, like all dogs are. When she gets it figured out, I think she'll be a fine dog.

When I got Breez from Bob Merkel she was 7 months old. He told me the best thing I could do for that dog was take it hunting as often as I possibly could and let it figure things out. I took that information and went hunting... often.

To be honest, its the best thing you can do for your pointer, setter or flusher.
 
That "smile" is enough, red!
 
reddog said:
Excellent observations guys. Youre putting into words what I feel behind my dog, but dont know how to express, other than with the smile on my face..
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Thanks guys! You have all had great insights for me! I was concerned this thread would turn into another flusher vs pointer argument thread which get old:) Instead you all did a great job of describing, the best you can do in words, the difference in the hunting experience between the two styles. Thanks again!
 
I'm a retriever guy. While I have EP's for quail hunting I do prefer them over most other breeds due to their range and ability to cover ground which is comes in handy in times of limited quail.

However, there are times when a flusher just can't be beat. For instance tomorrow I am going hunting in an unfamiliar area so I am taking 2 pointers and a lab. I'll take the lab for those spots that are to small to turn a pointer loose on but a dog such as a lab or other close working dog would be perfect for.

So I don't consider myself a traitor really.

Each has their place in the field and if your lucky enough to have at least 2 of each then life is good.
 
JeremyS said:
I will strongly disagree with a GSP not being able to handle the temps. Mine hunt these temps with no problem and I just came in from hunting then all morning. If you are going to send them into water at freezing temperatures, you may have problems, but as long as they are hunting and moving, there is no issue.
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I'd second that also. I have two GSP's that hunt in a wide range of temps. On pheasants I still have never hunted a day that it was "too cold" for a GSP and we can get some very cold conditions out west. Hunted this last week and it was below zero at the start of all three days and the dogs performed great!
 
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