Pointer training

wicklow newbie

Hey lads still working on the new pointer. Have her a lot more settled with me now. Knows her name and will stop and sit when on the lead when i give one blow on the whistle. Thinking about getting her out now on a long rope to get her stopping and sitting at distance. Should I use a different blow on the whistle when she is at distance? Also pulling on the lead constantly when walking her, should I try and stop this or is it just her desire to hunt?

Wolfhillbilly

I use the same whistle for stop whether dogs are beside me or out from me. I donlt see the need to add any more commands than is necessary, it just presents the opportunity of confusing the dog for no need.
When you say 'sit' do you mean the traditional pointer/setter sit i.e. the dog lying flat or sit as in the dog sits down on its arse?
Just wondering as I know that some people train dogs to do both with a different (maybe sit for sit and down for lie down).
As for pulling on the lead, I would be more worried if she wasn;t pulling on the lead. It seems to be the same with all pointers and setters, they all strain at the lead all the time! I only know one person who regularly trains his dogs to walk to heel. Most don't bother and I certainly don't. I've been to a few field trials and they are all the same.

EPointer=Birdss

Agreed, a stop command is the same at any distance.
The fewer commands you train the better.

As regards heel I train it into every dog from mongel to potential trialers. Why? Purely cause it annoys the hell out of me when the pull your hands off you when walking or if you top talking to someone. Personal preference only.

Any pics of your pointer?

DavyDee

As the boys above said once you train them the stop command, sit command and get the dog fetching the rest usually comes naturally to the dog, personally i use 2 pips to come back 1 to sit and a long one to wow or stop but i wouldnt vary the whistling when the dog is out far as this may cause confusion. The trick is to get the dog used to stopping or sitting at a close distance and allowing the dog to range slightly further as you advance the training. You must make sure you bring the dog back to where the dog was when you wanted him to stop/sit so he knows you mean stop or sit where you want not where he decides. I find the more birds you run the dog the better and make sure you flatten what ever gets up when you get your first solid point followed by plenty of praise! Check chord can be useful if the dog is a bit giddy and heedless but generally once you have shot 3-4 pheasants over the dog something clicks in their brain to tell them this is their job! Also be careful who you bring out shooting over the dog for the first 2 seasons also as some lads will be telling your dog do things differently to what you want it do and set your training back weeks! Make use of the snipe when in season in September also if you can as if a pointer can point snipe they can point anything!

EPointer=Birdss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v9xx_wRcCs

Boys 1st day out for a run in awhile. Not really great pheasant country but grand for a stretch of the legs.
Suprised I met a bird in this areas TBH as usually not the best.

DavyDee

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v9xx_wRcCs

Boys 1st day out for a run in awhile. Not really great pheasant country but grand for a stretch of the legs.
Suprised I met a bird in this areas TBH as usually not the best.

Good vid, cracking dog! Looks like hes steadied up even more since your last vids, great too see the hard work put in when its coming back out!

jimbrowning

wicklow newbie wrote: »

Hey lads still working on the new pointer. Have her a lot more settled with me now. Knows her name and will stop and sit when on the lead when i give one blow on the whistle. Thinking about getting her out now on a long rope to get her stopping and sitting at distance. Should I use a different blow on the whistle when she is at distance? Also pulling on the lead constantly when walking her, should I try and stop this or is it just her desire to hunt?

i've had 2 pointers now, and both of them where/are fine on the lead. both bitches tho. and quite timid ones at that. dogs tend to be more head strong and will pull no matter what. imo, dont worry about it too much just yet. if you hurt her with a choke chain now, it might leave her scared whenever she sees the lead. and as above, just one command. i find it helps to use the dogs name first, then the command. ie. jessy come, jessy sit etc. gets the dogs attention and really helps when your shootin over 2 or more dogs. you should get a book called, "german shorthaired pointers today" written by david layton. real good book!!! keep us posted.

jap gt

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v9xx_wRcCs

Boys 1st day out for a run in awhile. Not really great pheasant country but grand for a stretch of the legs.
Suprised I met a bird in this areas TBH as usually not the best.

a fine strong dog there, he is a credit to you

wicklow newbie

Thanks for that lads. Will try and take some photos over the weekend.

EPointer=Birdss

wicklow newbie wrote: »

Thanks for that lads. Will try and take some photos over the weekend.

Look forward to it.
Love to watch pointers working.

Cheers for other comments lads. He's in good shape at the moment from the off season. It's all the boozing & women! Ah 2.5 now sure so he's filling out nicely & should steady up nicely this year.


Must get the aul camera going again now. 116 Days & counting!!!

elius

EPointer=Birdss wrote: »

Look forward to it.
Love to watch pointers working.

Cheers for other comments lads. He's in good shape at the moment from the off season. It's all the boozing & women! Ah 2.5 now sure so he's filling out nicely & should steady up nicely this year.


Must get the aul camera going again now. 116 Days & counting!!!

Love the way he looked at you after the flush to say where's the fooking gun:D:D:D:D:D Smashing vid as always lad...

wicklow newbie

Bad picture taken last night in the rain with the phone. Try and get out with camera tomorrow.