New Dog Advice

[Hunter Gatherer]

Hello all,

 

I have recently decided to get a gundog puppy, and have settled for a German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP). The dog will mainly be a worker but will also be a family pet, there are no small children in the family so there are no worrys of getting a dog that is too boisterous.

I mainly rough shoot but i intend to do some wildfowling/game days during the season, i will need the dog to retreive from water and whilst lamping.

i understand that there are many people who have a vast knowledge of gundogs on here (NTTF springs to mind! ) so i would apreciate any advice anyone has on training or picking a puppy.

i also have some questions that i think are a bit stupid but ill ask anyway:

1)Does it make any difference if the dog is Liver/White or Black/White apart from apperance?

2)Would i be able to keep a small dog e.g. a terrier with the GSP if i was to get one at a later date?

3)What is the best food?

4)Can i train the dog to point myself or do i need professional help?

 

HG

[Browning]

Hi HG,

 

I'll give you my thoughts on your questions, and I'm sure NTTF will be along later with more expert answers.

 

I've had 5 GSPs so far, and all have made reasonable working dogs, and excellent pets. They love people and love being around you, and in my opinion make one of the most faithfull dogs around.

 

The only thing that does not go for them is they are not the hardiest of dogs. They can handle a wet day on the beating line OK, but I'm not sure about wildfowling....maybe some other members have experience of this.

 

1) All mine have been liver/white fleck, but that's just my preference, I can't see the colour making any difference to working ability

 

2) All GSPs that I have owned have been very laid back, with no aggression at all towards other dogs, so I guess as long as you handle the introduction correctly you'll be OK

 

3) I always feed good quality all in one food (19% protein) along with a little cooked rabbit meat and a few vegetables for variety (carrots, peas etc).

 

4) All my GSPs have pointed naturally, all I needed to do was encourage and train them to hold the point.

 

One thing to remember is that they will need plenty of excercise, a fit GSP is nigh on impossible to tire out, and can run all day with the best of them. Both my current dogs were rescue dogs, both had been taken by owners that thought they could walk them for 30 mins morning and night, and then leave them alone in the house.....big mistake...they ate the sofa!!

 

Good luck with your choice, they're a wondefull dog.

[Hunter Gatherer]

Thanks for all the info, in referance to the exercise issue would you consider a 30 min or 1 hour walk incorperating retreiving exercises 3 times a day (morning, afternoon and evening) to be enough to keep the dog satisfied during the week? The dog will never be left alone for longer than 30 min and then it will be in a cage.

Also the dog will be working (for me) most weekends and some times in the evenings.

 

Thanks alot for you help, looking forward to NTTF's reply!

 

HG

 

P.S. will they retreive whilst lamping?

[new to the flock]

1)Does it make any difference if the dog is Liver/White or Black/White apart from apperance?

2)Would i be able to keep a small dog e.g. a terrier with the GSP if i was to get one at a later date?

3)What is the best food?

4)Can i train the dog to point myself or do i need professional help?

 

HG

1) Color does not make the dog.

 

2) There is no reason that you will not be able to keep a terrier at a later date as long as you take the time to socalize the GSP as a puppy, and take the time to introduce the puppy to the GSP when you get him.

 

3) A well balance all in one dogfood, designed for the stage of life that he is in. example puppy, young adult, working. diferrant stages in life will require differant amounts of protien.

 

4) There is no reason that you can not train the pup yourself. Invest in some good videos, books, lessons, or training group. Start with the basics and get his obedience on him first off.

 

If you have the pup before I am over in October come out to the training day and Trix and I will get you pointed in the correct direction.

 

NTTF

[Hunter Gatherer]

Thanks loads for all the advice, when in october?

 

HG

 

P.S. If anyone else has any experience of GSP's please post.

[new to the flock]

Saturday October 22 and Sunday October23

[Hunter Gatherer]

Where Abouts?

Also does anyone know of any breeders/litters in or even near the S/W?

 

 

Thanks

 

HG

:thumbs:

[new to the flock]

It is being held in Coventry. The cost is 20 pounds for a one hour session.

[Browning]

HG,

 

Check out the shooting press, there are usually the odd litter ready for sale. You may have to be prepared to travel though !

 

I know of a couple of litters, one in Cumbria and one in Cheshire.

[Hunter Gatherer]

Yeah, i have checked all the magazines i can get my hands on!

There are plenty of litters but all a fair treck away!

I have also contacted the The German Shorthaired Pointer Club and the The German Shorthaired Pointer Association for info on litters in the S/W but so far to no avail.

 

HG

:thumbs:

Edited September 19, 2005 by Hunter Gatherer