How to Train Your GSP for Hunting

Training Your German Shorthaired Pointer

GSPs are very active, creative, fast and mostly spastic.  Training your GSP is a must or you will be faced undesirable behaviors. This breed is magnificent as a companion but you will not be able to enjoy each others’ company if your puppy isn't well trained. Training starts the first day the puppy gets home and ends when the animal dies. The only thing that changes is the intestacy and length of the session and the dog matures.

In many aspects, GSPs are just like any other dog (or animal, including humans). They obey the laws of learning perfectly. They learn to repeatedly do the things that get them what they want or need. They learn what is safe and unsafe. And they learn what’s fun and not-so-fun. You are probably already familiar with behavioral tendencies of the GSP (like their endless need for exercise). Understand one thing, the dog will get his/her exercise one way or the other weather you provide it or the dog climbs the walls.

Patience I can not stress it enough and if you can, it will be rewarded. Don't be to critical in the beginning everyone wants a finished dog within a week and that is just not going to happen. I don't care who you are you need to have a lot of patience and follow a plan. Make training small broken down bits of a process like retrieve:

To have a dog bring a ball back to you is not one thing its many things...

• Go get the ball
• Putt it in your mouth
• Carry it back to me
• And let me take it from you

Above all training has to be fun. Training begins when the dog is yours and ends when the dog is dead. Duration starts out small and builds as the dog matures then as the dog is “experienced” cut back to refresher courses. The first steps are to work on the basics, Whoa, Stay, Kennel, Come, and Heal long before the dog sees a bird. Good luck and remember it's going to be a long road with very high rewards for you and the dogs

If you like hunting dogs, check out my friend's blog about his Vizsla The Vizsla and Redbone Blog Spot

For training I would highly recommend joining NAVHA 
North America Versatile Hunting Dog Association http://www.navhda.org/  

Where to go to buy stuff? Check out Gun Dog Supply: http://www.gundogsupply.com