So I read a post on here where a guy had some german short haired pointer pups coming soon. Well I've wanted one for quite a while, so I told my wife we were getting a new dog. So in a few weeks we will get our first pointer. I wanta really spend time w the dog and train it properly. I've never attempted any type of dog training before other than sit with our current dog. The pointer will be used to retrieve dove and ducks. I live where the dog will have plenty of room to run etc. Any help is greatly appreciated on how to train even from the basics. Can u guys recommend any books or websites etc so I can read to get a start on things before puppy gets here?

Why not a retriever?

No real answer why. I've always just wanted a pointer. Really pretty dogs.

Dobbs dogs website has tons of information

OK thanks for the suggestion il Google it. Anyone know of any books?

My bet is that a shorthair will serve you well. They are smart enough to figure out what you want, and want to please enough to do it for you.

Now if you had said, say, and English Pointer, I'd say you need to rethink your choice in dogs!

I have both...the shorthair gets turned loose every evening while I feed. As soon as I tell him to kennel up, he is back in the pen waiting for me to close the gate. If you think any of my E. pointers would do that, then you are mistaken. Sans e-collar, they are going to run until they run completely down before they are ready to get back into the pen.

You really should rethink getting a pointer if the dogs work is going to be 100% retrieving. You wouldn't buy a screwdriver to hammer in nails would you?

Look into the retriever and spaniel breeds.

These are the pups

A pointer and a GSP are two different breeds

YEP! English Pointer was changed to just pointer by the American Field. Something like that happened to the Brittany Spinel.

I disagree with those saying to get a retriever. A GSP will serve you well. Start him young and he will be the best retriever you've ever had. Our male is 4 and hes a water monster and a retrieving king. We started him out as soon as he got home at 6 weeks and hes been a very nce all around bird dog. Points, retrieves on land and water and drops on command. Good Luck
[img]http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/p...3_7494309798396[/img]

I'd start by calling it a shorthair or bird dog not pointer. When you refer to your dog as a pointer most people assume your talking about an English Pointer. It's like folks that refer to their retrievers as bird dogs.

Some ideas for retrieving training is Evan Graham's "smartwork for retrievers". You can also look into joining your local HRC or NAVHDA club who will have members that may help you train your dog. Best of luck with your new pup.

Thanks for the ideas. We should have the pup in the next few weeks. Il post up some pics when we get her. A guy I work w is a member of a springer spaniel club he said he would help me. I'm sure once I get the pup the questions will pour out of me. Thanks for the responses

Going to get the pup in the am il post some pics tmrw.

I was in the same boat as you a few months ago. I didn't/don't have a lot of experience with training or handling working dogs but my wife and I really wanted puppy. I was hung on getting a GSP due to having been around one on a hunt several years ago. That dog left an impression on me and I always knew I wanted one for myself.

Fortunately the breeder we bought our pup from is a NAVHDA member and strongly encouraged us to come to some training days and decide if we wanted to get involved. After a couple of trips to the training grounds we joined up and have been having a lot of fun with our "Piper." The ladies and gentlemen at the NAVHDA Chapter have been awesome. I'm a total noob and they have been very patient and encouraging while training me how to train my dog. I can't say enough great things about my experience with the organization and its members thus far. They can/will put you on the fast track to learning how to train/handle your puppy. We are doing the NA Test this weekend and looking forward to continuing her training.

As far as pointer-vs-retriever, my GSP doesn't seem to care if its a dove, quail or duck on land or water, she wants to go get it. I could see strongly considering a heavy coated dog if you are doing a lot of extremely cold hunting over water though. I've seen pics of labs with icicles hanging off their coats and wonder if a GSP could hang in those conditions.

.

I love my GSP Jenny. I'm sure you will love yours too!

Congrats! Exercise daily or they will drive you nuts!

congrats! Always love having a new pup around

We have german wire hair he great at retrieveing ducks and best. Dove dog I've had

I have a 20 month old male.. he's a hunting machine.
Pointing, retrieving, whatever.. awesome all purpose dogs that do what the breed was designed to do..
everything...

Great dogs, no doubt.
Spend lots of time with the pup. Let him play.
A good book on bird dog training can really help.
So can a training collar.

After that, spend more time with him. Develop rapport and relationship.
Walk the dog, run the dog, for sure hunt the dog.

You're in for quite a ride.
Good luck and welcome to our world!

Thanks everyone. I'm reading all the comments. Yeah she's a sweetie alright. I think she's taking lessons from our other dog right now on snuggling. After Christmas gets over I plan on getting her on a daily regiment. I ordered water dog. I can't say I've ever wanted to really read a book but I can't wait till it gets here.

As far as joining an association I'm all for it. My wife will probably enjoy that too w the dog. The pups only 8 weeks old at this point so house breaking her is my main concern right now. Yeah she already runs daily and plays tackle w my 3 yr old son. They wear each other out