Time to say good-by advice!!

[chasineyes]

Hey everyone, I need some advice.

We have had/acquired a 3 year old GSP about 5 months ago. We're getting a little concerned that it might not be working out. When we got her in the spring there was nothing going on (activities wise). Throughout the summer though we are finding between softball, golf, swimming and camping we rarely do anything with her. I have to fight with the kids to walk her and pick up after her. I feel kind of bad for her becuase our lot is just too small for this type of dog. Unless I load her up and take her out to a field (which I do once a week) she rarely gets in a good run. We have been reaserching some seasonal campsites and find most don't allow pets. THis is another reason we are considering getting rid of her.

She is a GREAT dog but we are starting to think we can't give her the type of active life she would enjoy.

I guess I just dont' want to drag this on if its not going to work. The family has decided that she will not go to someone who lives in the city. If someone who has some land or a cabin or large lot that did a lot of hunting wanted her, then that is something we would consider. In other words were not just going to "dump" her on the first "buyer".

THanks

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Do you have pictures?

Has she hunted before?

Has she been shot over?

[MuleShack]

Do you have pictures?

Has she hunted before?

Has she been shot over?

Original thread with pictures and description

[S.D. Ice Angular]

OK!!

So we are talking about this same dog I see,

It apppears she won't retrieve but

Please answer the questions...

Has she been shot over and does she hunt/point?

I could give her a very good home but if she is just a pet to care for I am probably not the best home for her.

What hunting qualities does she have??

What can you show me in a field demo??

I have a 12 year old female Yellow Lab (basically retired)and have a 12 month old GSP female currently in her 2nd month of training in Little Falls. ANY dog I have are "House Dogs" they are my family they have free run of the house.

Very Interested

Please reply...

[MuleShack]

OK!!

Please answer the questions...

Has she been shot over and does she hunt/point?

I could give her a very good home but if she is just a pet to care for I am probably not the best home for her.

What hunting qualities does she have??

What can you show me in a field demo??

SD,

I was only the middle, middle man in the transaction. My friend and her husband took Lacy out to the hunt club and put her on some birds and from what I was told she found the birds alright and pointed them but she didn't want to do the retrieve. Whether that was due to hunting with someone other than her owner, or if she just doesn't do it...I cant answer that. I know that the family that originally had her used her for pheasant hunting although I dont know how much.

I can ask my friend if she could get me a more detailed report on how she did. I dont know if Lacy was professionally trained either. I was relaying information from a friend that was looking for a home for another friend...none of whom are on this site.

I'll email her and see if she can provide more information or get in touch with the former owners to see what else if available to pass on.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Very Nice Mule,

Any additional info you can help provide is greatly appreciated!!!

I think I could give this dog a very good home...

Any contact info of this dog's current / previous owners would be nice also.

Chasineyes, get involved here if you want the best for the dog!!!

Someone Call me (605) 759-6808

NO BODY wants to see a good dog go to waste...

Thank you!!!

[chasineyes]

Quote:

Chasineyes, get involved here if you want the best for the dog!!!

Dude, I had to go to bed!!! The 4:30 alarm clock comes quite early.

Here is the scoop. She has been out pheasant hunting with the previous owners. Nothing major but she has heard gun shots. She was doing REAL good at retrieving up until she discovered the birds flying around. We Take her down neighborhood ballpark but the KillDeer have made that area their "home". Suffice to say, Lacey goes NUTS when those birds are around. This has been hard to break, and I dont' think it's fair of me to get mad at her when she chases them. After all, she IS a bird dog. She is a GERAT housedog, but she does need to RUN. I/we feel bad that we aren't giving her that opportunity. Send me a private message if ou want more info. I did get all her shots updated last month.

[brittman]

Whoa the ignorance of your gun dog ownership is clearly evident, but I commend you for make the decision of letting the dog go.

There are plenty of good upland bird dogs living in the city. Sure they need to run, but do not confuse that with the ability of running loose on rural property or a farm. Gun dogs that run without owner interaction typically slip from bird dog to farm dog. Many are permanently lost or killed on the adjacent road.

If you want your GSP to be a bird dog, sell to a hunter that has solid experience with hunting pointers.

[LABS4ME]

Quote:

Whoa the ignorance of your gun dog ownership is clearly evident,

I do not believe the original intent of Chasingeyes was to make a bird dog. I believe his intent was priamrily as a pet.

[chasineyes]

Hey Brittman how high up on your horse are you?? Good grief we just wanted a real "DOG" not some stupid yippy thing that can't swim or run if it's life depended on it. Bottom line in the past we had labs. They didn't "bolt" after birds the way Lacey does. So my question is how do you fix that? We use to go to the same field and throw the dummy and she loved it and brought it back every time. But since the killdeer have showed up she is now focused on them. I see in magazines where guys have shock collars and GPS collars on their neck to "control" them. Personally that's not controlling them. So again how do I break it?

On the flip side... I AM NOT GETTING RID OF HER. I'm going to join the Pointer club and meet with others on Wednesday nights to get some more information and understanding of this breed. I decided I'm not going to just "throw in the towel" since it's not working currently. Maybe it's summer doldrums of camping, softball, swimming etc.. taking a toll on us. And yes I would like to get out this fall and take some walks in the field and see how she is. I can tell you we had a good time this weekend when she was helping me landscape and work on the deck.

[nofishfisherman]

I feel bad for the this dog. Its not easy on a dog to get passed from owner to owner like this. Sounds like its going on its 4th owner. Is there more to this dog than is being said? Any issues? Not often a dog can't find a permanent home in 4 different tries.

I don't mean to sound preachy but I'm sure I'm about to sound preachy, it kind of bugs me when someone gets a dog and "has to" give them up because they are too busy with their other hobbies. From what you described it sounds like you have a pretty typical family life with golf, softball, swimming, camping, etc. Normally there is room for a dog in there, you just need to make it a priority. You also may need to find a away to incorporate the dog as part of the family versus just an animal living in the house. That makes it easier to find the time for it. You mentioned swimming and camping as reasons you are too busy, ever consider bringing the dog with? My dog comes with whenever we do either and both can be good exercise for a dog and both are good quality time activities. As for golf and softball those are pretty pour reasons, we all have a ton of stuff going on in the summer (golf, fishing, kids sports, vacations, etc) but dogs still fit into most of our lives.

Also I wouldn't expect the kids to help much. Thats a parents first mistake. Getting a dog with the expectation that the kids will help is a fantasy. Never seen it actually happen.

If you just can't handle a dog then I would also say that you don't need to limit your search for a new home to only rural owners. Its not about the amount of space but rather the amount of time an owner is willing to give a dog. I own a vizsla and live in St. Paul with a very small city lot. It works out just fine for us and there is no way your dog needs more exercise than my 3 year old vizsla. The size of lot doesn't make much of a difference in my experience if you aren't out there spending time with the dog. You can have 100 acres but just letting the dog outside won't do much for the dog. Most dogs will just sit by the door waiting for you to come out, they aren't going to go run themselves like someone training for a marathon.

I was right that does sound preachy, for that I apologize. I just encourage you to try to make it work and if not hopefully you can find someone who will enjoy the dog. I'd jump at the chance to take the dog but my wife put the limit at one for right now.

[MuleShack]

Chasin

Sorry if i misinterpreted your post.

You did state time and obedience in your post as reasons.

Time is only something you can control and yes a dog needs time to walk, train and spend time with.

They are pack animals and if their human pack doesn't give them time they are going Togo down hill.

The next topic obedience and that takes time and repetition on leash to get her to obey the whoa, here and heel to start with. If she is taking off on you then the obedience is not there.

You mentioned that ecollars are not your favorite but many trainers and a lot more hunters use them because it is a way to control and be able to back up the commands you give. As soon as you give a command that you can't reinforce the dog wins and you go backwards.

It isn't about making the dog jump two feet in the air when giving correction, but more about getting the dogs attention . If they choose not to listen then you increase the level.

I Will be at MMHC Wednesday with my two for the pointer club if your interested in checking it out.

[rundrave]

We use to go to the same field and throw the dummy and she loved it and brought it back every time. But since the killdeer have showed up she is now focused on them. I see in magazines where guys have shock collars and GPS collars on their neck to "control" them. Personally that's not controlling them. So again how do I break it?

you need to reteach the dog "COME" and "NO" or what I use is "NO BIRD"

Come is pretty self explanatory. Go back to the basics and repeat, repeat and when you think you have it repeat again. Keep it simple and lots of short sessions. This isn't hours a day, its just a few minutes each session a day.

As for "NO" or "NO BIRD" use a long check cord instead of a shock collar. When your dog goes after the kill deer, give her a sharp pull on the check cord and yell the command "NO BIRD". Again repeat, repeat repeat.

Obviously the dog has got some prey drive but you need to reinforce it and get it to focus on pheasants, quail, grouse etc and that will only happen by routinely exposing your dog to them. And in the instances where she goes after tweety birds, cats, robins, deer, frogs etc etc you use the "NO BIRD". It is also critical that you only give the command when you are able to enforce it (see check cord or collar)

These commands are very basic but also very very important while out in the field. You need a dog that is obedient for the times you may run in to trouble (coon, skunk, snake etc etc) when you give the "NO BIRD" command it better comply and continue on or come back to you.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Good to hear Chasineyes, I think you will get a TON out of joining a pointing club, wish I had one in my area of the state. I wish you all the best;

I have always been a “Lab Guy” also. This is my first GSP myself. (And I love her dearly) I learned right away she has a way bigger motor then any of my labs ever have had. But I have always “Run My Dogs”, at least that is what I call it. The dogs do the running I do the driving. My GSP has been at a trainer in Little Falls for the past month because they have real birds and I don't. But before that at 6 months maybe even earlier she had been running on simple gravel road 5 – 7 miles a night, with me following at a safe distance. (She has taken out two windshields now kicking up rocks) She goes about 30 mph, She does not really care for the water much at this point or I would take to the lakes/ponds more often. Be practical and have patience and you will have the best dog in no time.

[MuleShack]

Chasineyes,

I have a video that I filmed when my pup was going thru her 3 week obedience graduation part of the 11 week training. The trainer (Holzinger) walked me thru all basic obedience and how to correct the dog on the leash. It covers the "whoa", "Heel", "Here" .

I was wearing a go-pro camera and first he would take the dog thru the exercise and then I would take the dod thru the exercise.

I'm sure he doesn't want me to put that on you tube but I could make you a copy on a DVD if you wanted to see how a professional trains obedience on leash?

Let me know.

Steve

[brittman]

Eyes - no high horse, just calling like I saw it. Hope your change in decision works out for you.

LABS - I was commenting on his last paragraph about who should and who should not own his dog.

You can live in the city and have happy, high performance bird dogs.

You do not have to make a bird dog breed a hunting dog, but that does not mean it will not have the instrict and drive to do what it was bred to do.

Too many labs and other dogs are needlessly killed every year because the owner believes they should be allowed to roam.

[chasineyes]

Thanks for the advice!! I/we are going to work with her more and more and see what happens.

I have talked with 3 guys at work and ALL of them talked about getting a shock collar and how it has really helped during their hunting and training. Is there any preference over what types? I see there is a Sportdog brand that is for sale on some other sites. Is this a good brand?

And I must be honest when we are out in a 20 acre field, she will come back to me when I call her. It's just those darn birds in the ballfield..

[BLACKJACK]

Tough crowd here!!!

chasin, patience and repetition is what it takes to train a dog, it will pay off in the long run. The obedience training, plus the fact that she is getting older, past the puppy stage, will also help. But, in a year or so, if you find you’re not spending enough time with the dog, don’t hesitate to pass her onto a different GOOD owner if you can find one. Your initial instinct might be correct.

[Glock]

I'm not a fan of using a e-collar to teach the basic obedience obedience. Once the dog understands and obeys the commands using a leash or rope, then progress up to a e-collar. A collar is a great enforcement tool used when a dog choses to not listen to a known command. Have someone who understands e-collars help you out. Slapping on a collar and not knowing what you're doing can cause even bigger problems then you now have

Glock

[LABS4ME]

Buy a good book or video on introduction and use of the collar. Or better yet, work with someone one on one who truely understands the use and technique of a collar...

Good Luck!

Ken

[brittman]

Thought about posting, but the 3 above are right on the mark.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

WOW!!!!

Here we are on the verge of 24 -36 hours after your “First post” and I was interested in adopting her from you I think (hope) you are on the right track of things.

Dogs take time,

I would agree with some of the previous posts. E- Collars are great but you need to know how to use them. IF (I know myself and Mule truly are concerned) going to attend / join a pointer club as you have stated. They can all show / train you how to use an E-Collar. If you still feel an E-Collar is violent to a dog (YOU are wrong) but you can always go the “Vibrate” route collar. It works great to just get their attention.

Seriously though if you want help need help just ASK!!!!

One other note:

A professional trainer is “A GREAT ROUTE” then “YOU” also become trained by the trainer if you get the right one. I have my preferences.

[MuleShack]

I'm going to join the Pointer club and meet with others on Wednesday nights to get some more information and understanding of this breed. I decided I'm not going to just "throw in the towel" since it's not working currently.

Chasineyes,

Pointer club is at 6:00 tonight, joining fee is $25 (1 time fee) and they ask for $5 per week because they supply the Dogtra bird launchers and the homing pigeons. The $5 goes toward replacing the launchers/ equipment. They have quail for $7 each to purchase if you want to go to the shooting field but you have to order ahead. (If you want some i can email an order in for you)

Let me know if your going to make it tonight and I'll help you out with putting lacy on some homing pigeons and bring an extra dogtra collar for her. Other wise I pick up my quail and head over to the shooting field right away.

I also talked to my friend and she was pretty sure that Lacy was professionally trained at one point and she was hunted pretty regularly as of last fall.

[chasineyes]

Mule, I am going to be there tonight. Mike Ryan mentioned I should be there around 5:30? I'm bringing Lacy and some water and treats and just going to check things out. For tonight I wouldn't worry about the quail, we'll just get our paws, I mean feet wet tonight. See you there!

[MuleShack]

Sounds good, I have a white dodge with a dog box in the back.