Dog Training Books

[LMITOUT]

Looking for suggestions on your favorite or recommended training books. Mainly for pointing dogs (GSP in particular). Glady listen to why or why not you like certain authors/books.

Getting a pup next month and would like to do some prep work before I pick her up.

Thanks

[setterguy]

Les Jenkins' "Do it right, do it yourself" is a wonderful pointing dog book. The book has been out of print for a while but if you can find it it would be worth your time to read it. Les has a very easy way of describing techniques. I actually talked to the author last year and he said he would be putting out a new version soon. What soon means I don't know but try a search on amazon or barnes and noble and see what you come up with.

If this is your first pointing dog I would also suggest a puppy program with a trainer. They will go over bird introduction and some of the basics. If you would like some names of trainers just let me know otherwise feel free to post any questions here and I will try and answer them for you. Good luck with the pooch.

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Keep the tip up, ask permission and shoot straight. Setterguy

[Grabs]

Setterguy, any word on the breeding? Just wondering when you expecting pups so I can put a date on the calendar. Hopefully my company doesn't have to send me to England for a long period of time, which may impact this process, cause I really want a pup!

[Grand River Zip]

I highly recommend "The Labrador Shooting Dog" by Mike Gould.

Labs are the focus, but there is so much good stuff for any dog lover, it is worth the read. Amazon is the best way to get it. Mike is a great writer and has done a lot with retrievers and pointers. He has been critical in my dog's development.

[Harmonica Bear]

A great early training book:

How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves: Taking Advantage of Early Conditioned Learning.

By Joan Bailey.

[Grabs]

Any other good pointing dog books? I am getting a setter soon,...any suggestions?

[bigeyes]

I have several pointing dog training video's the only complaint I have is that the trainers all only seem to use and work with English pointers. I am sure the concepts are the same, but it would be nice to see something geared a little more twords GSP's or other pointing breeds.

[gspman]

Most public libraries in the metro area have a bunch of bird dog training books and videos. Start there. I don't have any books but a few videos.

Delmar Smith Videos - good

George Hickox Videos - I think these are excellent videos and a one or two dog guy with limited resources can apply many of the things he teaches, I recommend them

Ferrel Miller Videos - didn't think it was a good video at all

Gun Dog with Harold Adams Video - good. Bigeyes, if you read this post, this video has mostly shorthairs in it with a GWP, pointer and a Viszla thrown in for good measure.

The problem with many videos and books produced by professional trainers is that they have resources that a regular guy doesn't have, or doesn't have room for. Whoa barrels, johnny houses, chain gangs, etc... Most of us can't afford or have room for all that stuff.

The thing to do is buy a few books/videos and try to glean stuff out that is practical for you to do.

One of the best things to do is get involved in a pointing dog club. You can get weekly training nights, training birds, training grounds, etc... all for a "modest fee". I was a member of the Southern MN Pointing Dog Club a several years back and thought is was a great resource.