To sit or not to sit?

[daredevil_tipped_w/leech]

Just brought home my first English Setter. Cute lit'l bugger I must say. Been a Lab boy all my life....Tradin in my alarm clock and blind for a good ol' pair of boots and a game bag...

My question to toss out there is .... I am hearing 2 schools of thought. Do you teach an English Setter to sit or not? Why is your repsonse what it is?

[gspman]

If you intend to finish your dog completely, ie. steady to wing and shot as well as stop to flush and honoring another dog's point, then I would probably not teach the sit command. If you don't plan on doing all that and are planning on your dog being a good 'ol hunting dog then it probably doesn't matter.

gspman

[metrojoe]

I 've had my first pointer, also an English Setter, for a couple/three weeks now and I had been wondering this myself. I wish I could remember the title of the book, but the author made a good point that "sit" is the easiest command to teach and any dog at any age can be taught to sit in a matter of days.

[daredevil_tipped_w/leech]

Thanks GSP, appreciate your reply. It seems as though I hear both ways and convincing thoughts on each. So far, NO sit for me. I do plan on finsihing him off and bringing out his very best. We all have tendencies to brag, but at 3 months, I think he "gets it". Metro: Gun Dog by Wolters has been a great read. He teaches SIT though....

[setterguy]

This was just discussed a little while ago, here is a link.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=523695&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

If you don't mind me asking, where did you get your pup?

[daredevil_tipped_w/leech]

Thanks Setter. It was a recent post too. Appreciate your help.

He came from Mobridge SD. Sire Sharp Tails Dream and Dam was Morning Surprise which is a spin from the Havelock family. His Grandparents would be Havelock Blacksmith and Havelock Zee.

While this is my first owned (I have hunted over many) I am just giddy over the guy. Whelped 1/30/05 and yesterday in the yard he locked up tight and went on point. I realize its instinct and not a thing I had to do with it, but boy or boy was it a riot to see.

Appreciate your help again.