Birthday Ideas

[MNGSP]

Hey all,
I am going to be getting a pup around July 2005, and am trying to think of all of the things I'll need to get ready for the big day. My birthday is coming up next month (April 10th), and I am trying to think of things for the dog that I could put onmy birthday wish list. So if you think of anything, let me know. Thanks in advance!

Jon

[Gregory]

Good morning MN.
Glad to see another GSP person on the board (as though we didn't have enough) .
It might be a bit too early in the morning for all this but since my boys made sure they had me tending to their needs (I get no respect) I'll take some time and see if I can be of little help by suggesting few ideas for your birthaday wish list..

Well, lets see. First of all to help you long, and while you are in wait for the pups arrival you will need a training method to help you get started. Actually you will need two methods.
I like to suggest the Mason Creek Video. " Silent hunting ,No whistles no whoa's" for the pups proper introduction to birds, and what will be needed in the early stages in the pups life for getting started on the right path.

The Silent Hunting,no whistles no whoa's video can be purched from the GDF's Store.

Second. I like to recomend the Book of all books (in my opinion) by Bill Tarrant " Best way to Train Your Gun Dog, The Delmar Smith Method.
The Video by Mason Creek and the book by Bill Tarrant in my opinion can have you train your young dog from the day you bring him home to where now is a finished to Steady to Wing and Shot, and most important, to the fall of the bird. If, you wanted to take his training that far...
Now in my opinion again, and take it for what it is worth. One thing you should not do and that is to search out many methods or to take a bit from this one and little from that to make up your own method .That to me spells disaster. Why? Because at this point (if this is your very first birdog) you will not have the sound judgement to decide when you first read a technique or a method where exactly it leads to. You see,all techniques and methods are no more than little paths that lead somewhere and unless you have the ability to fallow a technique or a method to it's end in your mind, you will be best served by picking a trainer or an author and fallow his methods... One book for now,one video for your very first dog. And by the time you have this dog as you invisioned him you would have learned many,many things to make a sound judgement on...
I read books still, from 1897 on,not in hope to find a better method ,but to measure my way of thinking from the pioneers of dog training that lead to what we learned and use today...

So rather than picking and choosing as I said not to do. Go to Google search and search for info on the Author read all you can about who he is what he has done , and what his methods are. Do a Google search on Delmar Smith to see what I mean....
Then the next thing you need to do and, by the way, this can not be baught. You will need to get started on a philosophical point of view. Because by and by your training methods will derive from your philosophy as to what a birdog should be as it can be quite different from what I think mine should be, for me, as it will be from the fellow that lives down the street. So read all that you can on K- 9 psychology and pay attention to your pups boddy language to fit the peices to the puzzle of his make up...... Learn that and I promise you, you will never again need anyones method,you'll have your own....
I Hope I don't come off sounding like some kind of a Messiah,but what I related to you has been passed on to me through the road of hard knocks of trial and error and I feel I owe you at least this much,FWIW. Happy Birthday and welcome to the GSP world...
Best,G

[grant]

Hey all,
I am going to be getting a pup around July 2005, and am trying to think of all of the things I'll need to get ready for the big day. My birthday is coming up next month (April 10th), and I am trying to think of things for the dog that I could put onmy birthday wish list. So if you think of anything, let me know. Thanks in advance!

Jon

Small Gifts
Videos
Magazine Subscriptions (Pointing Dog Journal etc..)
Checkcord
Whistle
Pinch Collar
Leather Gloves
Bird Bag
Retractable Lead
Blank Gun
Training Vest
first aid kit
dummies for fetch

Large Gifts
eCollar
Bird Launcher

In my opinion, I'd buy multiple videos. Find what works for you and your dog. I'm sure I missed some things as I'm trying to hurry so I can go pick up some birds to train with this morning. Good luck!

[Gregory]

In my humble opinion. I think that's where most first time dog owners that want to train their very first dog make the mistake, by viewing to much training material in hope to get a feel for things. When in fact any popular method will get the job done for them. I say this knowing that anyone that needs to ask----and MN please do not take this personally, as there are many out there in the same boat you are in--- what should be on his wish list for his first pup, would not have the ability to know what will work for him. With out first gaining some on the job training,otherwise he will end up experimenting as many first time dog owner/trainers do in search of a short cutt when in fact there are none. and will end up with out success as they would have had,if they stuck to one method ,and I don't care who's method it is.... Anyway, I dodn't always get my point across as well as I wish at times and I thought to explain further in the evnt it was one of those times.
Best. G.

[grant]

Oh, one more thing before I walk out the door, if you can score yourself a dog box, that'd rock!

[llewgor]

jon
perfect start video by perfection kennel help me the most. i also have the best way to train your gun dog the delmar smith method a good book.
things for your birthday wish list money, to buy all the things you need for your dog and all the things he'll tear up
wish list for me if i was starting over.
1. del mar smith wonder lead.
2. dog kennel
3. checkcord
4. dog first aid kit and book
5. videos and books and magazines
this is what i what to start with., the rest i wouldn't need until later.

[MNGSP]

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions. As far as trainging goes, I am going to, (and have been) reading up on a few methods for training pointing dogs. From these materials I want to have a set method for each command I am going to be teaching the dog. For instance, the first book I read was "Gun Dog," by Richard Walters. I found this book very informative on the various developmental stages in a puppies life. I also felt that it provided good techniques for training some basic commands (sit, stay, come...etc.). But there were other techniques that did not make much sense to me, sucj as the Whoa training. His techniques is so off the wall, I just cannot see it working.
Basically what I am trying to say, is that I want to have set methods for each command that make sense to me. If I believe they will work, I will be more likely to stick with them, and provide a consistent path for the dog to follow. thank you for reminding me about the Tarrant Book...I had heard good things about it, and was planning on getting it. I will definitely look into the video as well.

thanks again for all of the suggestions!

Jon