Gun Dog Forum

I have a 2 yr old female GSP that is coming along well. Her and I have spent a great deal of time afield. She works a little too close in tall fields, I think she likes to keep an eye on me. But adjusts her range when we get into shorter grass. However lately I have had some friends and family join me hunting, she will only work in front of me. I would like her to increase her overall range, especially in a multiple hunter senario. She doesn't pay much attention to others In the hunting party. Any suggestions. Thanks Louie

At two, she's still really "finding" her range. It could stay like this, increase or decrease.

The one thing you might try is to form a line of three people, you in the center. Have the guys or gals on each end with a bag of pigeons each. Start into a field, lined up, at the distance apart you want. Now, if your dog is steady to wing and shot, you'll have to use clip wings. If he chases, use homers.

When the dog is in front of you, have the guy on one end throw a bird, yell BIRD! and shoot in the air. The dog should go get or chase it. When he comes back to you continue the hunt. Have the guy on the opposite end do the same thing after you've gone 50-60 yards. Just continue this through the field. The dog will learn that YOU are not the only one that will find birds and he may start working the line.

Some dog's do, some don't, but it's the only thing I've come up with to try.

If you hunt with guys with other dog's, they will sometimes pull your dog out too.

I have a 12 year old dog that always hunts in front of me. In fact all my dogs hunt in front of me.

If I were you, I would be grateful. YOU are handling your dog and the dog is responding to you. Don't teach the dog to run in front of anyone who hollers at it. Be happy.

Lou
Try and push her range out and always hunt on the down wind side of the group. This will allow her to work birds across the
the hole group. Its tough to hunt with a dog that only hunts for its owner.
If you can figure it out your friends and family will have fun and get some birds too.

My lab is the same way. This is a major reason my wife got her own puppy.

cutty72 wrote:My lab is the same way. This is a major reason my wife got her own puppy.

+1 nice tactic for getting another dog.

Thanks everyone for your response. I am happy with her but I am always looking to improve. I feel bad when people want to go with me, then they don't even see the dog work. -( that's my favorite part). Well I'm going to keep one of her pups maybe that will help too.

One of my favorite things about hunting over a pointing dog is you can walk and hang out with your friends on the hunt while the dog works. Let her do her job and shoot the ones she points.