Advice please – 18 month old part trained GSP

[Toq33r]

Hi all,

Sorry for the long message, but this is quite a difficult post for me to write as this dog means a lot to me.

Due to some recent changes in my work situation, I’m trying to think ahead and understand what my options might be going forward. At the moment I’m not rushing into anything, but I want to be realistic about what might work best for both the dog and myself if my circumstances change.

I have an 18-month-old male German Shorthaired Pointer that I have been bringing on myself. He is from working lines, and I originally took him on with the intention of bringing him on as a working dog.

He is kenneled and is a very quiet dog in the kennel. He rarely makes any noise and generally doesn’t bark unless something like a cat comes into the garden.

He has a very high prey drive and is always keen to work. His recall is very good. He has been out with me wildfowling and has retrieved ducks on ponds, and he has also tracked deer regularly. He shows natural pointing instinct and will point squirrels and other quarry when out. He is not gun shy at all, if anything he is the opposite and is always keen to move towards where the shot is coming from.

He still needs more work on steadiness, but he is still young. I have been working him with a regular GSP specialist trainer who believes he has very good potential and strong drive. He has had less exposure to pheasants so far, mainly because the majority of my shooting is deer stalking. My plan was to get him more steady first and then work him more on pheasants this summer to prepare for the coming season.

Ideally I would prefer not to part with him, as I have put a lot of time into him and he means a lot to me. For that reason I wanted to ask if anyone here has ever shared a working dog with someone else, perhaps someone local who could also work the dog regularly. Is that something people do in practice and that can realistically work, or am I asking too much?

Worst case scenario, if I did end up needing to sell him, what would people consider a realistic price for an 18-month-old part-trained GSP like this?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Jon P]

If you have the right person, I cannot see an issue with the dog working for someone else- I did see on instagram once a lady I believe from Sweden had a GSP and a Bavarian type that were used for tracking wounded animals after driven hunt, I believe her licence requirements were that another nominated person had to be available to work the dogs if she was unavailable for any considerable time.

Good luck with your dog

 

[Heym SR20]

No reason that a dog shouldn’t work for two handlers. Friend shared spaniels with his mother for many years. She would use them for picking up on big shoots. He used them for beating on a rough shoot. Dogs were delighted to get out doing what they loved.

Provided both handlers are competent and working towards the same ends no reason why it shouldn’t be a very good solution.

Also consider that plenty of dogs are sent away to school to be trained, so learn to work for one handler before being handed to another.

 

[Toq33r]

Thank you both for the advice, I really appreciate it.

It’s reassuring to hear that sharing a working dog can work in the right circumstances, as I wasn’t sure how common it actually was. Your comments have definitely put me a bit more at ease about the idea.

If there is anyone local who might potentially be interested in something like this and has the right experience with working dogs, I would certainly be open to having a conversation and seeing if something could work. I’m based in Aldershot (GU11).

I’ve also added a photo of the pup below.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

 

[countrryboy]

If u go down that route I'd obviously have to sit down with the other handler talk through want ur aims etc are.
But ud probably have to observe each other training/handling so ur both pretty consistent.

The only time I've seen dogs struggle is if both handlers are out on the shoot on same day.
Say a husband/wife or mother/father/kid sometimes dog will get confused who it's meant to be working for.

But I know some pickers up will borrow other folks dogs ( more labs) to work on shoots.
It all depends on the individual dog, many just want to work and will work for anyone, but some won't.

U'd be as well asking ur trainer as he will know wot ur wanting and dogs temperament.
Highlight any cons.
He may even know somebody suiteable.
Handling Hprs is slightly different than handling normal gundog.
The speed they can cover ground is amazing.

 

[Toq33r]

Thanks for the advice, I completely agree with what you’re saying.

One thing I was also thinking is that if I did find the right person to potentially share him with, I would want them to also spend time with my GSP trainer so we are both handling and training him in a consistent way and working towards the same goals.

I wouldn’t be willing to place him with a novice or inexperienced handler, as the last thing I would want is bad habits being introduced that would be difficult to correct later on. Anyone involved would need to have the right level of experience and would be properly vetted.

If something like that doesn’t work out, then I would likely have to look at finding him a good working home where he can continue doing what he was bred to do.

 

[Rutland lad]

He’s a very pretty dog. I hope this plan works out for you.

 

[Toq33r]

He’s a very pretty dog. I hope this plan works out for you.

Thank you

 

[Dunwaters]

It might work, but it probably won’t unless you, the co handler and the trainer are all on the same page.
What do you want from the pup?
You can train him for both rifle and gun but it will take a bit of doing because he will have a different job with different behaviour depending on what you are carrying.
Consistency is going to be very difficult to achieve with two handlers and a trainer.
Best of luck with it.

 

[yellow belly]

Thank you both for the advice, I really appreciate it.

It’s reassuring to hear that sharing a working dog can work in the right circumstances, as I wasn’t sure how common it actually was. Your comments have definitely put me a bit more at ease about the idea.

If there is anyone local who might potentially be interested in something like this and has the right experience with working dogs, I would certainly be open to having a conversation and seeing if something could work. I’m based in Aldershot (GU11).

I’ve also added a photo of the pup below.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

He's a good looking lad!

 

[Toq33r]

Thank you

 

[WalkedUp]

Lovely dog

 

[WalkedUp]

My pal, Eddie Kania, had a dog tag broke its leg badly and will never work again. A woman locally had a GSP of moderate training. Due to the circumstances he has co-opted it. He works it to great success, but it adds pick/up drop offs to his days out. Speak to Eddie at NW GSP, he’s a great guy and fount of knowledge for HPRs. Based in the Peaks.

 

[Toq33r]

My pal, Eddie Kania, had a dog tag broke its leg badly and will never work again. A woman locally had a GSP of moderate training. Due to the circumstances he has co-opted it. He works it to great success, but it adds pick/up drop offs to his days out. Speak to Eddie at NW GSP, he’s a great guy and fount of knowledge for HPRs. Based in the Peaks.

Amazing, certainly will reach out to him. Do you happen to have his contact details or email address?

 

[WalkedUp]

I’ll send by DM

 

[jimmy milnes]

Cracking looking dog matey,
What lines is he from.
Who's the specialist hpr trainer you were using.
Cheers Jimmy.

 

[Toq33r]

Cracking looking dog matey,
What lines is he from.
Who's the specialist hpr trainer you were using.
Cheers Jimmy.

Cheers Jimmy, appreciate it mate.
He’s from Billingbriar lines, sire is Billingbriar Moorstorker, with Collwarwick and Withamfriary further back in the pedigree, and a bit of Hege-Haus blood in there as well.

The trainer I’ve been using is Paul Wilson, based down south near Lewes. Really good bloke and very knowledgeable with HPRs.

 

[jimmy milnes]

One or two decent dogs in that matey.

 

[jimmy milnes]

My old bitch tilly is in it
Eichen Baum Tallon

 

[Toq33r]

Wow she is stunning