9 Month German shorthaired Pointer first off lead heelwork training

Visit www.aytee.co.uk/training to get more from your GSP.
HPR's hate heelwork ! Make it as tolerable for you both as you can. It is a necessary evil, because once learnt the benefits will last for ever
This video is part of the level 1 Aytee Training Programme

[@stephenvickers7671]

Just came across your channel today. Very impressed with what I have seen so far. Great advice on a balanced training regime. I'm working now with a 3 and a half month old lab. I will be back for more sound advice. Thank you.

[@AyteeGSPs]

Hi Stephen, Thanks for that ! I'm glad you find it helpful. It's usually me that's coming to the Labrador boys for help !!

[@RossDixonTeaching]

Brilliant ideas- I just lost a beloved pointer/lab cross and wish I had grown our partnership with some of this knowledge- I suppose that's a plus about the tragedy of a great dog's short life- we as the owner get a chance to learn from what we did well/badly and have another go. Definitely considering a GSP. Thanks for sharing your experience! I love your balance of firm and fair and so does Carrot by the looks of it (y)

[@AyteeGSPs]

Thanks Ross. I have had to be quite tough with Karat as she is pretty impervious to corrections so it is important to have a fantastic bond and give loads of encouragement and praise when she gets it right. The balance is so important - she is finally realising that it is easier to stick with me than do her own thing!

[@richardjones4080]

have you ever worked with other members of the gd group if so how did the breed or breeds compare to gsp's

[@mtbman98]

What does the abreviation HPR stand for?

[@AyteeGSPs]

Hiya, It stands for Hunt Point Retrieve as opposed to dogs that only Retriever or Point

[@StanRawlinsonDogBehaviourist]

Actually, it stands for Hunter Pointer Retriever. Very similar but more correct

[@samashti4524]

We love to get a GERMAN POINTER , but we not hunt at all. We often walk in the mountain. And we have 2 hectar of land. Are they safe with children,

[@AyteeGSPs]

Hi Linda, They are invariably lovely temperaments and good family dogs, but do naturally have a high level of excitement so the children need managing so as not to send the dog over the top. Training is the key and they love plenty of exercise but they will run off and hunt if you do not train them, so if you dont have time to do this an easier breed makes more sense. Good luck whatever you decide. Enjoy your dogs !

[@WayneAnonymous]

We have an English Pointer/Labrador mix who I guess in terms of temperament and need of exercise is somewhat similar to the German Pointer (I never had one myself but the neighbor of my grandpa used them always for hunting, so I know them a little bit). We are no hunters and live in a three-room city apartment and our everyday life with the dog goes very well. I hear many people say that these kind of dogs aren't suited for city life or for non-hunters in general. Given my own experience with a dog of this kind I can't confirm any of this. The crux of the matter is always about how you take care of your dog and keeping in mind the story of your breed. German Shortshairs as well as our dog are breeds that were traditioanlly hunting dogs which means for you that in some way you have to satisfy their need of excersie and instict to hunt. You'll run into serious problems with your dog if you don't. He'll get unhealthy and grow some bad attitudes and habits. If they don't get enough exercise they will grow nervous and start chewing and destroying your stuff, they might even become aggressive. If they don't get to hunt at all and you're trying to surpress their instinct, they might decide that things at people they usually wouldn't chase actually are very interesting prey objects. The most important thing is to keep your dog according to his nature. We go out about two to three hours a day and do active play with our dog. Things like fetching, searching, trailing and other exercises. Indoors we put her food into a bag, hide it somewhere and let her search for it. There rest of the time she relaxes with us in our living room or sleeps. Thanks to all these activities she is a very happy and balanced dog. Bottom of the line, the crux of it is keeping your dog according to its nature and make sure that your lifestyle is able to support it. If you're able to do this, you shouldn't run into major or enduring problems.

[@AyteeGSPs]

​@@WayneAnonymousI think you are right. Where you live is not so much the issue as making time for and understanding your dog

[@richardlomas7834]

We have just taken the plunge on our first GSP, she is 9 weeks old and just wondered when is the right age to start training her, she will be a family dog and also a working dog involved in various hunting when we have the time, probably at the weekends, I’m just wondering weather when my partner takes her on walks it will be hard for her to understand that she’s out for exercise and not on a hunt with me as I’ll be the one training her, any advice would be great, love what you do by the way

[@poorchristopher15]

GSP will destroy your house. Keep them outside.

[@AyteeGSPs]

Given stimulation, leadership and exercise mine have never been a problem, but without a doubt a comfortable kennel and run is the best place if you have a day away

[@jackking2616]

If it’s under stimulated yeah it will. Don’t leave it at home all day and expect it to be happy because it won’t be I have 2 GWP’s and the eldest can be a bit destructive with soft touts but other than that they’re both fine and we have a 8 year old and 7 month old

[@poorchristopher15]

@@jackking2616 Perhaps you are right.

[@shug2795]

i find videos like this virtually useless. Displaying the process with a dog that already "heels" is pointless...no pun intended.

[@AyteeGSPs]

its funny because I didn't think that she was particularly good here. She is a bit sloppy and at times inattentive - she was just 9 months. Offlead she is lagging and it shows how hard one has to work to keep her attentive. She is never allowed to get away with loosing concentration which is really the point of the exercise. I guess I would not allow the dog to work and not do the job. 😀 Very short sessions where you get what you want, then finish and repeat. Keeping it positive. It would not be right to show very poor heel work and 'knock a dog into shape' in one session, that is not the way to go, it takes time. I hope this answers your question.

[@shug2795]

@@AyteeGSPs at 9 months, this dog should be further along but I appreciate that you may not have had her long. I agree - short sessions where you have the dog focused and then quit. I get a bit annoyed when I hear the word "positive" thrown around as if the results do matter as long as I'm positive. Well, I for one don't believe that ending on a positive note serves either the trainer/owner or the dog! Dogs need to make choices along the way. Sometimes, they make the wrong ones and they need to navigate/process/understand that. It doesn't mean you're angry or in a bad mood. Those are human frailties. Sometimes dogs need a little quiet time to learn from making the wrong decisions. Burying/dovetailing poor choices into ANYTHING positive is...negative, I believe.