We adopted a German Shorthaired Pointer from a local bird dog rescue. I understand the basics, but we don't hunt and she was never trained. When we walk, she always walks ahead. She will slow down, point, creep, freeze, then run to something I can't see. She always returns. Is this how it would work in the field? Is she "expecting" me to do something? (like shoot) I want to better understand. She is 2 and 1/2 but was a pup when we got her. She LOVES tall grass.? Don't birds live in trees? I LOVE her. I want to "get" her and understand what's going on in her head. She never kills anything, but instead will hold it down with her nose until I get there or call her off...frogs, spiders, groundhogs, kitties, beetles, toys. She gets about 2 hours of off leash exercise in the woods daily.
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I Rescued a German Shorthaired Pointer. on Walks, She Often Runs Ahead of Me to High Brush and Points. Why? ?
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Funny
I believe, that what the pointer is bred to do is point out the bird to the hunter… I don’t believe the dog is supposed to “flush” the bird, so in theory she’s waiting for you to either flush the bird, or shoot it.
Most of the birds they would have used in hunting are ground dwelling birds like ptarmigans and grouse.
ADD: since this behavior is so ingrained in her, you could join your local pointer-dog club and fine tune her behavior if you wanted. You’d both probably really enjoy it. Or you could treat it as your own game, and make up a command that means go to find something and point at it. Sounds completely cute to me. Especially that she tries to hold creatures until you’re there to do your job *lol*
It’s her instinct. No matter if they’ve been trained, they will still do it. It’s in their blood. The tall grass is usually where pheasants would be which may be why she is drawn to it, it also makes it easier for them to sneak up onto critters. My weimaraner does the same thing.
She loves you, and she was bred to do that, even though she wasn’t trained. It just comes naturally to her.
Just ignore her, and keep walking, then she’ll see that it’s pointless
She sounds like she really has the hunting instinct! My family raises GSPs, and while it’s been a long time since they’ve done any hunting with them (or for the younger ones, none at all), the dogs still have the instinct to point out the game. (And by the way, quail live on the ground and are a commonly hunted bird.) I have a 12-week-old Brittany (formerly known as Brittany Spaniels) who has already pointed at things; frogs, birds, squirrels, etc. My mom’s main show dog right now (a 13-month-old) will point beautifully, and yet he’s never been hunted or even exposed to game. Some dogs just really have the instinct. Congratulations on your wonderful dog!
Hey there! You’re dog sounds like a cutie! Bird dogs hunt pheasants. Pheasants live in tall grass and the dogs are supposed to do EXACTLY what she does. That is so cool that she’s never had any training. It takes a lot to get them to that point. But yeah… that’s very cool and impressive!
pointers are gun dogs
thats her instinct
i have a irish setter and i was also worried when she i let her out near my friends pond and she killed 3 wild ducks
now i try to keep her away from any wild birds like pigeons or other
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