I just got a new pup 2 days ago. Came from an iffy home so im working on cleaning her up. Flea baths...collars.... anyway. They didnt have much to say about her. But what i do know is that she is a German Short Haired Pointer and Lab mix. Couldnt get an age out of them but i liked her so i took her.

Anyway....This will be my first time training a dog for anything including hunting. So can you give me some advice. I heard good things about a book called "Game Dog 2" by Richard Wolters so i ordered it. Should be here anyday. Im not sure really where to start, but i've started at least trying to teach her SIT.

As for hunting i really wanted a beagle as i mainly small game hunt..squirrel and rabbit. However i've got permission to hunt some nice fields as well as over water for waterfoul so im going to start hunting upland game.

Im sure i missed some information that would help readers give better advice...feel free to ask and as i said this is my first time so go easy on me

The first thing I would try to do, given that she comes from such a mix, is to determine whether she points or not. A GSP is a pointing dog while a true lab is a flushing dog. Depending on what instinct your pup has will determine how you will hunt upland game with her. Either way, you will still be able to hunt rabbits with her. It probably won't be as efficient as a team of beagles, but you'll still have fun.

If she points, join a NAVHDA chapter. You won't be able to test her as she's a mix, but it doesn't seem like that would be a priority for you. However, by joining a chapter, you will be able to get some very good advice for training; take part in training days where you will see other people doing the same things you are trying to to; and probably make some friends.

If she doesn't point, there are a ton of books and videos and clubs that you could take part in.

When she gets about 6 months, I would buy Smartfetch by Evan Graham (I think that's his name... doce would know for sure). It is a good step by step into the elements of obedience needed as well as force fetching the dog. This will be vital if you're going to hunt waterfowl.

Good luck and good looking pup. You may have a new breed in your hands called the Flushing German Shorthair Pointer. I wonder if this is one of those "other" pups from a litter of pointing labs.

I wouldn't be very quick on cutting it down just yet my friend. I mean nothing bad by that statement but some dogs that are out of mixes can make some great hunting pets. ThoughI dislike the idea of mixing breeds up but it happens.I am going to guess from whatI am looking at that she is around 3 months old right now. So Iwould start gettingher some general obedience and then start slowly working the commands in if that was me. Get yourself a few wings or a pidgeon some place and see how she handles it. Just do not let her catch them. I would also get a video of one training a pup there is alot of them out there. Some will paint a picture of what you are after. Reading about them should be better once you see what they are trying to do.. Good luck with your pup!

I have two german shorthair pointers that are a little over a year old and are also litter mates.I have had them from 8 weeks old so the advice i would give you speaks from my personal experience.

1)Love the dog until there is no end in sight...you want the dog to be your best friend . So this means praising the puppy as much as you can.Handle the dog as much as possible by putting your fingers in its mouth and holding it upside down like a baby.Find a treat that it absolutely loves as a reward for doing the right things.

2)Expose the dog to many different things such as small children,shopping malls,noisy environments,other animals,ect...

3)Make sure the dog looks at you as the dominate figure in its life...dogs are a pact animal and strive to be the "top" dog.

4)Make sure you have the basic commands down such as "HERE"..."WHOA"..."HEEL"...ECT.... before going to birds as well.
last but not least....BIRDS,BIRDS,BIRDS,AND MORE BIRDS.

I have looked at raising bird dogs aslike raising children because they both have many things in common and are alot alike.They will have good days and bad days like we do so i take that into consideration.

There are many other tips i would like to help you with but the ones i have listed are just the basics i go by for the first 4-5 months.I would recomend buying a dvd such as George Hichox training video which helped me out alot.

Take a quail,grouse,or pheasant wing....tie it to the end of a fishing pole and tease the dog with it a few times.The dog should point if it has it in it.You should see the dogs dimeaner change as well.My dogs are hyper but when they smell a bird it seems like they mature 2 years all of a sudden.

As you see below my dogs are very spoiled but make great family dogs!
If you need any more help just shoot me a PM.
GOOD LUCK!!!

I have trained and broke several dogs for several folks and my very first dog was a shorthair lab cross and she was the best of point worlds. She would point everything she came across and she would swim the Kansas river to retrieve anything I shot. What I like to tell new dog folks is to make sure you let your pup be a pup. He has the rest of his life to be a functioning hunting dog for you. If you are going to start some things with him keep it simple and short and fun for him. You'll have a lot of fun with him for sure. I think the shorthair lab cross is a good one for folks who are just lookin to kill a mess of birds.

Andy