do any of you keep your bird dogs inside ifso what are the advantages and disadvantages of it also i have heard a dog kept inside with you part of the time will obey better is this true

I don't keep my GSP in the house. But I know two people who do and have no problem hunting them.

Anything you can do bond we more closely with your dog will increase your command. The dog that is loved and pampered is that much more eager to please his master.

My GSP sleeps at the foot of my bed everynight she has no problem when it comes to the field she stops being the clown she is at home and puts on her game face. That is why I have a GSP!

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My dogs stay outside mostly but are let it for a few hours every morning. The only disadvantage is the springer hogs the covers on the bed. My lab just curls up on the floor next to my bed. I think having the extra pack time is benificial. They are currently going through withdrawls with season ending for us
last week. I will have to take them out and swim them and road them to get there mind off of it.

Just my opinion,not related to obediance.My old GSP doesn't listen much in house or I should say will take advantage,But once we hit field,He is one of the best mannered dogs I've seen.In fact inside he is just one of family and we all are a bunch of hardheads.

We keep our GSP inside with the family, but he is also in the kennel when we leave. Our Brittany stays inside all of the time. She is getting quite up there in years and is pampered a lot. We think the dogs bond better if they are allowed to live with you and become family members. They obey commands better and have a better disiplined behavior. This is Bubba's page
http://us.geocities.com/charliehfc/index.html

My labs stay in the house, and as long as you have the room and a good vacuum I would recommend it. My young lab sleeps either between my wife and I or on top of me during the night. The weird thing is that I swear that dog can read my mind, no I'm not crazy. At the very least, I can give her a simple look in the field and it is the same as about 20 gestures and commands. I don't think you get the same kind of bonding when they are outside most of the time, at least that is what I've seen with my hunting partners and their dogs over the years.

PS. Nothing warmer than a lab on a cold night, wow those dogs just naturally run hot. Of course my wife usually hogs the dog when its cold, darn.

Pup,
What breed of dog do you have? I too recommend keeping them in the house and put them in an outside kennel when you are away and can't take them with you. Make sure to gradually introduce the pup to the outside kennel a few sessions at a time so when it comes to have to leave them for real, they'll be prepared for it and won't become stressed and can cause separation anziety when you have to leave it. A lot of people think they can just throw the dog in the kennel and it will behave but they find out the hard way and can cause this condition if not introduced in a structured way to a dog.
Repremand it for acting out (whinning or barking while kenneled) also. This will get it to realize it must accept different forms of restraint and all dogs need this kind of structured conditioning in their packs.
P.S. Come over and visit us Washingtonians on the West forum! Where is Chewleha anyways?

Edited by - Lady Grouse Hunter on 02/08/2002 01:53:58

chewelah is about an hour north of spokane. i have a brittany.