This is my first post on your forum and I look forward to getting to know you over time. Here's my story.
My wife and I were looking for a puppy off and on over the course of a year and we had different ideas for a breed....her biggest issue... "no long haired dogs". I always wanted a sporting dog as I like to hunt birds but I was pretty much limited to dove season since a dog really isn't necessary. I decided a GSP was a great all purpose dog and it certainly qualified as a short haired breed.
Last December I was searching breeders and local animal shelters online and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what looked like a pure breed white and liver male GSP that was approximately 2-yrs-old. Then I was floored to see dog's name "Mustang". It was destiny...I love Fords and own five Mustangs myself....this was too much of a coincidence!
My wife and I went to the shelter the very next day and after much thought we decided to take him home. He was handsome, ball oriented, slightly underweight and just recovering from kennel cough.
After about two weeks of taking Mustang home I couldn't resist taking him to the local skeet shooting range to determine if he was gun shy. I was so nervous...after all, this was going to determine if I even had a chance to hunt with the dog. I took him to the outskirts of the parking lot and waited for the shotguns to go off...pop...pop...he didn't flinch a bit, YES!!!!!!!!!!! . I slowly got up closer to the shooters and he acted like a pro. Some of the guys there said I hit the lottery with this pound dog.
I already knew he was birdie as my daily walks showed he had much interest in the city pigeons where I live. But I still didn't know how good his nose was at locating birds and coming to a point. A co-worker mentioned visiting a bird club and getting him evaluated with some planted Chukar.
Mustang's first experience out in the field showed he had lots of potential. No gunshyness,,,,very birdie,,,and endless amounts of energy, but he needed proper training and focus. I was given the name to a bird dog trainer and left with the hopes of a future hunting companion.
After several months of getting to know the dog, taking a general obedience training course and having some issues with trying to keep weight on him, I finally had the opportunity to visit with the bird dog trainer. Based on the trainer's evaluation, he thinks we should go with an Electronic-collar. The dog responded very well to the e-collar demo we did and the trainer thinks I might even have a shot at getting him out this season since Mustang appears to be a quick learner. The plan is to get him trained later this summer when it cools off more and for me to do some backyard training in the meantime.
One question on my mind is whether I should take him dove hunting with me this Sept. The trainer is a bit reluctant as this type of hunting really isn't well suited for an eager GSP. The dog wants to be running and not waiting beside me for a bird to fly by so he thinks I may be in for more frustration than anything else.
Do you guys hunt dove with your GSP's? What do you think? Is it possible for me to do some training with the dog in preparation for the dove hunt that won't be a detriment to the training he'll get later?
thanks,
Gene & Mustang
