Prey Drive GSP vs EP

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Superhawk
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Prey Drive GSP vs EP

Post by Superhawk » Thu Aug 28, 2014 5:20 pm

After recently losing my 10 year old GSP (Hill-haven's Hustler Breeding) I purchased an English Pointer( Rock Acre Black Hawk / HTA / Snake Foot Breeding) puppy. My two previous GSP dogs (all 55lb small brown roan dogs) had prey drive at an early age that was unreal. They had a pretty big range and they were intense statues on point to say the least. The EP I have is five months old and he can sniff out a quail at distance; point high on both ends; back another point, and stay steady on flush. I have not exposed him to gunfire as of yet.

I did notice that the EP will not flag on point but he does move his head after hearing whoa command. I am attributing this to his age. I am sure he will be a great bird finder and hunter but I wonder if the prey drive will increase with the exposure to birds to the point where he will be very intense on point or at least not willing to move or be distracted. My GSP dogs were nuts and so this is new to me. I do not have experience with this breed and so I am asking those who have experience with both breeds or even just the English Pointer to kindly comment on what I am to expect.

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ezzy333
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Re: Prey Drive GSP vs EP

Post by ezzy333 » Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:42 pm

Forget the whoa command since it has nothing to do with pointing.
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=144
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=207

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birddog1968
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Post by birddog1968 » Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:40 pm

Likely some pressure is attached to the whoa command and that is why pup is reacting. You may perceive less prey drive because the dog isn't as "nuts" as your shorthair, but what you are witnessing is concentration in breeding on what's important to people breeding specialist birddogs aka pointers....the point. I've not noticed less prey drive and I have one dog bred similarly to yours. I've noticed more adeptness as it concerns what they were primarily bred for which is pointing birds.

PS....I grew up with shorthairs.

Go easy on any pressure as 5 months old is still young....you want to keep all the fire you can in that young pup. I even used to feed quail legs pulled straight from the bird after a good session with a young pup...never had that cause any issue other than cementing desire .
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gotpointers
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Re: Prey Drive GSP vs EP

Post by gotpointers » Fri Aug 29, 2014 4:38 pm

Blackhawk to Elhew is a very proven cross but how far back and what % HTA is in there?

blanked
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Re: Prey Drive GSP vs EP

Post by blanked » Fri Aug 29, 2014 7:18 pm

Run him on wild birds, keep your mouth shut except for praise, let him chase the first season. He will be bird crazy

Superhawk
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Re: Prey Drive GSP vs EP

Post by Superhawk » Sat Aug 30, 2014 10:35 am

gotpointers wrote:Blackhawk to Elhew is a very proven cross but how far back and what % HTA is in there?

He is a grandson

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birddogger
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Re: Prey Drive GSP vs EP

Post by birddogger » Sat Aug 30, 2014 6:25 pm

Prey drive has more to do with the individual dog than it does with the breed. He is too young to tell too much yet but I agree with keeping quiet when running him on birds. It sounds like you are causing some unnecessary pressure.

Charlie
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GrayDawg
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Re: Prey Drive GSP vs EP

Post by GrayDawg » Sat Aug 30, 2014 7:52 pm

birddogger wrote:Prey drive has more to do with the individual dog than it does with the breed. He is too young to tell too much yet but I agree with keeping quiet when running him on birds. It sounds like you are causing some unnecessary pressure.

Charlie
Bingo !! At 5 months old, he doesn't even have all his teeth in yet...........
Take him out this fall and get him on some wild birds, he'll be just fine.

That Pointer in my avatar is Rock Acre Blackhawk double bred through his sire,
(Great River Ice). Don't rush your dog- he doesn't need to be broke out by the time
he is 1 year-old.

There is no substitute for experience and time.

Rob
Last edited by GrayDawg on Sun Aug 31, 2014 8:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Donnytpburge
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Re: Prey Drive GSP vs EP

Post by Donnytpburge » Sun Aug 31, 2014 5:05 am

Superhawk wrote:
gotpointers wrote:Blackhawk to Elhew is a very proven cross but how far back and what % HTA is in there?

He is a grandson
My HTA grandson was a late bloomer.
Very high strung & very hardheaded!

Once he bloomed, he turned into a fine bird dog!
Db

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