Gun Dog Forum

Newbie gun dog owner with 2 year old GSP that loves to run and bark in the woods has a question please....what is with the barking?
She has made some excellent points at grouse (I haven't shot one over her yet) but appears to like to bark at birds when they flush and at squirrels and not even sure what else.
I would like to make her a grouse dog and we spend a lot of time in the woods...she lost her first year to a hunting accident (impaled on tree branch on ground). Comes from good stock and not exactly fearless when someone shoots other than hunting i.e. muzzleloaders in the back yard, firecrackers, stuff like that).
How does one break barking, chasing habit?
Thanks much,
Smiley

Welcome aboard the board.
A few guestions to better understand. I may not have a proper answer but someone will.
I suspect once you get some birds shot for her it will stop at least until she chases deer, rabbits etc.

Have you seen her barking or just hearing it?
What do you think she is barking at?
Is she barking while on point or after a shot and on the chase?
Have you had opportunity to shoot training birds for her?

Rick

I have seen her barking...sometimes just running thru the woods and I have seen her barking at least one time chasing a flushed bird.
I have her the term "giving tounge"...not quite sure if that is what is happening. She does not chase deer...took care of that early on with an e coller. She comes back and checks with me. My old time grouse hunting bud likes dogs in real close...she does tend to be out but within bell sound reach. She may be just pumped up. not sure

It's been my experience that once they start barking while running it's pretty hard to break.Had a GSP that would give tongue when chasing fur.Couldn't fault the dog as some where back there that was a desired trait when tested and hunted.You might try a bark collar as that way when your not right there they will get a correctiion while barking.if the dog is just barking to bark not good.Good luck-Shawn

I have owned dogs that would bark as they chase birds as puppies but out grew it.In fact my Avatar dog Star was one of them.

The first GSP I ever owned would give chase to rabbits & bark aslong as she was running them but stop once she lost sight of them.She would also point them but not with the same intensity as birds,I did shoot rabbits over her & she retrieved them,shot a few squirrels she also retrieved.That was 36 yrs ago & she was one tough little dog.She was the only one I ever killed anything other then birds over all BIRD DOGS since.

I also think the dog will grow out of it as she ages.

Of course, it she DIDN'T chase birds, she wouldn't bark.

I have a 10mnth old gsp female..she does the same exact thing while running through woods.. screams like she is getting hurt, but she just chashing either squrrils or chipmonks..she is bird trainned and does not yelp while in the field..only through woods

maybe she has some beagle in her and shes tailing a rabbit

My GSP did this the first time he smelled a bear.

Some dogs just bark when excited around game. Thankfully mine don't , but I had a GSP once who had a thing about geese. If there was a goose in the pond he was gone, yipping the whole time. I don't have him anymore. Be careful if using an anti bark collar or training collar. The dog could easily think the correction is coming from the bird as you are not there in the picture.

I bet it's just excitement barking. Pretty hard to stop that. I agree once she get a bird in her mouth she won't bark.
In the 90's I had an Australian Shepherd that was a fantastic Frisbee dog. She would bark from extreme excitement when chasing the flying frisbee. Once she caught it no more barking. As she matured she barked must less.

My first setter would always bark when a grouse flushed wild. There were many occasions when her barking alerted me to flying birds, and sometimes they presented nice shooting opportunities! I always liked the fact that she barked while chasing after a wild-flushed bird, and I never viewed it as a problem. She did it until she died at age 13, so never really grew out of it, as some suggested might happen. For whatever reason, she would never bark while chasing after a bird that she had first pointed (she was not steady to wing).

This is an old post, BUT, since it's here, let me respond. the German Shorthair Pointer is a versatile hunting dog. It bays, which is GOOD. it's not just a bird dog, it's not just a pointer. The dog is fine. We're trying to turn versatile hunting dogs into bird dogs only, pointers only. He's a woodland dog, ready to go!!! He's how he should be. Matter of fact they get prizes in Germany for voice.

Well said.