Posts tagged "hunting dog"

The German Shorthair Pointer

The German Shorthair Pointer

The German Shorthair Pointer is bred to be versatile hunting dogs capable of high performance – both in the field and in the water. They are energetic dogs that love to please, and are capable and willing to work long and hard for their owners. Their coat is very short, soft and dense, requiring moderate brushing to keeps its shine. Most trained German Shorthair Pointers will excel in the field, and provide years of dedicated service. Their energy seems endless, and they especially love fetching games. Intelligent, sweet, energetic, bright and loving — That’s a German Shorthair.

German Shorthair activity and intelligence

As with most bird dogs, the activity level of the German Shorthair is high. They need a large dose of daily exercise, and will sometimes become destructive if they don’t get it. Fields in which to run, or a large fenced yard provide the best environment. Most hunters find that after a two mile run, a German Shorthair is just getting warmed up.

German Shorthair Pointers are highly intelligent. They make great house dogs, good obedience dogs, a keen watch dog, and of course, excellent hunting companions. They have one of the best scenting abilities of all bird dog breeds. Since they work so well in the field, very few Shorthair owners would have any other dog as their hunting companion.

German Shorthair size and color

German Shorthairs are medium sized dogs. The standard height of a male is 23 to 25 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 55 to 70 pounds. The standard height of a female is 21 to 23 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 45 and 60 pounds.

The coat of a German Shorthair is German Shorthair on pointshort and thick, requiring regular brushing to keep its shine. They range in color combinations. They may be solid liver, or have a combination of liver and white. They may also be liver and white ticked, or liver patched and white ticked. They could also be the simple, liver, and roan pattern.

German Shorthair Pointers are kind, affectionate, compassionate dogs that adapt well to their environment. They make very good house dogs and/or watch dogs. They make terrific companions and are excellent around children. Their love for you will be demonstrated when they are working for you or playing with you.

German Shorthair Pointers make wonderful pets and hunters.

More Hunting Dog Training Tips

Hunting Dog Training Tips

Important Hunting Dog Training Tips

The most important thing in training your hunting dog is to have a dog that listens to you. If you can’t get your dog to do what he is supposed to he will be of no value to you when you take him hunting. The key here is to make sure that your dog knows who is in charge. If you don’t clearly establish that you are the one that is in charge your dog will never do what you want him to do. Remember that in nature dogs are normally part of a pack, they all follow the lead of the alpha dog, you need to make sure that your hunting dog knows that’s you.

Being the leader means just that, you go first, never follow your dog. When you go out the door you go first and your dog follows behind you. The same is true when you return you go in first with the dog behind you. You need to make sure that your dog understands that this is how it works. If your dog tries to run out the door ahead of you this is behavior that needs s to be corrected. Bird dog training is about establishing who is in charge; you can’t let the dog think it’s him.

Never feed your hunting dog before you eat. In nature the leader of the pack eats first and then the other members eat. The same is true of bird dog training. Make sure that you eat your meal, and let your dog see you eat your meal, before you give him his meal. It should go without saying that you don’t give your dog any of your food. This is part of establishing who is in charge, in nature the order in which the members of a pack eat is an important indicator of their rank with in the pack. Don’t let the dog think he outranks you by letting him eat first.

Don’t let your hunting dog block your way, if he is in your way he is the one that has to move. Never walk around your dog make him get out the way. The only thing worse would be if you get out of your dogs way when he wants past. Your dog walks around you, you don’t walk around him. This is another one of those things that in nature indicates a dog’s rank within the pack. Effective bird dog training can’t take place if the dog is not clear on his place.

A lot of dogs will demand attention by barking, whimpering or trying to play with you; this is another thing that needs to be stopped. You are in charge and you set the rules, it has to be you who decides when you will play with your dog and when you won’t. Of course it is important that you play with your bird dog on a regular basis, after all bird dog training is most effective if it is incorporated into play. However it has to be you who decides when you are going to play. This is all about establishing who has control.

A hunting dog should have his own sleeping area, it should be clearly defined and it should be expected that your dog sleep there. Never let your dog sleep in your bed with you, this is another indicator to the dog that he is the one in charge. Most bird dog training experts recommend crate training as a convenient way to provide your dog with his own area. Not only will this help show your dog who is in charge it will make house training your dog a lot easier.

It is best to avoid rough housing with your hunting dog. This can be a little tricky since you will definitely want to play with your dog as part of the bonding process. What you want to avoid is letting your dog think that he is your equal. When you play you still need to make it clear that you are the one in charge. Never, ever let your dog get on top of you, this will send him a clear message that he is in charge. Hunting Dog training will be next to impossible when that happens.

Hunting Dog Training Tips in our next post!

the Weimaraner

the Weimaraner

The Weimaraner is a moderately large, athletic, working dog.

The medium sized head has a moderate stop with a medial line going down the forehead. The nose is gray and the teeth meet in a scissors bite. The somewhat wide-set eyes come in shades of light amber, gray or blue-gray. The high-set ears are long and pendant, folded forward hanging down along the sides of the head. The front legs are straight with webbed, compact feet. The toenails are gray or amber in color. The tail is customarily docked to 1 ½ inches (4cm) when the dog is two days old. Note: docking tails is illegal in most parts of Europe. Dewclaws are usually removed. The topline slopes gently downward from the shoulders to the rump. The short, smooth coat is tight to the whole body and comes in shades of mouse-gray to silver-gray, blending with darker shades on the body and lighter shades on the head and ears. It also comes in a rarer longhaired variety (FCI Group 7). All shades of gray are accepted. There is sometimes a small white marking on the chest.

Temperament

Happy, loving, intelligent, cheerful, and affectionate. Good with children. Without the proper exercise they will be very rambunctious and difficult to control. They learn quickly but will get bored if the training is the same thing over and over again. This breed needs firm, experienced training starting at puppyhood, with an owner who understands how to be a dog’s pack leader, or they can become stubborn and willful. Without this proper leadership, they can become combative with other dogs. This hunting dog has a strong prey instinct and should not be trusted with small non-canine animals such as hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs. Socialized well with people, places, things and other animals. Brave, protective and loyal, makes a good guard and watchdog.

A Weimaraner absolutely craves leadership.

They want to know what is expected of them and for how long. If this is not made consistently clear in their head they will not be stable minded, may be stressed, possibly developing separation anxiety, becoming destructive and restless. Owners should not be harsh, but calm with a natural air of authority to their demeanor. These things are instinctually essential to having a happy, behaved, balanced dog. Give your Weim plenty of extensive exercise, or he will become very restless and over excited. Because this breed is so full of energy, the first thing they need to learn is sit. This will help prevent jumping, as they are strong dogs and will knock over elderly or children by accident. This breed especially should not be hit to discipline, they become wary easily. Once they have a fear of someone/something, they look to avoid and training is difficult. They are so eager to please, and motivated by reward (food or praise) Once a trick is learned, the dog will leap to repeat for praise. Although they are often mistaken as dumb, because they have such focus, if the trick or owners request isn’t their focus at the time, it will not occur! Spend a lot of time with short leash walk, next to you. If left to run ahead they will pull like a train and start to believe they are alpha, as pack leader goes first. This breed likes to bark, and needs to be corrected if it becomes excessive. Very hardy, with a good sense of smell, and a passionate worker, the Weimaraner can be used for all kinds of hunting.

Height, Weight
Height: Dogs 24-27 inches (61-69cm) Bitches 22-25 inches (56-63cm)
Weight: Dogs 55-70 pounds (25-32kg) Bitches 50-65 pounds (23-29kg)

Weimaraner Health Problems

Prone to bloat, it is better to feed them two or three small meals a day rather than one large meal. Also can be prone to hip dysplasia, hypertropic osteodystrophy (excessive rapid growth) and tumors.

Living Conditions
Weimaraners will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best with at least a large yard. They are not suited to outdoor kennel life.

Exercise
These are powerful working dogs with great stamina. They need to be taken for a daily, long walk or jog. In addition, they need plenty of opportunities to run free. Do not exercise them after meals. It is best to feed a dog after a long walk, as soon as they cool down.

Life Expectancy
About 10-12 years.

Grooming
The smooth, short-haired coat is easy to keep in peak condition. Brush with a firm bristle brush, and dry shampoo occasionally. Bathe in mild soap only when necessary. A rub over with a chamois will make the coat gleam. Inspect the feet and mouth for damage after work or exercise sessions. Keep the nails trimmed. This breed is an average shedder.

Origin

The breed is several centuries old and is derived from the same selective stock as other German hunting breeds and is a descendant of the Bloodhound. The Weimaraner is a good all-around hunting dog and an excellent pointer. They were originally used as big game hunters such as bear, deer and wolves, but is used more today as a bird dog and even a water retriever. A Weimaraner appeared in a Van Dyck painting of the early 1600′s. Howard Knight, who founded the first American Weimaraner breed club, imported the dogs to the United States in 1929. The popular children’s TV show Sesame Street has been known to plays skits with this breed dressed up in human clothes.Some of its talents include: hunting, tracking, retrieving, pointing, watchdog, guarding, police work, service dogs for the disabled, search & rescue, and agility.

The Weimaraner was first recognized by the AKC in 1943.

Retrievers

Retrievers

A retriever is a type of gun dog that retrieves game for a hunter.

.Generally gun-dogs are divided into three major classifications: retrievers, flushing spaniels, and pointing breeds. Retrievers were bred primarily to retrieve birds or other prey and return them to the hunter without damage. Although spaniels and some pointing breeds routinely retrieve game, and many retrievers are skilled in finding game, retrievers are distinguished in that non-slip retrieval is their primary function. As a result, retriever breeds are bred for soft mouths and a great willingness to please, learn, and obey. A soft mouth refers to the willingness of the dog to carry game in its mouth without biting into it. “Hard mouth” is a serious fault in a hunting dog and is one that is very difficult to correct. A hard-mouthed dog renders game unpresentable or at worst inedible.

The retriever’s willingness to please and trainability have made retrievers such as the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever popular as assistance dogs.

Rhodesian Ridgeback as a Hunting Dog

Rhodesian Ridgeback as a Hunting Dog

Some Ridgeback History

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a native of South Africa. Its long history dates back to the early 16th century when European settlers found a domesticated dog with the Hottentot tribe. This dog, which had a distinctive ridge of fur along its spine, was selectively bred with dogs from the European continent to develop a new breed now known as the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

This breed was developed to meet the wide-ranging needs of a hunting dog in the African veldt. The Rhodesian Ridgeback of lore were capable of performing such diverse tasks as flushing a few partridge, pulling down a wounded stag, or guarding the farm from marauding animals and prowlers at night. It was also able to withstand the rigours of the African bush. While many of these traits still contribute greatly to the breed’s temperament, the Ridgeback of today are more often found in the show ring or in the home of a loving family. The Rhodesian Ridgeback makes an attentive companion that is devoted to its family.

NOT THE DOG FOR EVERYONE

Possessing many of the characteristics generally associated with hounds, the Ridgeback has a quiet, gentle temperament and rarely barks. While able to enjoy lazing around in a patch of sun, or in front of a winter fireplace, a Ridgeback can be instantly alert if a stranger should appear and zealous in his pursuit of legitimate prey. Though he may give the impression of a big, lazy, slow-moving animal, the Ridgeback can be a threatening presence as a watchdog. Conversely, the Ridgeback’s affectionate disposition can make him a trustworthy companion for a child. Properly trained, he is a pleasure as a family pet, hunting partner, show dog, or obedience competitor. An untrained Ridgeback, however, can become a terrible nuisance! Because of his protective instincts, a Ridgeback should not be trained as a guard dog but, rather, be effectively controlled through obedience training.

Above all, proper training must also be extended to children in the appropriate rules of interaction and respect for all dogs they encounter, rhodesian ridgebacks included.