Thread: Time commitment in training/having a deer indicator dog

Originally Posted by Tahr

Spanners, Zeb was a lab x huntaway, but this is fairly typical lab indicating. He was an outstanding dog and would would walk you right into them. Here he is winding a deer near the Makino hut. He's been gone for a few years now.

Cheers for the photo Tahr. Was have a cross breed something you sought out, or just the chips falling were they may? Sorry to hear he's gone - our family pet, Max the golden retriever is 10 and it won't be the same when he goes.

Originally Posted by HF1

Contact the GSP Club as they are having a training day on 6 Feb at Kumeu. You'll meet a lot of great people who will be keen to help you with your dog regardless of breed. Look forward to seeing you there.

Oops - just saw that you can't make 6 Feb but there are other days.

I found the members of this club made me feel really welcome even though I was a complete novice.

Hey HF1, I'll give you a buzz beforehand if I make it to one of these events, it'll be good to know a forum member there.

Originally Posted by phillipgr

Cheers for the photo Tahr. Was have a cross breed something you sought out, or just the chips falling were they may? Sorry to hear he's gone - our family pet, Max the golden retriever is 10 and it won't be the same when he goes.

The cross was on purpose. The Huntaway father was also a good deer dog.

Originally Posted by Tahr

The cross was on purpose. The Huntaway father was also a good deer dog.

I see.

I wouldn't get a GSP for a first dog. For deer anything with a nose will do, and I mean anything. Once you've learnt from that in 2,3 or even 5 years I'd then get a GSP, same goes for the GWP.

Best deer dog I've had was also Black Lab x Huntaway. He would just stop and lock his eyes on a deer, hackles slightly raised, and not move a muscle.
Sad thing was, I was to young and keen and too often I took him for granted, thinking he was seeing things, and then I'd take two steps and CRASH goes the deer
That dog gave up on me in the end

Originally Posted by Wirehunt

I wouldn't get a GSP for a first dog. For deer anything with a nose will do, and I mean anything. Once you've learnt from that in 2,3 or even 5 years I'd then get a GSP, same goes for the GWP.

Well... we've found something to agree on.

Tussock , does your dog actually point as such and hold or is it a quick point like indication.I know there are pointing labs also not that I have seen one

Originally Posted by TeRei

Give the dog a skin to play with.

In all likelihood the very worst thing you can do!

Originally Posted by Tussock

This is what my labxhuntaway is doing. Nose stretched out, front paw lifted. Super cool

It would take an awful lot of whiskey to convince me that dog is pointing at anything!

Um, it says winding...

Originally Posted by Wirehunt

Um, it says winding...

I had to go back and look, but you are correct! I apologise...

(Note to self, do not post after fourth glass!)

Yeah, he was winding. Sucking in the scent. He never pointed.
As an aside, my observations with my indicating dogs has been that Sika "wind" seems to be more interesting to them than Red "wind". I wonder if there is any truth to that? Ruff?

Originally Posted by Tahr

Yeah, he was winding. Sucking in the scent. He never pointed.
As an aside, my observations with my indicating dogs has been that Sika "wind" seems to be more interesting to them than Red "wind". I wonder if there is any truth to that? Ruff?

Bloody good question. I think you are right, but how would we prove it??? It's like Pheasant scent to spaniels... they just go straight into "afterburner" mode when they hit it!

Originally Posted by Tahr

Yeah, he was winding. Sucking in the scent. He never pointed.
As an aside, my observations with my indicating dogs has been that Sika "wind" seems to be more interesting to them than Red "wind". I wonder if there is any truth to that? Ruff?

A friend says the same about his Vizsla. Says he can tell the difference by the dogs body language. I haven't seen him on sika bit going by his dogs demeanour on reds I'd be inclined to believe my mate