Are German Shorthaired Pointers Good For Duck Hunting?

You’ve been thinking about getting a German Shorthaired Pointer for duck hunting, but you’re not sure if they’re the right breed for you. You’ve heard that they’re intelligent and easily trainable, which are both qualities you’re looking for in a hunting dog. But you’re also wondering if they have the right temperament for duck hunting. After all, you want a dog who is enthusiastic about the sport and has a strong hunting instinct.

So, are German Shorthaired Pointers good for duck hunting? The answer is yes! German Shorthaired Pointers make excellent duck hunting dogs. They have all the qualities you’re looking for in a hunting dog, and they’re relatively easy to care for. So if you’re thinking about getting a German Shorthaired Pointer for duck hunting, go ahead and add one to your family!

Hunting with the GSP is a fascinating activity that many people will enjoy. One of the most famous duck hunting breeds – German Shorthaired Pointer, has won millions of hearts around the world. The very first breed representatives helped hunters to pull their prey out of the most tricky places.

Keep reading to learn more about whether or not German Shorthaired Pointers make good duck hunting dogs.

Duck Hunting with German Shorthaired Pointer

It is believed that the most popular type of hunting with the GSP is pheasant hunting. However, besides pheasant, hunting duck is also common with pointers.

Duck hunting is similar in its principle to pheasant hunting. The hunter, knowing the place where the ducks live (which are grassy marshes, reservoirs overgrown with bulrushes and so on), lets the dog in, trying not to let it go further than the shooting range.

It searches the territory, and when it sees a duck it rushes after it. The latter flies up in the air or ticks over the water. The hunter, if the distance allows it, shoots at it.

Hunting for ducks has some difficulties. Sometimes it’s difficult to see where the fallen duck landed. Or, another scenario is possible – you can see it, but because of the marshy or deep place it is difficult to catch your prey. Trained GSP helps to solve these problems with ease.

What to Know Before You Get a German Shorthaired Pointer for Duck Hunting

The Hunting Nature of a GSP Dog

Hunting with a German Shorthaired Pointer is like a crown and reward to a man for his long journey, for all his efforts in training his assistant. It is difficult to convey the satisfaction a hunter gets from the work of an intelligent and efficient dog in the hunt. No amount of game gives as much joy as the passionate and correct work of a pointer dog.

We can speak of the opposite here as well. There is no great frustration, disappointment and bitterness when you see the goofy and uncontrollable actions of your dog on the hunt. How much you put into your dog will also determine the end result of using it in the hunt.

For this reason, during the first year of German Shorthaired Pointer training, do not spare time for lessons with your dog. It will never be spent in vain, provided that you are passionate about hunting and that is the reason you bought the dog. Special training systems from Garmin, SportDog, Dogtra are used quite often and show perfect results. Many of them have waterproof dog collars, so you GSP is on the safe side at duck hunting.

German Shorthaired Pointers have Ideal Temperament for Hunting, Including Duck Hunting

The GSP is a hunting breed in every respect. That is the very reason of the dog’s life. At home, German Shorthaired Pointer seems overly calm and even phlegmatic. He does not bore his owners with excessive love and attention. But as soon as you start talking about hunting or getting ready for it, the dog transforms. There is no better encouragement or reward for the German Shorthaired Pointer than to take him hunting with you. Here the dog is completely transformed and is hard to recognize. It is a relentless companion. And even a tired dog can’t bear it when the owner picks up the gun again. I was convinced of this many times.

Hunting for such a dog is the highest meaning of manifestation of life. If you just want to know the breed better or to see its representative in all its brilliance and openness, it is only possible while hunting. In another situation a GSP can astonish you both with intellect and beauty but you will hardly understand the true spirit of the breed.

First of all, for the GSP there are no obstacles in expressing hunting passion. He equally works and goes hunting in snow, rain, no wind or gusty wind. He searches equally in the marsh and in the woods. He can work with the same passion on any game and switches from one target to another quite naturally.

German Shorthaired Pointers are Relatively Easy to Care For

The German Shorthaired Pointer does not cause much difficulty in the camping environment. He can be content with the most modest diet. He is calm and ready to endure the most discomfort conditions for the sake of the hunt.

Who is the Leader on the Hunt?

If you and your dog have established a correct psychological contact, he begins to see you as a leading partner in the hunt and constantly keeps in sight and works exclusively for the hunter. It is in the hunt that the owner of the dog can feel his boundless devotion and love. Every hunting trip has a profound effect on the relationship between a man and a dog. No training can give such results, but you just need to strive to understand your pet and his psychological well-being.

If you’re thinking about getting a German Shorthaired Pointer for duck hunting, keep all of these things in mind. With the right care and training, they can make a great addition to your hunting team.

About German Shorthaired Pointer

Swimming Training as a Part of Duck Hunting

It is necessary to prepare the GSP for duck hunting from the earliest age and in an integral whole with general obedience training of your GSP pup. All stages of preparation of the dog for training on various hunting objects should be done as a single complex, which is the key to success in training a versatile assistant.

The earlier you begin to train a young dog to work on water, the easier will be the transition from one hunting object to another. And there will be less difficulties in developing such important elements for the hunt as swimming, overcoming hard spots, retrieving from the water and other things.

Love for Water of a GSP Puppy – a Key to Success

Naturally the most important for a good duck retriever is the love for water and the willingness to search a game in such difficult conditions. Therefore, it is very important to understand how your puppy feels about the water. In fact, his inability to swim does not mean that he is afraid of water. He may be unfamiliar with the depths, but he may be fine with water.

Puppy Water Training

You should approach puppy’s water training thoughtfully. It is especially important not to frighten a dog who has never seen water and is timid in front of it. The whole process of getting your puppy used to the water should be completely voluntary and natural.

• Success here depends entirely on your patience.
• You’ll have to get in the water and swim more often yourself.
• You’ll do more if you teach your puppy to swim by means of retrieving the toys.
• A dog who loves to retrieve and does it with a desire and excitement will quickly become accustomed to doing it from the water.

Toys for GSP for In-Water Games, Hunting Training Dummies

First-time parents sometimes try to get their puppy into the water by force. I would advise not doing it this way. More often the consequences are damaging, especially if your dog is timid. It is better not to risk in this case, even if further training will require a longer time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Best Dog Swimming Pools

Conclusion

German Shorthaired Pointers are an excellent choice for duck hunting dogs. They’re intelligent, easily trainable, and have a strong hunting instinct. However, they require a lot of exercise and can be stubborn. But if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to train them, they can make an excellent duck hunting dog.