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PetsLifeGuide » German Shorthaired Pointer » How To Train a German Shorthaired Pointer To Point Birds

How To Train a German Shorthaired Pointer To Point Birds

Last Modified: January 14, 2022 by Noah Bennett 2 Comments

How to train a German Shorthaired Pointer to Point Birds

Table of Contents

  • How To Train Hunting Your German Shorthaired Pointer
    • Pointing Birds. Where We Begin
    • Training German Shorthaired Pointer. Basic Obedience
    • Hunting Background of GSP Puppy
    • Success in Training a GSP
    • Bird Pointing Training Devices
  • Training Gear to Train German Shorthaired Pointer To Point Birds
    • Training Dummies for Retrieval Training
    • Duck Decoys
    • Remote Dummy & Bird Launchers
    • Training E-Collars and Tracking Devices
  • Pointing Birds Training (with Launcher). Part 1
    • Training Instructions
    • Training Accessories
    • Training Procedure

How To Train Hunting Your German Shorthaired Pointer

GSP is a versatile hunting dog and gundog. The best gundogs are those that are intelligent, obedient and even reading their master’s mind. To have such a hunting companion is a dream-to-come-true for every hunter. And we are here with some tips on how to raise such a dog.

Pointing Birds. Where We Begin

As a matter of fact, hunting is not an easy thing. It is a complicated process, where a hunter and his gun dog should work together. The better is the cooperation – the more successful is hunting. But having a thrill and good nose is not enough for a good gun dog. Before you begin hunting training, there are two basics to install: obedience and steadiness.

The “Whoa” command or simply “Stay” is the basic for obedience training. We advise hunters to retrieve some dead birds or fowl dummies by themselves, making the pup stand still and watch the process. This gives a puppy an idea that he does not have to bring every item. This promotes a dog’s balanced nature. All starts with obedience. A gun dog that does not obey you will never be an appropriate hunting companion and will not make “Woah” command in a proper way.

Steadiness is one of the basic skills for a gun dog. It means that a dog will stand still on a command, even if other dogs are retrieving. The majority of German Shorthaired Pointers is prone to over-excitement. And hunter’s target is not to encourage such behavior, but to implement calmness and steadiness. This is the best hunting strategy when your dog is calm, sturdy and ready to obey.

Training Steadiness with Jason Carter

Training German Shorthaired Pointer. Basic Obedience

Obedience is a key issue for any hunting dog, and German Shorthaired Pointer is not an exclusion. He has to come, stay, heel, and fetch on command. The strategy of favor and disappointment, and therefore reward and punishment works best with GSP. This does not imply any rudeness or cruelty toward a dog, no way!  Fear does not lead to cooperation between a hunter and his dog, only respect and generally good attitude work for it.

Hunting Background of GSP Puppy

Of course it is possible to hunt almost any GSP dog. But those with hunting parents are doing much better and grasp faster. If you want a good gun dog, we recommend choosing among those with hunting history parents.

Success in Training a GSP

The training success depends much not on the dog, but on the master. If you feel a lack of progress, step back and devote some more time to the theory of training methods and techniques. Investigate your pup’s personality, his inclinations and character. Begin with basic commands, and increase the complexity level gradually.

Bird Pointing Training Devices

There are a lot of training devices developed to help hunting training. They are Dummies, Pheasant Wings, Dead Fowl Pheasants, Duck Training Dummies, Bird Dog Training Scent, Bird Launcher Systems, Training and Tracking E-Collars. But you have to remember, they all are only training aids. Before using them you have to understand how to train a gun dog first. If you have no experience, better to refer to a trainer to teach, to begin with someone experienced, or to acquire the knowledge from training courses online, paper or DVD.  Training devices help to develop necessary hunting skills. In real hunting a master relies on hunting GSP skills, not on the device.

Training Gear to Train German Shorthaired Pointer To Point Birds

Let’s have a closer look on all you may need for hunting training.

  • Training Dummies for Retrieval Training
  • Duck Decoys
  • Remote Dummy & Bird Launchers
  • Training E-Collars and Tracking Devices

Training Dummies for Retrieval Training

Author's Choice
Browning Vinyl Training Dummy, Premium Retrieval Training Tool for Dogs review
Browning Vinyl Training Dummy, Premium Retrieval Training Tool for Dogs
  • Material: Rugged vinyl with a textured surface
  • Functionality: Hunting Training
  • Sizes: S, L
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People’s Choice
SportDOG Brand Plastic Dummy review
SportDOG Brand Plastic Dummy
  • Material: Plastic
  • Functionality: Hunting Training
  • Sizes: One Size
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Premium Choice
Dog Bone Bumper Training Dummy review
Dog Bone Bumper Training Dummy
  • Material: Rugged Heavy-Duty Firehose
  • Functionality: Hunting Training
  • Sizes: S, M, L
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Best for Puppy
SportDOG Brand Canvas Dummy review
SportDOG Brand Canvas Dummy
  • Material: Heavy duty canvas
  • Functionality: Hunting Training
  • Sizes: puppy & regular
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Duck Decoys

Author's Choice
AvianX Top Flight Duck Open Water Mallard Decoy (6 Pack) review
AvianX Top Flight Duck Open Water Mallard Decoy (6 Pack)
  • Material: Durable Flight Open Water Mallards, 6 Pack of True-to Life Decoys, no-flake paint
  • Functionality: Hunting Training
  • Sizes: One Size
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People’s Choice
MOJO Outdoors Butt Up Rippler, Mallard review
MOJO Outdoors Butt Up Rippler, Mallard
  • Material: Durable plastic, natural image of a feeding Mallard with the ripples
  • Functionality: Hunting Training
  • Sizes: One Size
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Premium Choice
MOJO Outdoors King Mallard Spinning Wing Duck Decoy (New) review
MOJO Outdoors King Mallard Spinning Wing Duck Decoy (New)
  • Material: Precise-fitting decoy skin with true-to-life feather detail and color for a realistic look, magnetic on-off wings. Motor and battery are inside
  • Functionality: Hunting Training
  • Sizes: One Size
Check Price

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Best for Puppy
Dokken Dead Fowl Trainer Hunting Dog Dummy review
Dokken Dead Fowl Trainer Hunting Dog Dummy
  • Material: Soft natural-feel foam with free swinging hard plastic head and feet and a natural dead bird weight
  • Functionality: Hunting Training
  • Sizes: S
Check Price

Check Price

Remote Dummy & Bird Launchers

Author's Choice
DT Systems Super Pro Dummy Launcher with Dummy review
DT Systems Super Pro Dummy Launcher with Dummy
  • Compact launcher made of rugged solid aluminum frame
  • Wide nylon comfort grip handle sleeve with thick, dense, shock absorbing recoil pad
  • Easy to carry and clean
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People’s Choice
Gunners Up Son of a Gun Launcher review
Gunners Up Son of a Gun Launcher
  • Smaller and more compact launcher than the original version
  • Safety latch to prevent launcher from firing prematurely
  • Allows to control both arc and distance by moving the front legs in or out
Check Price

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Premium Choice
SportDOG Brand Complete Remote Launcher System review
SportDOG Brand Complete Remote Launcher System
  • Launches dummies or birds to simulate real hunting situations
  • 1/2-mile range
  • Duck, pheasant, and shotgun report sounds available
Check Price

Check Price

Training E-Collars and Tracking Devices

Author's Choice
Dogtra T&B Dual 1-Dog Long Range Training E-Collar & Beeper review
Dogtra T&B Dual 1-Dog Long Range Training E-Collar & Beeper
  • Tracks 1 dog (expandable for 2), 1,5 mile range
  • 127 training levels, integrated beeper with 3 modes: Locate, Run-Point, and Point-Only
  • Hunting training collar with bright easy to read OLED screen
Check Price

Check Price
People’s Choice
SportDOG Brand WetlandHunter 1825X Camouflage Remote Trainer review
SportDOG Brand WetlandHunter 1825X Camouflage Remote Trainer
  • Supports training up to 6 dogs with additional collars
  • 21 levels of static stimulation with low/medium/high stim ranges
  • Waterproof and submersible to 25 feet using DryTek® technology + Rechargeable batteries with 2-hour quick charge
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Check Price
Premium Choice
Garmin Alpha 100, Multi-Dog Tracking GPS and Remote Training Device in One review
Garmin Alpha 100, Multi-Dog Tracking GPS and Remote Training Device in One
  • Tracks up to 20 dogs or buddies from up to 9 miles (TT 15) or 4 miles (TT 15 mini) away
  • 18 training levels of continuous and momentary stimulation
  • Preloaded TOPO U.S. 100k maps
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GARMIN Tracking and Training Collars 

Pointing Birds Training (with Launcher). Part 1

Training Instructions

Today we’re going to give you some instructions how to teach your GSP puppy to point pigeons. There are several steps to be done:

  • First you have to hide a pigeon in the grass.
  • You also have to keep in mind wind direction. Even if you don’t have a lot of wind you still do have a wind direction.
  • Another thing to keep in mind is where you’re putting your launcher. You must be sure that you know exactly where that launcher is so you can help your puppy, and that your puppy cannot accidentally walk into that launcher too closely.

Training Accessories

We don’t recommend using flags or ribbons or things like that to mark where your launchers are. You’re working with puppies. And they can get distracted and just run into them without using their noses. They just head straight to the flag instead of searching the field.  So instead of that we recommend physical landmarks. In that way you know where certain clumps of grass are. And that works really well to hide a launcher in. And then you just need to keep in mind where those are.

  • one is that you just fold that pigeon in, close the arm back across the top and there’s a rolling bar. When you push the red button it locks into place.
  • the other option  how to train a German Shorthaired pointer to point birds is: there is a little trapdoor and you can once lock everything into place and make sure the pigeon is all folded up nice.

The launch is pretty quick and really responsive to our remote which is really important for timing.

I want you to keep in mind that if your puppy and your timing aren’t perfect, and your puppy works in on top of the launcher don’t launch that accidentally. Because if you launch right into their face you could startle them or they could have a negative association  with the launchers and the birds, And that’s something we don’t want. So be very attentive to where your launchers are, so that you can help your puppy work downwind and at a crosswind will be really important.

Training and Tracking GPS Collars are very helpful for hunting training.

Training Procedure

Launch the bird so that the puppy can associate that smell with the bird. If you want him to be more cautious on his next bird, immediately launch that on the first bird. On the next bird just watch how he’s reacting to this first bird. Then you have to boom launch it again.

Again, timing is really important. Paying attention to where the launchers are and where the puppy is really important. As well, so let’s head back up and hit the field. That’s why it’ll be nice to get the puppy on a bird fairly quickly so he understands you’re out here to hunt, you’re out here to find. So now he has a better understanding of “hey I used my nose, I found this bird”.

On the second bird the puppy will be a little bit farther away which is good and will be able to see that bird when it is launched, and will be able to chase. So you’re making the association.

Then you come back on the third bird…to the fourth bird…, so that’s just something that you’re going to keep building on. First awesome session…it’s desired, but it’s not something that typically happens with every puppy. So his next session you’ll hopefully be able to see a little more hesitation, a little more pause. If you have to go back to the same launcher again in his next session that’s something that you can do.

Then once you see a lot of confidence, the puppy is not startled by the launcher he’s having fun chasing, you can introduce gunfire.

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The German Shorthaired Pointer: a Hunter’s Guide, by David Mark Dowdy

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Comments

  1. Joe Criddle says

    08.03.2023 at 17:35

    You do not train a pointing dog to point! The pointing instinct is exactly that, and is genetic. You can use the word, “whoa”, or any other word in any language, that is not why that dog stands there pointing. It’s because of the things his mother and the rest of his ancestors gave him. Either they have it or they don’t. Also this instinct may not show itself at all until the dog has reached full adulthood. There are precocious puppies out there, but just because they don’t point early on in life is an indicator of NOTHING!
    The “whoa” command is obedience and is part of steadiness training. It has nothing to do with the pointing instinct. The instinct to point is honed and developed by birds teaching the dog that he can’t catch them. In the field, a steady dog is an asset and is ideal, but steadiness isn’t necessary for bird hunting. Steadiness isn’t even usually taught till the dog is at least 2 years old with a couple hunting seasons under it’s belt, because of the stress it puts on the dog, most hunters prefer to wait so as to not take any of the drive out of their dog by steadiness training.

    Reply
    • Julia Powell says

      12.03.2023 at 11:31

      Dear Mr Criddle,

      Thank you so much for your comment! That’s really professional!
      If to put everything into correct wording, you are more than right!

      Julia

      Reply

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